OF POPULIST POLICIES AND ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

According to the Collins English Dictionary, a populist government is generally defined as one that uses a political strategy based and calculated to appeal to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people. In most instances the sustainability of policies and programmes emanating from populism is not factored into the calculations.

On the other hand economic sustainability is the term used to identify various strategies that make it possible to use available resources to their best advantage and that the services continues to function over a number of years. The idea is to promote the use of those resources in a way that is both efficient and responsible and likely to provide long-term benefits. In the case of a business operation, it calls for using resources so that the business continues to function over a number of years, while consistently returning a profit.

Some critics of government policies since independence point to populist policies as the country’s drawback. They argue that with changing times, dwindling resources and rapidly growing population, the people should bear some cost of the services they enjoy. Hence it is necessary to look at the implication of populism, because if we don’t look at the implication of populist policies, we would be involved in a politics of unsustainability that seeks to sustain the status quo and manage its unpleasant implications for as long as possible.

The volte-face should not be unexpected, because it requires a repudiation of governmental rhetoric at a time when the economy is in a state of crisis. The increasing trend towards payment for services across Africa is premised on the idea that to achieve economic potential within global capitalism, African governments will need to redress economic imbalances created by populist policies.

Government policies and programmes must be sustainable. Most populist policies and programmes are not usually conceived with sustainability in mind. Such policies and programmes are easily abused, especially in a system that lacks proper means of citizen identification.

Instead of guaranteeing citizens better healthcare or education, the poor implementation of these policies and programmes easily run down the facilities and institutions intended to provide such services.

Tap water was always available in most towns and cities in the 70s. Now most towns and cities go for months/years without water. Boreholes and shallow wells are the order of the day across the country.