Not The Only Panacea

IN response to some reports in our local newspaper, where it was mentioned that as from August 1 2007, all 12 Regional Councils take over the responsibilities of water supply which was under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.

The delegation of this duty is part of the decentralisation policy, which regulates the delegation of functions of line ministries to regional council and local authorities. One should be realistic that although decentralisation is an important instrument to empower and capacitate authorities and communities at regional and local level, and that definite functional values and advantages can be attributed to it, it is not the panacea solving all the development problems the country is experiencing.For example, decentralisation of services like the above case where the directorate of water supply have been given to the 12 Regional Council without a proper infrastructure in place, without the transfer of appropriate financial resources and without a well trained and capable workforce at regional and local authority level, will fail.Decentralisation must also constantly be linked to a continuous process of administrative reform.What should be avoided is the decentralisation of centralisation, building “empires” at sub-national level, or that central government reduces or escapes from its responsibilities at sub-national level.Equally detrimental would be the decentralisation of corruption and mismanagement, an ever-looming danger.In its worthwhile endeavour to bring government closer to the people, decentralisation should not be used as an excuse for central government to reduce its responsibilities.Decentralisation offers the possibility of privatising and outsourcing some of the tasks presently perfumed by regional councils and local authorities.It could certainly enhance public-private partnership but practice has clearly shown that once some tasks privatised, commercialised or outsourced, private enterprise increase fees to an unaffordable level, eliminating the less privileged part of the population from essential services such as the provision of water and electricity at affordable prices.It also cuts out some of the most important income resources of local authorities, alternatively lessening the profit resulting from such service delivery.People’s interest must be protected but also the income sources of regional and local authorities.Private enterprise tends to be only concerned about profits and considers itself relieved of any political responsibility.The privatisation of electricity supply in Namibia has caused greater debt awareness among customers and does not easily terminate services if customers do not oblige with debt relief.Social responsibility forbids to indiscriminatingly act, for example against destitute and unemployed people.In conclusion, decentralisation is not a one-off event but a systematic undertaking.It is an incremental and never-ending process, adaptable in character while pursuing the determined objectives, such process must have a contextual and innovative character, performed in well-planned stages.Hasty decentralisation can easily result in under-financed or even corrupt sub-national governance and administration, exploiting uncertainties and being unresponsive to people’s needs.Some functions may be decentralised faster than others.Not the entirety of all the functions and activities intended to be decentralised will be executed at the same time and simultaneously commerce in all regions.To be successful, it must be a well-planned process.Bellington Mabakeng ErongoOne should be realistic that although decentralisation is an important instrument to empower and capacitate authorities and communities at regional and local level, and that definite functional values and advantages can be attributed to it, it is not the panacea solving all the development problems the country is experiencing.For example, decentralisation of services like the above case where the directorate of water supply have been given to the 12 Regional Council without a proper infrastructure in place, without the transfer of appropriate financial resources and without a well trained and capable workforce at regional and local authority level, will fail.Decentralisation must also constantly be linked to a continuous process of administrative reform.What should be avoided is the decentralisation of centralisation, building “empires” at sub-national level, or that central government reduces or escapes from its responsibilities at sub-national level.Equally detrimental would be the decentralisation of corruption and mismanagement, an ever-looming danger.In its worthwhile endeavour to bring government closer to the people, decentralisation should not be used as an excuse for central government to reduce its responsibilities.Decentralisation offers the possibility of privatising and outsourcing some of the tasks presently perfumed by regional councils and local authorities.It could certainly enhance public-private partnership but practice has clearly shown that once some tasks privatised, commercialised or outsourced, private enterprise increase fees to an unaffordable level, eliminating the less privileged part of the population from essential services such as the provision of water and electricity at affordable prices.It also cuts out some of the most important income resources of local authorities, alternatively lessening the profit resulting from such service delivery.People’s interest must be protected but also the income sources of regional and local authorities.Private enterprise tends to be only concerned about profits and considers itself relieved of any political responsibility.The privatisation of electricity supply in Namibia has caused greater debt awareness among customers and does not easily terminate services if customers do not oblige with debt relief.Social responsibility forbids to indiscriminatingly act, for example against destitute and unemployed people.In conclusion, decentralisation is not a one-off event but a systematic undertaking.It is an incremental and never-ending process, adaptable in character while pursuing the determined objectives, such process must have a contextual and innovative character, performed in well-planned stages.Hasty decentralisation can easily result in under-financed or even corrupt sub-national governance and administration, exploiting uncertainties and being unresponsive to people’s needs.Some functions may be decentralised faster than others.Not the entirety of all the functions and activities intended to be decentralised will be executed at the same time and simultaneously commerce in all regions.To be successful, it must be a well-planned process.Bellington Mabakeng Erongo