PROMOTING CHANGE AND DEVELOPMENT
THE various arguments against change and development are quite amazing. People are not comfortable with change they would rather they remained in the dilapidated backward environment than search out for new and exciting opportunities.
For example, instead of seeking out the positive in the transfer of the Natural Resource Development College, the opposition is busy inventing reasons why such a move would be a bad idea.
Yes, NRDC may be sitting on prime land in an area where residential development would be best suited, but certainly not for an agriculture based institution.
The value of land is determined by many factors hence the NRDC area is very valuable, but not user friendly for the purposes of a hands on teaching college which will require a lot more land in terms of fields and grazing areas.
We can keep the land and the deteriorated infrastructure until the world comes to an end, the value will continue to appreciate while the in institution ages and takes fewer and few students.
These are choices that this Government and its future successors will have to make. What I know is that fifty years from today there will be very little room left as a result of squatter invasion and natural growth of the institution.
Sometimes Government must take very frim but unpopular decisions in the certainty of securing the future. It is impossible to generate unanimous consensus. Many are uncomfortable with change. They are scared of a Zambian Airways because the previous one collapsed therefore a foray into the same venture is a mistake.
The biggest mistake the Government can make is to let the negative forum influence its decision making process. The experts and technocrats must be challenged to undertake rigorous study from which more informed decisions can be made. Nothing short of a comprehensive study should be allowed to influence the decision making process.
Yes mistakes will be made but any failure is a learning experience. GERALD DAKA