WHEN THE GOVERNING PARTY IS THE PROBLEM

THE COMMENTARY view by former mayor of Cape Town Dr Wallace Mgoqi lacks professional insight.

One of the challenges facing disenfranchised Africans, and the general public at large, is how to accept the fact that the governing party is itself the problem, rather than lack of resources, as most of us tend to be prone to cognitive dissonance.

Public funds have been made available to different departments, particularly Rural Development and Land Reform, and unfortunately they were mismanaged or misappropriated, and reclaimed farms were selectively given to politically connected people with no background in agriculture at all. Such farms are lying fallow in most provinces.

The main challenge with regards to land reform and agricultural transformation has been political interference or manipulation as well as departmental officials with vested interests. To some degree, commercial agriculture has tended to distance itself in matters of agricultural transformation and funding for most of the time.

I have been in the natural science field for 19 years, since I began my tertiary education studies in 2000. I have, over the years, gained clear insight, technical expertise and unwavering view in matters of agriculture. There are funds available in different public entities, and their allocations are often politically determined.

So briefly, it’s a severe lack of political will from the governing party to make things work in the country. However, that’s not to not say the private sector is exonerated in this matter.

The governing party and its leaders lack patriotism, a long-term view and plan, hence it has resorted to short cut ways of self-aggrandisement, and in doing so, left the public vulnerable and worse off than before. The state needs to merge all its fragmented financial institutions into one that will serve the interests of the people.

People with professional and technical backgrounds ought to form the major portion of people earmarked for leasing of reclaimed farms. The departments must not manage any finances intended for agricultural ventures, theirs should be administrative and technically advisory roles.