Economic apartheid is being inadvertently re-created but this time its architects are the very individuals that fought for its demise.
I was certainly taken aback by the alleged threat of the NYDA to make the country ungovernable. This after having received an estimated R1,2 bn over the next three years from the very government they wish to demonstrate against. This after having held a very expensive youth conference whose objectives and achievements I still have to understand.
I think the politicization of economics has been one major encumbrance to economic emancipation. This is informed by my observations of how, for example in Zimbabwe, the economy has been politicized over the last thirty years that it is almost impossible to operate as an independent entity with no political interference-free enterprise, in the true sense of the word, does not exist.
Government funding, contracts and projects can only be accessed once one has claimed allegiance to the party and is not viewed as an "enemy" of the state. In addition to that, one's progress is always closely watched and if possible sabotaged and wings clipped lest one has political ambitions.
It is disturbing to note that despite the claim that the NYDA is apolitical; it is clearly behaving as a de facto wing of the ANC Youth League and therefore cannot be treated as an independent entity with genuine interest in the development of South African youth in general. The fact of the matter is that the NYDA is effectively using tax payer funds to further the agenda of a political party-typical ZANU (PF) style.
Over the years we have seen how the political and economic environment deteriorates as the line between state institutions and the party becomes very blurred and it becomes difficult for those with alternative political views or allegiances to progress. In my opinion, African professionals are continually stifled and frustrated in participating in the development of their countries as evidenced by the clear disdain by the NYDA CEO of black professional organizations such as the BMF.
The black professional continues to be sidelined and viewed with much suspicion because he chooses to have an independent and differing view. He or she has become the enemy of the so-called revolution, an alleged accomplice of the imperialists.
Because of this democracy suffers and participation in economic development becomes a partisan process with the party cadres becoming the accidental managers of the economy as was the case with the Soviet Union. Economic decisions are made in the interests of political and not economic needs and development suffers.
It is my view that South Africans must reject these developments, they must reject the thinning of the line between the state enterprises and the party as the dangers to democracy and economic emancipation are obvious.
Economic apartheid is being inadvertently re-created but this time the architects are the very individuals that fought for its demise and the victims are black professionals, academics and others who may choose to differ or join the opposition.
I have met many dejected black professional South Africans who are clearly competent and could provide the scarce management skills needed to drive government projects especially at local government level but they remain sidelined because they are not active members of the ruling party. Our partisan politics have become an encumbrance to economic freedom, free enterprise and the ability of apolitical citizens to pursue their personal ambitions.
Welcome to Zimbabwe.
Vince Musewe is an independent economist and you can contact him on [email protected]
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