Editorial

Predictably, the country is currently in election mode. Predictably again, party conventioneers are designed to ensure that the current leadership bounce back to steer the parties to lead the elections. Predictably, again if there is indecision it is the RPP where elections will actually take place where a movement to replace the leadership with youngsters as also voiced in the other parties is likely to be dealt with mode aggressiveness than the others. If sense prevails in order to keep the party intact the older generation must rein in the young Turks and agree to take their party in a new direction altogether and ensure the youngsters a place in the change. The plea is for the RPP to gather the growing disenchantment on the streets and voice them for the movement that is expected to change the system altogether. This is in contrast to the current standpoint to follow the competition in the elections where they will find it difficult to retain the already poor representation in public posts. Will reason dawn? As the streets resound to the anti-MCC crowds and the judicial faction for and against the chief justice, the concurrence that the system has broken down does not give in to reason yet. The idea is to settle the differences through elections. The adage that only more democracy is the answer to democracy pales in the context of the past three decades of musical chairs making sure the chairs are not changed. No need, therefore, to explain that the perpetuation of the leadership ensures continuity of the actual reasons why the system is not yielding results. The fact is that the system was changed to ensure the same actors came up top. It is this merry go round that the election will not stop. It is this reason that begs that the system be short-circuited. The streets as they are will not suffice. The resources, manpower and leadership available seem far from adequate begging the attention of available national options which have been skillfully kept at bay. Off again, on again street stirs, thus, need to be given a continuity that attracts the rising expectations that overdue change will come. It is not enough to arouse expectations simply to abate them later with non-action. This is especially so when system manipulators skillfully divert public attention through elections to party and public posts upon which the layperson has been made especially dependent for services and spoils. It is for these reasons that it will be difficult to prevent the population from becoming consumed by an electoral process that will not only be directly beneficial pocket wise but will also ensure more direct dependency on the beneficiaries. A movement that is unsure of direction and leadership is no doubt in the winds. But such a movement must make sure that the whiff of elections will not divert its participants from the demands of systemic change. We are at a crossroads but change needs impetus.