By Narayan Prasad Mishra Honesty, integrity, good manners, and conduct are essential qualities of a good citizen, especially for a leader. If leaders lack these qualities, their followers will emulate the same behavior. A nation's prosperity is closely linked to the integrity of its leaders. Unfortunately, throughout history, Nepal has struggled to find leaders who are honest and loyal to the people and the nation. There's an English proverb that says, "Morning shows the day," meaning the morning's weather often predicts the day's weather. Similarly, the functioning of the government and system reflects the future condition of the nation. The 2007 Interim Constitution of Nepal was promulgated after a significant political change in 2006 following the adoption of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Seven Political Parties and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). The involvement of millions of people in the revolution led to the creation of the Constitution, as mentioned above, and, later, the Constituent Assembly. People expected the revolutionary leaders to prioritize the welfare of the people and the nation. Instead of the 209 members of the seven political parties and others elected to the then House of Representatives under the interim Constitution, they expanded the parliament to 330 members, including 73 from the Maoists, without holding an election. Similarly, they formed the Constituent Assembly with 601 members, seemingly to provide jobs to their acquaintances, including many inexperienced individuals. This indicated troubling times ahead for our political landscape, leaving people disillusioned. Despite collecting people's opinions during the Constitution-making process, the Constituent Assembly failed to give them due consideration, leading to growing dissatisfaction. Eventually, powerful parties began adopting dictatorial tendencies, suppressing the people's voices. Nepal transitioned to a secular state instead of a Hindu State, a Republic instead of a Constitutional Monarchy, and a Federal State with seven provinces instead of a unified Nepal with decentralized administration. It involved a large sum of money for the province's legislature, cabinet, and administration. When we observe the functioning of the present political system and the government, it becomes apparent that almost all parties prioritize their self-interest over honesty and serving the nation and its people. An example of this is the composition of the current government, which includes five deputy prime ministers among numerous other ministers. It is evident that having five deputy prime ministers is unnecessary, as even larger countries like India or China do not have such a high number. The prime minister appointed these deputy prime ministers not due to the workload or the country's needs but to solidify his alliances and support base, thereby maintaining his position of power. Similarly, the other party leaders who were appointed as deputy prime ministers were too self-centered to acknowledge that the country did not require so many deputy prime ministers. When we observe this, we can conclude that they will not hesitate to appoint five or more additional deputy prime ministers to further their self-interest, as all of them exhibit such self-centered behavior. We all understand that forming alliances among multiple parties is crucial for establishing and maintaining a government, particularly when no single party holds a majority in the House of Representatives. However, focusing solely on the distribution of power and positions rather than on collaborative agendas aimed at advancing the welfare of the people and the nation does not indicate a transparent and ethical system of governance. Such an approach does not serve the best interests of the country. Therefore, all parties committed to honesty and integrity should reject this practice. Additionally, various positions of advisors, secretaries, etc., are created in the country unnecessarily, primarily to accommodate loyalists and supporters. News of such appointments often surfaces, highlighting the practice of rewarding individuals with positions of power rather than assigning roles based on merit and necessity. The same system is followed in corporations, semi-government offices, universities, and even special class level administrators, who are equivalent to the ministries' secretaries and are created and appointed without any big responsibility, workload, or level when compared with the ministries' secretaries. That is undoubtedly unnecessary, irresponsible, and dishonest toward the nation. Honest and competent leaders in most countries create positions based on the nation's requirements, not to gratify individuals for their loyalty or support. A good system can be established when you give proper attention to small or big things. Dishonesty and corruption must be equally condemned in big or small matters. Only then will good governance and good management flourish in the country. Our leaders must acknowledge their mistakes and steer the country in the right direction honestly and sincerely. Botswana, an African country with an area of 581,730 square kilometers and a population of 2.4 million, was one of the poorest countries in Africa when it gained independence in 1966. However, it has undergone remarkable development since then. The economy has flourished since the mid-1960s, with the gross domestic product per capita increasing more than a hundredfold. Botswana operates as a republic, with the president serving as both the head of state and government. Sir Seretse Khama, the first president and leader of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), is credited with transforming Botswana into a developed, affluent, and politically stable democracy. It is widely acknowledged that Botswana has effectively tackled corruption, racial tensions, poverty, and dictatorship under his leadership. This achievement is attributed to the honest and capable leadership of Sir Seretse Khama and the implementation of excellent policies. According to the country's Constitution, the cabinet consists of the President, the Vice President, a maximum of six ministers, and three assistant ministers, all appointed by the President from the National Assembly. Additionally, the cabinet includes the permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary to the President. Sir Seretse Khama led by example, advocating for frugality and modesty among his followers and ministers. He famously encouraged government officials to adopt a modest lifestyle, symbolized by driving pickup trucks. More detailed information on this topic can be found in my article titled "Balen, Botswana, and Nepal," published in People's Review on June 8, 2022. I hope our current leaders will draw inspiration from Sir Seretse Khama's example and work towards developing the country honestly and responsibly, even in the most minor expenditures. narayanshanti70@gmail.com The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.