Humphrey Mwanza MP says that it is sad that the PF government has not appointed anyone from North-western Province to full cabinet position. He says it is critical that the province is represented in Cabinet because most developmental discussions are done by the Cabinet.
Source: ZANIS / Zambian Watchdog
This is poor thinking at many levels. The key to development is not more regionally representative cabinet level discussions. Development won't come by talking. Development comes by the local community owning the development agenda. It is bottom up not top down. Mr Mwanza should be focusing on getting local people have a say in the development process by arguing for greater fiscal decentralisation and participatory budgeting.
The other problem with Mr Mwanza's point is that he does not seem to understand how government works. PF runs not the Executive. It is only one branch of government. It sets development priorities, but it is the legislature that approves the priorities. So government is already regionally representative through MPs. If people feel they are not well represented they should direct their effort on e during the Legislature is adequately representative and is holding the Executive to account.
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