The idea of Mochapalong was aimed at mobilizing young people to take charge, actively participate in governance, and be deployed to municipal councils to drive service delivery. What we are currently seeing, experiencing and witnessing is not what we have ordered. As much as it is important to have young people leading in our municipalities, the focus was not supposed to be on identity over capacity. We made a big mistake by pushing for the appointment of youth based merely on their age or “birth certificate,” rather than capability, qualifications, or experience. In some municipalities and departments this has produced leaders less capable than those they replace.
Soldiers of Mochapalong are exposed by their nakedness and lack of consciousness. Strategic municipal departments like local economic development (LED) are not fostering sustainable economic growth, reducing poverty, and creating decent jobs by maximizing local potential. LED was meant to empower local government, businesses, and communities to collaboratively identify and develop economic opportunities, often integrated into Municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
Instead of building such departments, we are led by politically illiterate youth chosen on the basis of friendships and factions. Most of them are not prepared, educated, and capable of fighting corruption.
Ntate Raymond Zondo has attributed poor performance to the appointment of non-competent and unqualified individuals in municipal positions. Studies indicate that a shortage of technical expertise and qualified staff in key roles has severely hindered service delivery.
Thys Khiba is the Editor-in-chief of City Report and Free State Report.
