When things are not going well in any set-up, there is always bound to be a blame game as people try to cleanse themselves of any guilt while apportioning the blame on others.
This week, an interesting and rather sorry debate has been sparked. It is all about the forex scarcity that has seen most operations crumbling. The effect that the forex shortage has had in most sectors and spheres of our lives has been telling.
To say the least, it is one bad situation a country can find itself in. Most if not all of our daily dealings in some way hinge on the availability of the sacred US dollar. The absence of the same means nothing can tick efficiently.
What has stirred the hornets’ nest is the traffic of foreign artists that are visiting Malawi to perform. Other quarters have raised questions as to how the event organisers are able to access forex to hire these foreign artists when a majority is failing.
At the centre of their reasoning and arguments, is the issue of prioritisation. They believe it bad to allocate someone forex for entertainment when the hospitals have run dry of medical supplies because of lack of forex. To them, the entertainment industry can wait until such a period when the situation is better.
On the other hand, the creatives are counter-arguing that entertainment is their business too. For them to eat at home, they need to hustle hard and part of that process is hosting the events. They say they are equally struggling to access forex just like everyone else.
If you look at the contrasting line of thoughts, you are compelled to feel sorry for both cases. The problem is there and sadly it is not their fault. Although the two sets want to create a solution at the expense of the other.
In an ideal situation, everything was supposed to be up and kicking. All sectors of life do complement each other and help in making life a wholesome affair. Suspending the engine of one side will create an imbalance that will also bring its sour effects.
What we all need to be doing now is to pin those responsible to bring forward solutions so that the situation changes for the better. The anger and frustration that we have over the situation should be directed at the right people.
Imagine if all the energy that people showed on social media over the issue was harnessed and directed at the duty bearers. I believe as they sit in their air-conditioned offices, that heat can reach them and jot them into taking decisive steps in addressing the problem.
People are suffering, businesses are collapsing and we are staring a total system failure. We are faced with a danger that will sting more than any disaster we have ever experienced. As a result of that anger and frustration, the finger pointing has creeped in.
Someone just needs to stand up and do their jobs properly. We need the situation to normalise, not just for one person or one sector, but for the benefit of everybody.
