On governance and development

As Malawians are registering for 2014 elections, it is time to look at issues of good governance and development. By casting their vote in next year’s elections, Malawians will exercise their right to choose a president, member of Parliament and councillor. But let us not forget what US president Barack Obama said in 2009 when he visited Ghana during his first visit on the continent in 2009: “development depends on good governance.” Governance refers to the administration of essential parts of the broad cluster of institutions. It would include the institutions involved in the process of collective decision making and offering checks and balances on political leaders; State capacity to provide public goods in diverse parts of the country as well as regulation of economic institutions, especially how State intervenes in encouraging or discouraging economic activities by various different actors, including investors. Malawians need to take part in public affairs to safeguard good governance and development. For instance, in Ghana and Botswana, the path of institutional improvements would not have been possible without the participation and support of their population. Good governance involves far more than the power of the State or the strength of political will. The rule of law, transparency and accountability are not merely technical questions of administrative procedure or institutional design. They are outcomes of democratisation driven not only by committed leadership but also by the participation of citizens and groups as well as contention of interests in society— processes that are most effective when sustained and restrained by legitimate, effective institutions. Development experts argue that good governance is development itself. Good governance is both an end and a means.

It is a key goal of development. Broadly construed, it is also an instrument for achieving better policy making and improved economic outcomes. The hallmark of an advanced developed society is a government that exhibits the attributes of good governance, such as transparency, rule of law, lack of corruption, voice and participation. Economists have recognised the importance of these attributes, but they have much less to say about how to achieve them. Economists are in the business of offering advice on governance as an end and have the tools that can provide analytical and occasionally prescriptive clarity to the issues. When most people hear the word “governance”; they think of “government” .

But governance is more than just government. Good governance addresses the allocation and management of resources to respond to collective problems. Governance is good if it supports a society in which people can expand their choices in the way they live, if it promotes freedom from poverty, deprivation, fear and violence and if it sustains the environment and women’s advancement. Speaking of the quality of a country’s governance is to mean the degree to which its institutions (parliament) and processes (electoral process) are transparent, accountable to people and allow them to participate in decisions that affect their lives. It is also the degree to which the private sector and organisations of the civil society are free and able to participate. It is good when government and its institutions are pro-poor and promote the human development of all citizens. Grassroots groups and citizens should demand self-government processes where they take a full and active part in determining policy and controlling basic resources at all levels.

For the good of their people, the capacity of weak African States—including Mali, Egypt Sudan and Somalia—to govern should be strengthened because countries that are well governed are both less likely to be violent and poor. So as Malawi will hold triple election next year let us try to strategise on the gap of governance issues and if we do that we will run away from what the people of Egypt are doing to their leaders. A country that protects human rights and promotes inclusion is less likely to have citizens who are alienated enough to turn to violence to address their problems.

The author is a project manager for Stephanos Foundation. He likes to comment on social issues