Genesis or Eskom

ANONYMOUS WRITES:

And God said, “let there be light”, and there was light. God saw, that the light was good and he separated the light, from darkness. God called the light, “day” and the darkness, He called “night”. And there was evening, and there was morning – the first day of creation – the big bang generator of the sun.

1990 was the dawn of a new era. Swawek became NamPower, and provided a steady reliable source of electricity, for the development of Namibia. The power sources were diversified, from Van Eck, Paratus, Ruacana, solar, wind and the Southern African Power Pool, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. Hydrogen energy is planned for the future, plus offshore oil/gas and biofuel from bush encroachment.

Namibia has a contract with Eskom to supply about 60 percent of our needs. We don’t experience the economically crippling load shedding of Eskom (South Africa). We pay for our electricity. We provide cash flow to keep the “electricity shortage commission” from blacking out. Congratulations to NamPower, a reliable partner.

In South Africa, the orange lights of a pending power crisis started flashing in 2008. We, in SADC experienced a very successful Soccer World Cup in 2010, but then the Zuma/Gupta state capture era started.

People were promised RDP housing, with light, water and sanitation. This needed extra power. However, there was no culture of payment for services, only rights.

Eskom debt skyrocketed. Medupi and Kusile power stations were mismanaged. Debt now stands at R400 billion! The price of corruption and incompetence. Electricity is stolen with illegal connection and copper wiring sold. The Zondo Commission exposed this abscess of corruption, leading to the imprisonment of Zuma, for contempt of court and riots, looting in KZN, Gauteng, costing R50 billion worth of damage, job losses and massive loss of investor confidence. Immigration of skilled people soared, more economic sabotage.

Senior experienced staff at Eskom were given retrenchment packages. Inexperienced cadres were employed. Zondo exposed this weak link.

In the meantime, all senior political figures were shielded from load shedding, with solar panels and generators for comfort, security and internet (animal farm scenario).

Voters were left in the dark!

If the president and his cadres can steal, why can’t I? Corruption is the new epidemic. It is contagious. My time to eat has come?

The golden baton of public service, by Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, was dropped by Zuma. The liberator, became the predator, under the blanket of power entitlement. Eskom planning and maintenance was neglected, and with the savings, non-performance bonuses were paid out.

Can Cyril Ramaphosa turn the tide of looting and mismanagement? We pray that he can. We share this place (SADC) for a better future, we all belong in the spirit of Ubuntu and Harambee.

We need to change our attitude! Think not what this country can do for you, but what you can do for this country – JFK.

If you contribute, give, you will also receive. Thank you for what we are about to receive and share. Where there is opportunity and effort, there is reward. Apply the M.P.H principles of Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore, who lifted his small country from a WWII swamp to a world metropolis.

M-Merit: Qualifications, experience, performance, irrespective of background – competence (the best predictor of future performance is past performance, not intentions).

P-Pragmatism: Cooperation, coordination, compromise, discretion – common sense, insight.

H-Honesty: Integrity, truth, respect, credibility, transparency, accountability.

True leaders, like Mandela, served their cause and voters. Empty promises (manifestos) will no longer con “born frees” in future.

We cannot go into the future with lip service, self-service and leftover services.

Invest in a professional civil service – or state-owned enterprise’s (SOE) of excellence, with no political (hidden agenda) interference.

A Luta Continua!

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