Southern Highlands’ troublesome journey

SOME say Southern Highlands is having a resources curse.
Resources curse, also known as the paradox of plenty, refers to the paradox that we have an abundance of natural resources yet lag behind in economic growth, socio-economic infrastructure development and basic services.
If that is true then our overall aggregate growth as a resources rich province against the country is far less than we should have.
This is a sad state of affairs but we can change that if we have good leadership. Prudent stewardship at the provincial helm with strategic and focused services delivery to the sub-national can change things around.
That’s right, we can change for the better because we just cannot continue to be like this forever.
While the opposing pillars of Southern Highlands politics is entangled in court, the fate of the province’s leadership hangs in the balance and once again the delivery of services is in limbo.
When leadership is in chaos, uncertainty creeps in and our hope goes out the window.
How we can change for the better is the question on every Southern Highlander’s mind. Many believe that once a court determination is certain on the governor’s election, normalcy will return and business will go on as usual.
That, I personally do not think is possible because coming from this godforsaken part of the world, truce between the aggrieved parties, especially in a prolonged power struggle, is a rare commodity.
Instead, disaster is brewing, it is reaching boiling point and is ready to tip over. When and who will provide the tinder box to set things alight is the question.
Change in Southern Highlands has to come from us – the people.
We the people are the cause of all these tragedy and political manoeuvrings. Don’t blame the leaders because it all boils down to us and it is we who should change the way we see and treat politics. Politics is only the means to an end; the end is determined by how we embrace the turn of events and its consequences.
We must not allow ourselves to get lost in our tragedies because if we do then that is where we will stay.
There have been enough lessons about how we shape our future.
It starts with this simple question: Will we accept whatever that will come out of the court decision? Or, if the petitioner, Pastor Bernard, is successful in his petition for a re-count and wins, will we lay down our hatchets and work with him? Southern Highlands has never had a clergyman before in provincial leadership and it will be fitting for him to lead the flock in these days of tribulation.
Or if the scale of justice falls in favour of the incumbent governor, will we all leave our differences aside and work with him for the best interest of the province? He may not be a quintessential politician but he has grand ideas, a wealth of experience and a clear roadmap to drive the province forward.
Or Chief Joseph Kobol for that matter.
Kobol is an exotic figure with exceptional talent and character. And others I may not have mentioned here are equally capable.
Or better yet, if the case ends up in a by-election, will we unanimously accept that decision and go back to the drawing board?
Unless we are prepared to accept and embrace whatever decision comes our way with an open heart, forgiveness and tolerance as one people of one province, we will never be able to mover into a new era.

David Lepi
Ialibu, SHP