Nicola’s Notes: Economic recovery needs more than a plan

A plan without details is as useless as the paper it’s written on, argues Nicola Mawson.

South Africans have probably never laughed in such a unified manner as they did earlier this week when President Jacob Zuma took to the podium in Parliament to answer questions.

There was the usual EFF stance, with walk-out threats and disruptive behaviour; there was heckling and the cries of “point of order” that we have come to accept as the norm.

In fact, the circus we call Parliament is rapidly approaching prime-time viewing status. It’s really that funny.

And then Zuma said he couldn’t understand why he was always subject to such abuse, and if it continued, he wouldn’t be back.

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I’m no expert in constitutional law; it took me two years to pass that darn subject, and that was way back when. But don’t we have a right to ask the president to account for matters of government?

Nonetheless, I digress, what really, and seriously, made my head turn away from editing and actually watch instead of just listen, was when the DA asked Zuma what the nine-point plan to boost the economy was.

I’d like to know that, too.

Our honourable president’s response was that the MP in question should know that nine-point plan.

Well, forgive me.

I’m a business journalist. I read EVERYTHING. I write, I edit, I copy-taste. I still cannot, even if my life depended upon it, give you that nine-point plan.

Let’s look back to the February State of the Nation Address (SONA), which every journalist worth their salt sat through (some even enjoyed the protests more than the speech).

Here’s Zuma’s nine-point plan, as per that SONA (and allow me to note that this plan was first elucidated in 2015’s SONA, but we’ll get there just now):

The nine-point plan consists of:

* Revitalisation of the agriculture and agro-processing value-chain;

* Advancing beneficiation adding value to our mineral wealth;

* More effective implementation of a higher impact Industrial Policy Action Plan;

* Unlocking the potential of SMME, co-operativess, township and rural enterprises;

* Resolving the energy challenge;

* Stabilising the labour market;

* Scaling-up private-sector investment;

* Growing the Ocean Economy;

* Cross-cutting Areas to Reform, Boost and Diversify the Economy; Science, technology and innovation

* Water and sanitation

* Transport infrastructure

* Broadband rollout

* State owned companies.

And then Zuma said: “We have made significant progress in the implementation of the plan.” And spoke about the power grid being stabilised, some incentives, and - erm - a bit about bulk fishing vessels. He did, however, congratulate the private sector for helping alleviate the drought.

It was typical “politician speak” - use many words to say nothing of any value.

So, I went back to SONA 2015.

Same nine-point plan, a bit more detail.

To whit: stabilising the power grid, working with private sector on agriculture and manufacturing incentives, the promise of broadband rollout and infrastructure gains.

No wonder the DA chap was confused.

Every single one of the wins the president listed should be happening anyway. They in no way form part of some brilliant plan to rescue our precious economy from the doldrums. No sir.

It really should not be business as usual; we need to move, and move now.

And don’t tell me you’ve made strides in ubiquitous broadband when I’d have to go to some far-flung town where you are running your trial to find all five of the people who have benefited.

As far as I’m concerned, a plan is just that - and it’s useless without actual implementation.

And until we have someone who can implement, who has the political will to look further than the end of their glasses, we’re doomed.

It’s time, Mr President, to step aside.

* Nicola Mawson is the online editor of Business Report. Follow her on Twitter @NicolaMawson or Business Report @busrep.

IOL