The importance of electing local candidates who know the realities and needs of their communities can contribute to the economic development of municipalities, according to experts
Economists and agronomists highlighted yesterday, in Luanda, the importance of holding local elections to contribute to the country’s economic and social development. During the round table on local authorities, held by the Economic Research Center of the Lusíadas University of Angola (CINVESTEC) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, economist Carlos Rosado de Carvalho emphasized that, although local authorities are not the solution to all problems of the country, the proximity of decisions to individuals has been proven to be a more effective approach globally and in companies.
He argued that even municipalities facing challenges will perform better if their leaders are elected, highlighting the need for a change in the current structure for appointing municipal administrators. “Life happens in the municipalities”, paraphrased Carlos Rosado, questioning how people can prosper in these places if the same municipalities generate only 3.6% of the General State Budget (OGE) “It is not possible, in the same way that the Life is not made in the provinces, because the provinces only manage 10% of the OGE”, he highlighted.
The economist emphasized the importance of increasing the weight of local administration in the budget, revenues and expenses, as an indicator of economic development. He emphasizes that the greater the weight of local administration in the budget, revenues and expenses, the greater the country’s level of development. “Obviously there may be one or another exception, but this is the logic that everyone agrees on, just like the government itself, everyone agrees that local authorities will bring decisions closer to citizens and will lead to better governance and better performance of municipalities in economic terms”, he highlighted. For Carlos Rosado, the same resources, the same people (citizens who know the reality of the region) can bring better results for local authorities.
Growth of localities
The general director of CINVESTEC, Heitor Carvalho, highlighted that the election of mayors by people who live and know the local reality would bring relevant economic advantages. He emphasized that current municipal administrators are not sufficiently concerned with the needs of local communities, as they report mainly to the Central Government. “There is the ability to do better when you are elected than when you are appointed. It is a significant advantage, both in terms of accountability and in economic terms”, said Heitor Carvalho.
For the economist, the importance of electing local candidates who know the realities and needs of their communities can contribute to the economic development of the same locations. Agricultural engineer, Cesaltina Abreu highlighted that the slogan “life is made in the municipalities” was lost in time, as in the 164 municipalities there are cases of many that do not even have conservatories. “There are 64 municipalities without courts, we have always seen serious problems from the point of view of the health structure, which does not start at the base but rather with large hospitals”, she criticized.
The professor at the Catholic University of Angola, Cesaltina Abreu, highlighted that there is a deficit of at least 70 thousand teachers and around less than five thousand engineers across the country. “I believe that we need, in fact, to create the conditions to give meaning to the slogan. It is necessary that staying in the municipalities is not considered a fatality, which is what currently happens, because people do not have the conditions to live there, how to deal with their own documents, daily issues such as health and basic sanitation”, he said.
BY: Francisca Parente