What do you think of when you hear the term ‘government’? Does the President of the Republic come to mind? Or is it Parliament? Maybe you get a mental picture of a Minister in his or her office delegating duties and later following up to ensure that policies are implemented the way they are meant to be. Sometimes, you might even think about other words you associate with government, such as: authority, power, rules, laws, and politics.

It isn’t straightforward defining government, is it? Well, you are not alone. You see, government is so ingrained in our way of life that most of us, when quizzed about it, might struggle to offer a good definition of the actual word without resorting to Google. In any case, scholars of political science have all but agreed that whether we are referring to a system or institutions in operation, or a group of people in charge, government is by all means the authority that sets rules for society as a means to help us better relate to one another in the pursuit of happiness.

However, while defining government can play tricks on many, you can be rest assured that the same does not necessarily apply when it comes to how we measure the efficiency of a government. In fact, as several opinion polls have indicated, many of us find it relatively easy to answer: yes, no, or I don’t know, to the question: ‘is your government doing a good job?’

But, is it as simple as that? If not, what should we really look for when attempting to determine whether a government is doing a good job or not? Of course, while I admit that the assessment process is subjective and therefore open to conclusions, I maintain that out of very many key determinants, two factors standout as paramount in determining the efficiency of a government. They are; national security, and the delivery of public services.

National Security

There is a lot of truth in the argument that without security there can be no sustainable development. In fact, among people who cannot afford to relocate, insecurity and instability represent a great burden simply because they not only breed crime, violence, conflict, and corruption in many cases, they destabilise communities and drive away business.

Researchers, Ismail and Hendrickson, argue that there is evidence to suggest that shortfalls in safety and security contribute greatly to the persistence of poverty and underdevelopment. Conversely, they indicate that presence of security has been seen to contribute to development by way of assuring investors.  

But, while security is viewed as a human right and sometimes taken for granted by millions of people around the world, its provision is not guaranteed, and more importantly, depends less on availability of financial resources.

As we have seen recently in America and Europe, the availability of resources has not necessarily delivered a secure and threat-free environment for their citizens.

In Rwanda, on the other hand, the government with its limited resources, one can safely state that it has delivered a more secure environment today than at any other time in recent history. In my view, the government’s strategy to fully professionalise the security apparatus, and sensitise the population on the role of security in development have greatly contributed to the stability seen everywhere in the country.

Evidently, these efforts can be seen in rural areas, and more particularly, in urban areas, where military or police officers can be seen patrolling streets day and night, come rain or shine. Such a strategy breeds a sense of confidence among people and plays a key role in how citizens perceive their government’s seriousness regarding security. Also, while in Europe deploying military is done during a crisis, in Rwanda, it seems, this is done to prevent a crisis ever arising in the first place. Provide and guarantee that service, and as a government, it is a job well done.

The delivery of public services

The quality of life in Rwanda and elsewhere depends in no small measure on the quality of public services. When we think of public services, often, we think of health care, education, law enforcement, water and energy networks, certain infrastructure, and so on. To many people, the delivery of such services can sometimes mean the difference between life and death – hence becoming a key task for government.

Generally, people care about public services and depend on them being delivered well. You see, public services provide the most common interface between people and state organs, and their functioning in many ways shapes people’s sense of trust and satisfaction of a government. The Rwandan government has continued to register great achievements in this area especially by providing services that are centred around users, and most importantly, responsive to their needs, particularly the needs of the most vulnerable in our society.

In many ways, the efficient delivery of public services in this country has largely been enabled by the greater transparency and accountability of the delivery process, which I believe, allows for an ordinary citizen to assess the quality of the service being delivered especially at local level. Again, achieve this and you are sure to be an efficient government.  

Politics, the elephant in the room…

It would be insufficient to discuss government efficiency without mentioning the process in which government operates in; politics. And, while politics has sometimes been described as a ‘contact sport’, and a ‘dirty game,’ it nonetheless remains a very important vehicle to ensure good government. In fact, if as a people we pay attention to politics and how politicians conduct themselves, then ultimately we kick-start the all-important process of ensuring good government and good leadership. If we get lazy on the other hand, what we get is bad government and bad politics. It is that simple.

junior.mutabazi@yahoo.co.uk