Thu, 23 Mar 2017 12:58:33 +0000 Populist politics are fast becoming the bane of cogent public policy. Good Government and social cohesion are invariably eclipsed by glib and often empty promises that offer reckless and mindless solutions to complex issues such as funding of universities. Populism has been described as pandering to what is popular, reinforcing public prejudices irrespective of their validity, over-simplifying and distorting policy options, taking the politically expedient rather than optimal or principled course. This is exactly what Mazabuka Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo exhibited yesterday when he advanced a private member’s motion in Parliament, urging Government to extend loans to all students attending classes at the University of Zambia. Couched in highly endearing and paternalistic language, an impression was created that Government was derelict and remiss for not funding students in dire financial need. The motion was supported by none other than former Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia […]
