The answer is in good governance

By Lydia Manyasi

How many limbs will pedestrians break, 
before holes on walkways are filled?
Yes, how will they tell that it’s safe to walk,
When shrubs have filled the same holes?

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

Hunger and starvation around us all, 
Yet there is enough to go round.
How difficult is it to transport surplus produce
To areas under the yoke of scarcity.

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

Do those concerned feign ignorance
That the causes of cancer can be avoided? 
Gastro, chest, throat or skin cancer, 
Grimy automobile exhaust could be cause?

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

Does it matter which period recorded more accidents?
So many lives lost this time compared to the same time last year!
A life lost is one too many! 
Must non-adherence to traffic rules be the norm?

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

Surveys, one after another on the corruption situation in the country 
Points to mismanagement in institutions.
Embezzlement of resources key among the ills the institutions suffer 
That leads to massive staff layoffs. Where lies the solution?

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

During the rainy season, we watch torrents of water flow past, 
Oftentimes with destruction in its wake. 
The dry spell sets in and we long for the water we watched flow past. 
Why has water harvesting remained elusive?

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

Just when you thought institutional reforms were on course
The morning headlines in the dailies read:
Billions syphoned by officials in institution A or B!
Enough is a remote notion to the looters!

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

Yes, and how many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, and how many ears must our leaders have
Before they can hear people cry?
Yes, and how many deaths will it take ’til they know
That too many people have died as a result of corruption?        

The answer, my friend, is in good governance.
The answer is in good governance.

And a deliberate choice to do the right thing.