After the SPPF once again won (?) elections there is a lot of anger in the hearts and minds of the Seychellois people. But it is an anger that one can understand, when one sees what is happening to this beautiful island nation. Some say it is nothing short of rape. Taking advantage of a nation's wealth to increase one's own would be considered a crime in many countries. But in this case the perpetrators sit in the highest positions, both politically and economically, and there is no entity in place to control them, let alone put an end to their wrongdoings.Granted, when Seychelles is compared to its neighbours on the African continent (as is often done), the country can be considered to be better off than most of those nations. One could even say that the current government has not done half such a bad job at running it, compared to, say, the Zimbabwean government. But what needs to be considered is the fact that the Seychelles, and hence the Mancham and René governments, had a good starting position. The natural beauty of the islands coupled with the rich fishing grounds provided a stable base for that fledgling economy which in turn could have reflected its wealth back to the people.
And siphoning off this wealth, coupled with mismanagement, be it out of carelessness, stupidity or plain ignorance, is rapidly deteriorating the country's situation. In other words, our headstart has all but worn out. I point again to the situaiton in Zimbabwe. France Albert René and Robert Mugabe do not seem to be too dissimilar people. Aging dictators, hiding behind a thin veil of multiparty democracy. One clinging to power in old age, the other now running the nation from behind the scenes. Both have been too busy filling their personal bank accounts and literally bashing their political opponents to notice their country's slide into economic ruin.
The people of Zimbabwe are now starving, their fields empty, their industries laid waste and their homes in darkness. Even if they had some food, their currency's inflation is so high that most Zimbabweans would not be able to buy it. Is this where Seychelles is slowly heading? Let the situation in Zimbabwe serve as a warning to the people of Seychelles, and its leaders. Let us hope that, for both countries, a brighter future lies at hand.
