Without sounding too presumptuous (or a smarty-pants for that matter), I think I now understand why most government workers (and folks who work for big corporations) are very low on delivery. And why even the brightest of my friends who join government quickly become dodos. No, I will not mention them here. They know themselves. In fact, every time I call one of them, he quickly goes, “Ah Zik, my brother! Am in a small meeting.” Small meeting alright. He invariably never calls back. Because they are always hopping from meeting to meeting (and having workshops in-between), they have no time to implement what they discuss and learn. So effectively, the meetings and workshops become the work they do. And with that comes a reputation for arrogance and pomposity. It’s an unwritten rule that folks who spend their days behind closed doors are very, very important people. It’s akin to a fisherman going from one motivational talk to another for inspiration while all the while his boat and nets get eaten by termites at the lakeshore. Selah.
June 15, 2018 at 10:37 pm
This is sooo sad! And yet I actually laughed out loud.
God have mercy!
June 15, 2018 at 10:38 pm
Otulina!
June 15, 2018 at 10:40 pm
David come see problems ???
June 15, 2018 at 10:40 pm
I remember working for the ministry of agriculture back home. I went for so many workshops. I was a horticulturist but I remember so well how my colleagues in the irrigation department (and myself) went for so many “trainings” on how to implement Israeli style irrigation techniques to boost production and not rely on our erratic rainfall. It’s been a couple of decades since I left but I am sure the big bosses are still taking trips to Israel to learn about drip irrigation and horticulture and still planning something for the country!! At that time Zim could still feed itself and have excess for export. Now we import everything…and the “trainings”, meetings, workshops and seminars still continue!
June 15, 2018 at 10:41 pm
Just goes to show how excessive meetings are the blight of government departments and big companies, Prince Rufaro Makaya. And yes, it almost always get worse over time!
June 15, 2018 at 10:42 pm
Admittedly Jacob Zikusooka I was there for a decade or so. Government is like a melting pot. You come to work at 7am? For what? I was once challenged. Now am ‘born again’. As a result I have apathy for meetings and prioritize which to attend. Most meetings are unnecessary. Email & other technologies can get things done but the ‘good old meeting’ brings a sitting allowance etc. We just need to get things done.
June 15, 2018 at 10:42 pm
Has been my long standing issue: the number of meeting s. It just serves as a opportunity for a diatribe
June 15, 2018 at 10:43 pm
“The man with the key has gone.”
June 15, 2018 at 10:43 pm
He he he Andrew, the man with the key has gone? Ian Clarke’s book summed up our culture well!
June 15, 2018 at 10:44 pm
Hahahahaha Jacob that’s so funny here goes our taxes or better still our money
June 15, 2018 at 10:44 pm
Very true! Small meeting? and all the discussions end at the table…..sad!
June 15, 2018 at 10:45 pm
Amazima gakaawa
June 15, 2018 at 10:46 pm
….true… mukulu Zik …akawangamudde….
June 15, 2018 at 10:46 pm
So spot on!
June 15, 2018 at 10:47 pm
I hope they are reading and taking note… I’m happy farming!
June 15, 2018 at 10:47 pm
??♂️??? #TheresStillHope4Juma
June 15, 2018 at 10:48 pm
Juma likes the new position somehow! Is there still hope?
June 15, 2018 at 10:49 pm
esterday I received a call for a meeting in Busega… I reluctantly left my office (garden) in Kasanje at 13:00 hours and was only back at 17:35 hours! What a waste! The actual meeting was just 15 minutes (showing face to association “financiers”)… I really didn’t like it.
Afterwards, most scattered off to the next meeting as I returned to my real work at the farm.
I thought a lot about your post herein ?. It will take some time before I yield to another meeting invitation…
June 15, 2018 at 10:49 pm
I feel your pain, Joseph Muyeti;-)
June 15, 2018 at 10:50 pm
What is a bureaucracy without endless meetings? Let the tea parties continue nawe. It is where we get brilliant ideas like SIM card registration
June 15, 2018 at 10:51 pm
Lol Dora, power to the bureaucrats????
October 19, 2019 at 9:18 pm
You can simply hire a ghostwriter to do it for you!