Presidential candidates should present long-term strategies

As the August 8 General Election nears, presidential candidates are busy making all manner of pledges. Details are scanty on just how the pledges will be implemented. As the politicians churn out manifestos, scholars have a duty to lead the way in analysing the different economic blueprints by political leaders,specifically the presidential candidates.

How viable are the policy documents? Trends from previous manifestos paint a gloomy picture. Very few politicians have implemented their campaign promises to a reasonable degree. As we await the launch of party manifestos, our people should not only demand to know the content of the manifestos, but also how the architects of these documents plan to implement them. It is up to the electorate to carefully scrutinise the policies presented to them before making the important decision to vote.