High stakes in prison promotions

By John Gerezani

It’s time to roll out the dice my good people. The chances are aplenty just as the stakes are high even if fears abound that the exercise could as well go the way of the previous ones.

Come to think of it, Izzo should covertly deploy anti-graft sleuths since many prospective candidates could be taking emergency loans and sourcing funds from relaz to grease palms.

In the January 18 piece, l took a swipe at Wiper and his PS for failing to honour the words they eloquently spoke on promotions and capacity building at last year’s neti centenary fete. But l can now authoritatively state that my source at HQ Signals has indeed confirmed that the exercise is about to take off as shortlisting at the stations level is ongoing.

Public interest

I have to admit that my inbox has of late been inundated with mail from smarters seeking to sway me one way or the other, but l have to make it clear that this paper does not serve personal or partisan, but public interest. Be it as it may, let me sum up the general concerns in the best way l can.

1.The unimplemented Madoka report talked of the "Ukoo Wa Jela" culture, nepotism, cronyism and tribalism so to speak. I have reports of panellists shortlisting their relaz for promo. In another version, the panellists cut deals such that those sitting in say, Coast Province, propose to their counterparts in the other provinces on who to pick and otherwise.

Article 75(1) of the Constitution is succinctly clear that a state officer shall behave, whether in public or official life, in private life or in association with other persons (a) in a manner that avoids any conflict between personal interests and public or official duties and (b) avoids compromising any public or official interest in favour of a personal interest.

Naming and shaming

To that end l urge all smarters to keep their antenna up and report to the editor proof of any shenanigans and we will name, shame and get the jokers disciplined.

2. Granted that this is the first exercise of this magnitude happening under the new Constitution, it is imperative that the national values espoused in Article 10 be factored in to lend the process credibility. We expect to see tribal and regional balance, gender parity, respect for minorities and inclusivity at play. I hope nobody is being paid to expunge incriminating records from some file somewhere.

3. Since the Constitution demands for the participation of the people in such an exercise, the panellists must invite and consider peer reviews of the candidates as well as views of netizens before entering a final decision. This is the only sure way of weeding out those who have tortured/killed netizens, stolen from the ration stores, extorted chwaa from netizens or shagged our wifeys and galfies. Should the panellists fail to take heed of these express constitutional provisions, then they can be certain that someone will sue to declare the entire exercise a nullity.

4.This may look uncompromising, but since the Constitution calls for transparency and accountability, then PHQ has no option but to publish in the media all the names, tribe, county of origin, gender and stations of work of the selected candidates so as to meet the minimum threshold and thus avoid fuelling rumours that two tribes have been getting majority of promotions at the expense of others.

That is a brief sum up of the mails I’ve received from smarters across the divide. It could as well be alleged that some only want to ruffle feathers but whoever ignores such substantive issues should be a prime candidate for an asylum since precedents abound even from the last intake of smarters and cadets.

Interesting times

Other than the NCO’s numerous slots await those going for the Chief Officer l and ll ranks even as there are fears that some dudes are intending to throw a spanner in the works should their lot be overlooked. We are headed for interesting times as the social media sites become the declared battleground.

Finally let me congratulate Izzo on the upgrade of his rank from PG 14 to PG 15. That means more serious epaulets and more chwaa. Could he please ask Wiper to table a Bill seeking an upgrade of our earning scheme from the measly 30cents (which is also never paid anyway).