As a journalist, it has been drummed into me that deadlines are crucial. Meeting deadlines has proved to be challenging at times, especially as reporters are dependent on the input of others, who may not be as quick off the mark as we would like. Nevertheless, most of us make deadline most of the time.
So, while I`m no expert on the time, effort and frustration that goes into putting together a document as far-reaching as the ICT industry`s empowerment charter, I have to wonder how it is possible for a process to suffer so many delays and still be "on track".
Without fail, every time I have enquired about the latest developments in the process, I have been told: "We are still sorting out outstanding issues..."
While it`s reasonable to say all parties concerned want a document that is representative across the board, why do the charter players keep committing to a deadline only to say later "we couldn`t make it, there are outstanding issues to be resolved"?
Especially when an industry is holding its collective breath to see how it should change its structures and operations to fall in line with the charter guidelines.
Final isn`t so final
As a case in point, take the release of the fourth and "final" draft, which was postponed several times.
Working group chairman Dali Mpofu explained that the delay was due to meetings taking place between the working group and the American Chamber of Commerce in a bid to reach agreement on critical issues such as equity ownership for multinationals.
After much debate, both groups reached consensus that there will be no blanket exemptions for any organisation from the requirement to comply with equity provisions.
Only then was the public able to view, criticise and make recommendations with regards to information contained on that fourth and final draft. And so, new "outstanding issues" had the potential to develop.
And so it continues...
I have to wonder how it is possible for a process to suffer so many delays and still be "on track".
Itumeleng Mogaki, Trainee journalist, ITWeb
In January, Mpofu said he was confident the charter would be in operation by 1 March. He asserted that "outstanding issues" identified at the National Economic Development and Labour Council workshop late in 2004 would be resolved.
On 16 March, charter players denied reports implying the charter had been derailed. However, they conceded the process had been significantly delayed and said a meeting was held to discuss "outstanding issues".
The following day Mpofu said there was "no crisis" with the ICT charter and there was no need to rush the job.
Stakeholders then said the charter would be in operation by mid-2005.
Then two industry sub-sectors - the Electronic Federation Industry and the American Chamber of Commerce - called for the charter to be closely aligned with the Department of Trade and Industry`s (DTI`s) Code of Good Practice.
Joe Mjwara, the new chairman of the empowerment charter steering committee, conceded that more amendments to the charter could be needed, but he echoed Mpofu`s words that the process was on track.
By the end of April, the steering committee said its members had been working around the clock to address the issues raised by various sub-sectors and they expected to present the document to government by "next week".
The following week the committee said it was waiting for the communications ministry to notify it about a "suitable date and time" to submit the document. The minister received the charter two weeks later.
When ITWeb checked up on the charter`s progress in the first week of July, Mjwara said the working group was still awaiting the release of the DTI`s Code of Good Practice before finalising the draft charter.
A week or so later, they had the code and were looking at it.
On enquiry, Mjwara said the committee "will consider the DTI`s code before finalising the draft charter".
So when will it be finalised? I asked. "Not sure," said Mjwara.
With "mid-2005" well behind us and no sign of a completed charter in sight, one has to assume that either the players are dragging their feet, or this will be the most comprehensive, universally satisfactory document ever - once it sees the light of day.
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