1. WHY TECHNOCRATS ARE LIKELY TO FAIL AS MINISTERS

In last few days I have found myself in various exchanges, where I have been trying to explain why technocrats are likely to make poor Ministers. Many have been intrigued by my reasoning, especially as I qualify to be one.

2. So what’s my logic? First, let’s define a technocrat. It is a person who is appointed to a position, often a very senior one, on the basis of their technical expertise.

Yet the successful delivery of programme of government is more dependent on political influence!

3. Already one can see, why a technocrat is likely to fail; they don’t have the political capital to influence. Most of government business requires engaging and influencing across other ministries. Those who have been through the mill of elections will always feel they have ...

4. ... greater mandate than technocrats. They can ignore what the technocrat is saying, unless of course he is able to build his or her own capital via alliances. However this is not a skill most technocrats will have. On skills, the work of government requires more than ...

5. ... technical skills, but political and social skills too. For a Minister building a bridge is more about political choice than civil engineering. For instance the first order question of whether or not a bridge is built in Muzarabani, Bocha or Musambakaruma is political

6. Most technocrats will not have the relevant skills to deal with this one. Then there is an issue of accountability. Ministers in government by virtue of being elected know that they can be panished via elections if they don’t deliver, they will lose their political power.

7. A technocrat has no such political power, and therefore has nothing to lose, well maybe they have very little - personal reputation. This means it’s highly likely that a technocrat’s incentive will deviate from those of the electorate. For this reason they are likely not ...

8. ... to be trusted by others in cabinet who are unified by common political interests or threats! The technocrat minister is an outsider. One can imagine what was happening at ZANU-PF HQ when @MthuliNcube was talking about yield curves.

9. In short, the job of a Minister is not suited to technocrats, no matter how talented they are. Technocrat are likely to lack the political capital, skills and trust among peers, to be successful. With these weaknesses they often get captured.