The social trust and leadership roles : revitalising duty bearer accountability in the protection of social and economic rights in Malawi and Uganda

Abstract

"The relevance of social and economic rights to societal welfare and well-being need not be overemphasised. The quality of life enjoyed by the citizenry is directly related to the level of enjoyment of social and economic rights in any particular country. However, the enjoyment of social and economic rights is, in turn, largely predicated on the manner in which national resources are managed and directed towards obligations raised by social and economic rights. It is axiomatic, therefore, to devise a framework that ensures that managers of public resources operate within an environment where their actions in relation to the management of national resources are governed by transparency and accountability. In the light of the above, this study explores the relationship that exist between the social trust concept and leadership roles, particularly in as far as duty bearer accountability for social and economic rights is concerned. The study argues that social trust based devices can be used to enhance duty bearer accountability in relation to social and economic rights and that such increased duty bearer accountability will automatically serve to better the welfare of the citizenry. The viability of recognising and enforcing social trust based accountability mechanisms is highlighted by exploring its relevance to Malawi and Uganda. The crux of the study is that public functionaries must always be amenable to censure by the citizenry if diligence is to be infused in the performance of their duties and the social trust concept offers adept mechansisms for achieving this." -- Abstract. This study consists of five chapters. Chapter one provides the context and foundation of the study. Chapter two is devoted to explaining the nature and scope of the social trust concept and how it can validly, if at all, be extended into the public law realm. Chapter two also expounds on some basic concepts employed in the study. Chapter three is aimed at providing and understanding of leadership roles and explaining their relevance to social economic rights. Briefly put, chapter three explores the interface between social economic rights and social trust based leadership roles. Chapter four discusses the benefits of revitalising a social trust based conception of leadership roles particularly by highlighting why Malawi and Uganda need social trust based leadership roles. The chapter also outlines how the benefits of a revitalised duty bearer accountability can be realised. Chapter five will present the study's conclusions and recommendations." -- Introduction.