When water is scarce... responsibility cannot be scarce either

My dear friends and readers of this newspaper, I must confess that there are subjects that make me truly skeptical. Not because they are difficult to understand, but because in ...

My dear friends and readers of this newspaper, I must confess that there are subjects that make me truly skeptical. Not because they are difficult to understand, but because in politics, it seems the blame never lies with those who have the duty to solve the problems. In recent days, there has been much talk about the water shortages in Almada.

Some blame the federal Government, others point to climate change, increased consumption, illegal connections, and anything else that can serve as an explanation. But I ask just one very simple question: who governs Almada? It is not the federal Government that manages the Municipal Water and Sanitation Services on a daily basis.

It is not a cabinet minister who decides when to invest in upgrading water mains, when to carry out network maintenance, or when to prepare an emergency plan to prevent thousands of families from being left without water. Those responsibilities belong to those who were elected to govern the municipality. This is precisely where many seem to want to confuse public opinion.

When everything is going well, photo opportunities, speeches, and ribbon-cuttings appear. When things go wrong, the blame is automatically shifted to Lisbon. So, where do we stand?

Do people only govern when there is good news? Anyone who accepts the position of Mayor knows full well what their responsibilities are. It is not enough to cut ribbons, hand out smiles, and show up at official ceremonies.

You have to ensure that essential services work, and few are as critical as the water supply. I say this also from the experience of someone who has held local government responsibilities. I served as a parish council president, and I always understood that the primary mission of any elected official is to solve people’s problems.

We cannot always do everything, because there are financial and legal limitations, but it never crossed my mind to look for excuses before looking for solutions. Did the supply network need more investment? Was maintenance sufficient?

Were the contingency plans prepared for a situation like this? These are legitimate questions, and citizens have every right to ask them. What frustrates me to hear is seeing national leaders of the Socialist Party quickly showing up to point fingers at the government, forgetting that Almada itself has been governed by the Socialist Party for several terms.

Consistency is also a part of politics. We cannot demand accountability from others and forget our own. Democracy thrives on accountability.

Those who govern must have the humility to recognize flaws, explain what happened, and, above all, present concrete solutions. That is what citizens expect from their representatives. Water is an essential commodity.

It has no political colour, it does not distinguish between parties, and it does not choose ideologies. When it is scarce, everyone suffers in the exact same way. Perhaps it is time for some politicians to realize that citizens are tired of the blame game.

People do not care who can give the loudest press conference. They just want to turn on the tap and see water come out. Because, at the end of the day, governing is not about finding scapegoats.

It is about taking responsibility and solving problems. And that is precisely what distinguishes a true leader from a mere politician. With all due respect to those who think differently, there are moments when reality speaks louder than any political speech.

Over the past few years, we have witnessed too many examples of poor management, unfulfilled promises, and a worrying tendency to look for culprits instead of taking responsibility. It is legitimate for every citizen to draw their own conclusions, but it is also legitimate to ask how many more times we will have to repeat the same mistakes before some stop believing that everything can be solved with campaign promises. Governing requires competence, vision, and responsibility.

When these are missing, it is always the citizens who pay the price. Have a great weekend! Augusto Bandeira/MS

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