11 March 2008
Governor of Bamyan Dr Habiba Sorabi was recently in New Zealand to offer thanks for the work of the New Zealand Defence Force Provincial Reconstruction Team (NZPRT) and to further develop relations with key figures in Defence and Government.
The first female Governor in Afghanistan was also on a fact-finding mission to learn about local government and processes that she could implement in her homeland.
She spoke about Bamyan, education, the impact of the PRTs, and her hopes for the future of her people.
Habiba Sorabi is complimentary of the NZPRT but there is, she says, still a lot of work to be done.
“Our priority in Bamyan province is mostly infrastructure. Bamyan is a very needy area, a poor area. Our people want to have more development projects and more construction projects. I hope New Zealand can support them to do a good job. Of course, they are doing a great job now too,” Dr Sorabi, who was centrally appointed by President Karzai in 2004 as Governor of Bamyan, says.
“They (NZPRT) behave well towards other people, they have good coordination, they respect other cultures, our culture, which I appreciate a lot. I talk to Minister Goff and other decision makers about that a lot, that they are very good on the ground. So my people respect them and they are happy with that and I am happy with that. “
The key, she says, is to keep building on relationships and working on coordinating systems, not only with the PRT but specifically at a local level.
Naturally, construction depends on working times available, and the winter conditions in Afghanistan can be very tough for development, as people who have served there can attest.
Dr Sorabi notes that last year a main road was cut-off for two months by snow, and often only five to six months are optimal for working.
Despite these obvious ‘road-blocks’, and the increasing focus on the security situation in southern areas of the country, Dr Sorabi remains optimistic.
“Bamyan people are mostly very hopeful, of course from the security point of view there are major concerns, but the main concern that people have is construction and progress in development.
“The situation in the south is unfortunate. Having the PRT in Bamyan is very important because otherwise we would face the same kind of problems.”
Dr Sorabi indicates the PRT presence has also been significant in preventing potential unrest from any remaining warlords of the previous mujahadeen regime on borders of the province.
Success, although hard to come by, does occur and Dr Sorabi notes things are by-and-large improving in Bamyan, highlighting the now-complete road from the airstrip into town as a recent achievement.
Outside of security concerns, her belief in progress crosses into other areas. This is particularly evident in two areas close to her heart: women’s affairs and education.
When asked of the constitution outlining the roles and responsibilities of women that passed in 2003, Dr Sorabi says that legislation is important to make a change in the lives of Afghani women. Nonetheless, she says, once that change is made Afghani women must move forward and take advantage of it.
“When we want to change the life of women, we have to change the law. This is very important. That’s why this legislation and our contribution is very important.”
As former Women’s Affairs Minister in the Afghani transition government coupled with her own background in higher learning, Dr Sorabi is passionate about education, specifically its availability and accessibility. In particular, she advocates higher education to enhance the present standards of professional teachers in her province.
“Education is the key, it is through education that we can understand many other things,” Dr Sorabi says.
“The people are very interested in education and there is no, God bless us, no single example of bombing a school in my area.”
One thing she is especially proud of is raising the number of students in schools, and Bamyan currently has the highest proportion of girls studying at school than any other province in Afghanistan.
Her own children are also making their way through the education system, in Afghanistan and abroad.
There is a cautious optimism about her, one that acknowledges the incredibly challenging situation her people face balanced by the temperance of hope and a quiet determination toward achieving prosperity.
Dr Sorabi’s determination was established whilst actively campaigning for women’s rights during the mujahadeen and Taliban periods of rule over Afghanistan.
It was an activism shaped by the removal of relative liberty and equality for women - that Dr Sorabi herself experienced while studying for her doctorate in haematology - and the imposition of controls and oppression of women.
Decades of strife have shattered Afghanistan and the people - aided by external help - have been left to rebuild the basic foundations of society.
Dr Sorabi is clear about what needs to be done: basic infrastructure needs to be fixed and security concerns allayed.
“Infrastructure is a problem for us at the top of the province, particularly roading, as it is a very poor area. Getting to the other provinces and the capital, Kabul, is difficult so having connections and communication with the other areas is very difficult,” Dr Sorabi says.
“This is our top priority, and of course, drinkable water and energy are key things and challenging areas that we have to work on also.”
She also has long-term goals for Bamyan and sees great potential in tourism.
Although the Buddhas of Bamyan were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001, Bamyan remains an historically important region, particularly from a religious point of view.
Dr Sorabi says Bamyan’s natural landscape, particularly the Band-e Amir lakes, are also assets and these options are included in a draft policy for tourism development.
Catching herself briefly Dr Sorabi puts her pragmatic cap back on and tempers her vision, noting: “Of course, transportation and infrastructure for tourism is very important.”
A Governor, a doctor, a mother, an activist, a diplomat; Dr Habiba Sorabi is many things.
One senses however, these are just bit-parts to the wider goals of growth and hope toward establishing a positive future for her people.