Call me ignorant, or coconutty, as some have since decided to call me since I say 'bad things' about 'our leaders. But tell me, or may I say, enlighten me here. Is Julius Malema the deputy president to our prez, JG Zuma? I wonder really.
The young and easily incitable dude from Limpopo is seen with Zuma on a daily basis, something that makes me want to arrive to my next question as to when does he ever 'think' about us, the youth of South Africa.
During the June 16 celebrations that were held at a place that I was too ignorant to know where it was (possibly Soweto) a man arrived on stage and said something to do with how nobody can unsit Zuma. Now please! Aren't we over such unfortunate comments since Zuma is comfortably in power?
Don't we have better things to talk about than keep on campaigning for a man who is already in power, and on such an important day for the youth? We have crime, disease, corruption, poverty, education, unemployment, all things that need our urgent attention, but a man, older than 33, is still campaigning when actually we have a newly elected government, the one of his choice nogal.
As I listened to a recent interview between a popular talk show host interviewing one Teddy Fletcher (the young entrepreneur who came with an idea of a college that would help the youth of South Africa, particularly those from disadvantaged communities) a chance to unleash their potential I stopped looking at government, or any institution for that matter, as the alpha and omega of the development of this country.
Fletcher believes that every living individual has the ability to make a change for the betterment of their country and ultimately themselves. He further argued that there is no one government in the world that can do everything for everyone, not even rich governments like the USA or Britain. He said that for us to contribute to the positive change of this country we need to invest our precious times in giving back to our communities through teaching the children, the next generations, how to further contribute to their country or communities.
It's high time we realized that the government can only do so much. Even the government that will come after Jacob Zuma will have serious issues to deal with before anything was really done to a majority of people. Let's take a stand as South Africans and believe that yes we can do a lot for our country, yes we can meet our government halfway, or else we shall meet a few years later and just have presidents just reproducing what others before them have said during such meetings as the one Zuma was part of today, that the youth must take charge, or such cliches.
The original was first published by the Cape Times
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Any new voice welcome, By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
New National Party South Africa? Whoa? Yes, that was exactly my response amid the news that that party would be re-launching in November this year (2008). Even though I was taken aback by the news, unlike former NNP leader, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, I didn't find the news to be a joke, hence I am engaging in the matter through this platform.
As a young South African I actually find it very interesting a development that such is happening, or about to happen in our new South Africa with a maturing democracy. It is very unfortunate that in a country of almost 47 million people the official opposition is a good distance away from the ruling party when it comes to voting support. I have said it before in this space and elsewhere that it is very dangerous to have such an unhealthy state of politics where people vote historically, and not based on the performance of their organisations of choice.
In South Africa people still vote based on the colour of their skin where black people still favour black led organisations, and white people on white led organisations, and that, unfortunately, is a historic fact. Most voters, particularly black voters, do not vote based on what their party of choice is doing or has done for them, but rather they vote just to keep that party in power and hope for the best. A dangerous fact.
Just like playing in a team with a big name star, pass him the ball and wish him luck, it doesn't matter if the said athlete is fit or not fit, and usually the said individual will start to show arrogance by only pitching for training and matches only when, or if he wishes because he is guaranteed a place anyway, so why bother?
The ANC is practising such behaviour towards the people who vote for them because they (the ANC) are comfortable where they are. After all, didn't its current President once say that his party will rule until Jesus comes back?
The re-launching of the NNP SA will be talked about in the coming days, and good debates are most welcome in democratic states, right? Some people are going to criticise the party along racial lines before even making an effort to know what the party really stands for, while some are going to judge it on the failures made by the original NP, and its predecessor, the Marthinus van Schalkwyk led NNP.
While the ANC might make jokes of the NNP SA, there is one party that should really feel threatened by this new development, and that is the Democratic Alliance (DA). It takes no rocket science to know that DA currently enjoys a wide white following, particularly in major cities, and for the NNP SA to succeed they will need, first, to convince white South Africans of its intentions, historic voting as I mentioned earlier on. Only if South Africans voted based on what their party of choice was doing for them, than simply on blinded loyalty will we be in a real democratic state, sound democracy to be precise. There has been much talk lately about an alternative political party that will represent South Africa as a whole. Well, sexy idea, just like a teenager telling his sweetheart they will buy them a Range Rover when they can't even afford a packet of chips.
One of those things that are easier said than actually done. The good thing about the reformation such as the NNP SA is that it shows that there are South Africans who feel unrepresented in parliament, and they want their voices to be heard as well. And to me that is exactly what South Africa needs right now, different voices in pursuit of one common goal, a better South Africa for all.
The biggest downfall of the NNP SA, however, will be if it became a party for a few, by that I mean a party for a certain racial or tribal group. That will not only be a blunder by that party, but also a step backward to South Africa's efforts of being a united nation. Political Parties like the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Freedom Front Plus are good examples of how isolated a party can be if it tribalised itself.
Such parties are almost non-existent today thanks to such tribal thinking, only their leaders become more and more prominent as they grow weaker. Remember Gatsha Buthelezi? He is one such leader. This may be a crazy thought by a sane person (me), but we need a party without agendas, a party with the interests of South Africa as its standing point. We need the South Africa that will have parties at each other's throats in terms of voters.
Today the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), just like its historic brother, the ANC have two factions, totally divided while the IFP is a Shadow of its former self thanks to Gatsha and his crazy right hand men. South Africa needs a new voice, I am not sure if the NNP SA will be that voice that we so desperately need. Fact is we need it and what form it takes is of no relevance to me and are sure most sane South Africans feel the same way. I wish the NNP SA all of the best if it is for South Africans.
This first appeared in the Cape Times
New National Party South Africa? Whoa? Yes, that was exactly my response amid the news that that party would be re-launching in November this year (2008). Even though I was taken aback by the news, unlike former NNP leader, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, I didn't find the news to be a joke, hence I am engaging in the matter through this platform.
As a young South African I actually find it very interesting a development that such is happening, or about to happen in our new South Africa with a maturing democracy. It is very unfortunate that in a country of almost 47 million people the official opposition is a good distance away from the ruling party when it comes to voting support. I have said it before in this space and elsewhere that it is very dangerous to have such an unhealthy state of politics where people vote historically, and not based on the performance of their organisations of choice.
In South Africa people still vote based on the colour of their skin where black people still favour black led organisations, and white people on white led organisations, and that, unfortunately, is a historic fact. Most voters, particularly black voters, do not vote based on what their party of choice is doing or has done for them, but rather they vote just to keep that party in power and hope for the best. A dangerous fact.
Just like playing in a team with a big name star, pass him the ball and wish him luck, it doesn't matter if the said athlete is fit or not fit, and usually the said individual will start to show arrogance by only pitching for training and matches only when, or if he wishes because he is guaranteed a place anyway, so why bother?
The ANC is practising such behaviour towards the people who vote for them because they (the ANC) are comfortable where they are. After all, didn't its current President once say that his party will rule until Jesus comes back?
The re-launching of the NNP SA will be talked about in the coming days, and good debates are most welcome in democratic states, right? Some people are going to criticise the party along racial lines before even making an effort to know what the party really stands for, while some are going to judge it on the failures made by the original NP, and its predecessor, the Marthinus van Schalkwyk led NNP.
While the ANC might make jokes of the NNP SA, there is one party that should really feel threatened by this new development, and that is the Democratic Alliance (DA). It takes no rocket science to know that DA currently enjoys a wide white following, particularly in major cities, and for the NNP SA to succeed they will need, first, to convince white South Africans of its intentions, historic voting as I mentioned earlier on. Only if South Africans voted based on what their party of choice was doing for them, than simply on blinded loyalty will we be in a real democratic state, sound democracy to be precise. There has been much talk lately about an alternative political party that will represent South Africa as a whole. Well, sexy idea, just like a teenager telling his sweetheart they will buy them a Range Rover when they can't even afford a packet of chips.
One of those things that are easier said than actually done. The good thing about the reformation such as the NNP SA is that it shows that there are South Africans who feel unrepresented in parliament, and they want their voices to be heard as well. And to me that is exactly what South Africa needs right now, different voices in pursuit of one common goal, a better South Africa for all.
The biggest downfall of the NNP SA, however, will be if it became a party for a few, by that I mean a party for a certain racial or tribal group. That will not only be a blunder by that party, but also a step backward to South Africa's efforts of being a united nation. Political Parties like the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Freedom Front Plus are good examples of how isolated a party can be if it tribalised itself.
Such parties are almost non-existent today thanks to such tribal thinking, only their leaders become more and more prominent as they grow weaker. Remember Gatsha Buthelezi? He is one such leader. This may be a crazy thought by a sane person (me), but we need a party without agendas, a party with the interests of South Africa as its standing point. We need the South Africa that will have parties at each other's throats in terms of voters.
Today the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), just like its historic brother, the ANC have two factions, totally divided while the IFP is a Shadow of its former self thanks to Gatsha and his crazy right hand men. South Africa needs a new voice, I am not sure if the NNP SA will be that voice that we so desperately need. Fact is we need it and what form it takes is of no relevance to me and are sure most sane South Africans feel the same way. I wish the NNP SA all of the best if it is for South Africans.
This first appeared in the Cape Times
Once upon a dream
Once upon a dream, By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
I am not a big dreamer (at night in my sleep, I mean), actually when I do it is about half naked women I usually fantasise about (Girl friend, look away). But recently I had a dream (Nothing of the Martin Luther King Jr sort). Mine was a horrendous one, futuristic to be precise. Jacob Zuma was a president of the country, can't really tell if it was from behind bars, or if he actually occupied an office in the Union Buildings, but he was anyway.
All prisoners were out on presidential pardon, with Shabir Shaik suddenly 'healthy,' smoking cigars straight from Cuba, sipping the most expensive fermented liquids on offer (Babylon waters as we, the rastas, will call them), with beautiful half naked young thangs on sight (the kanga wearing type). NB: I said kanga wearing type, and not kangaroo court, as there is a court by that name, according to young militants.
Thabo Mbeki, he of the 'I am an African fame, was now living in Harare, Zimbabwe. South Africa was now a safe haven for corruptible human beings under the name tag, politicians. Remember the Modise guy who cost Willy Madisha his presidency? He was now a prominent man in the ANC circles, now donating money in orange bags, and groovy times were suddenly here. Animal groups like the one that almost gave Tony Yengeni a tough time were now non-existent as animals were now being killed at an alarming rate as a form of celebration of the better days to come.
The national anthem had been changed to El Presidente's favourite Nguni song of struggle and it was strictly sung by young women wearing only a kanga. There were no longer strikes as the likes of Vavi, Malema, Nzimande, and Phosa were always out of the country accompanying the Prez, and how do I omit Mantashe there. Oh, now I know whether the Prez was in orange uniform or not.
In the media front, the Bulgarian intellectual aka Snuki Zikalala was now the official Group Chief Executive of the so called public broadcaster. He had just been sworn in with Julius Malema as the guest of honour. All news by the public broadcaster was now in Nguni languages, particularly the one widely spoken in the Kwazulu Natal Province of king Shaka. It was 2009, towards the 2010 FIFA World cup, and there were serious talks over the naming, and renaming of soccer stadiums, with the FNB, the biggest stadium that will host the first and the last game of the world cup about to change its name to Julius Malema stadium, a development young Jules was not very happy about as he fencied an airport to be named after him at least, the Cape Town international as his personal favourite, but the Prez had other ideas for his Jules, lucky moron, I thought as my dream proceeded.
Judge President Pius Langa had now made way for the honourable John ''the wine maker'' Hlophe. The scorpions were now a thing of the past. The high courts were such low key that their only function was that of dealing with those who were pushing for Zuma to be tried, very few since most of them were now living in foreign countries like Botswana and Mauritius. And by the way, the former youth league president, Fikile Mbalula, was now an honorary Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, an effort by the organisation of comrades to transform the institution that housed such house hold Afrikaans names like D.H Malan amongst its most prominent ''studente.''
Fraud, corruption, 'killing,'' was not as punishable as criticising Malema in a daily newspaper was. Blatant corruption at municipal level was the order of the day, and was regarded as an understandable error by a comrade. Villages had no reliable water supplies, nothing new there. More and more educated people were moving abroad, with Australia as the most likely destination, and a few extremists even went to countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, and my family was reiterating a move to Cambodia, grand pa's wish for his 90th.
Now my sleep was becoming really uncomfortable, and I woke up, dripping in sweat. Now, looking at that dream, all those things are possible looking at how much of a cult hero Zuma has become. Dictators, as a former professor of mine once said ''are the most likely to become cult heroes because of the fears people around them have, Zuma is a cult hero, only of a certain kind. It doesn't matter what they do, to their supporters they are always right.
Dangerous.
Mugabe, anyone? What is currently happening in Pietermaritzburg is a shame, prominent politicians dancing and making those crazy statements about ''the president of the ANC.'' We have reached a point as a country were the supposed defenders of the law have become the aggressors of it.
Who could have thought that Matthews Phosa, one of the authors of our potent constitution would stoop to such lows? What of Gwede Mantashe, a former voice of reason when it came to the most important things affecting our people would go to such lows? Supporting Zuma is one thing, but disrespecting the courts like that should be seen by all as a crime. It seems like we have more criminals trusted with public office than we actually do at our already full prisons. I am officially afraid of where this country is headed. Have we reached a point of no return thanks to the ANC as a commentator once said?
NB: Once upon a dream was written in mid 2008 before Zuma became a President of the Republic of South Africa. You only have to look at what has since happened since then to understand, and to a certain degree, appreciate South Africa. No newspaper published it.
I am not a big dreamer (at night in my sleep, I mean), actually when I do it is about half naked women I usually fantasise about (Girl friend, look away). But recently I had a dream (Nothing of the Martin Luther King Jr sort). Mine was a horrendous one, futuristic to be precise. Jacob Zuma was a president of the country, can't really tell if it was from behind bars, or if he actually occupied an office in the Union Buildings, but he was anyway.
All prisoners were out on presidential pardon, with Shabir Shaik suddenly 'healthy,' smoking cigars straight from Cuba, sipping the most expensive fermented liquids on offer (Babylon waters as we, the rastas, will call them), with beautiful half naked young thangs on sight (the kanga wearing type). NB: I said kanga wearing type, and not kangaroo court, as there is a court by that name, according to young militants.
Thabo Mbeki, he of the 'I am an African fame, was now living in Harare, Zimbabwe. South Africa was now a safe haven for corruptible human beings under the name tag, politicians. Remember the Modise guy who cost Willy Madisha his presidency? He was now a prominent man in the ANC circles, now donating money in orange bags, and groovy times were suddenly here. Animal groups like the one that almost gave Tony Yengeni a tough time were now non-existent as animals were now being killed at an alarming rate as a form of celebration of the better days to come.
The national anthem had been changed to El Presidente's favourite Nguni song of struggle and it was strictly sung by young women wearing only a kanga. There were no longer strikes as the likes of Vavi, Malema, Nzimande, and Phosa were always out of the country accompanying the Prez, and how do I omit Mantashe there. Oh, now I know whether the Prez was in orange uniform or not.
In the media front, the Bulgarian intellectual aka Snuki Zikalala was now the official Group Chief Executive of the so called public broadcaster. He had just been sworn in with Julius Malema as the guest of honour. All news by the public broadcaster was now in Nguni languages, particularly the one widely spoken in the Kwazulu Natal Province of king Shaka. It was 2009, towards the 2010 FIFA World cup, and there were serious talks over the naming, and renaming of soccer stadiums, with the FNB, the biggest stadium that will host the first and the last game of the world cup about to change its name to Julius Malema stadium, a development young Jules was not very happy about as he fencied an airport to be named after him at least, the Cape Town international as his personal favourite, but the Prez had other ideas for his Jules, lucky moron, I thought as my dream proceeded.
Judge President Pius Langa had now made way for the honourable John ''the wine maker'' Hlophe. The scorpions were now a thing of the past. The high courts were such low key that their only function was that of dealing with those who were pushing for Zuma to be tried, very few since most of them were now living in foreign countries like Botswana and Mauritius. And by the way, the former youth league president, Fikile Mbalula, was now an honorary Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, an effort by the organisation of comrades to transform the institution that housed such house hold Afrikaans names like D.H Malan amongst its most prominent ''studente.''
Fraud, corruption, 'killing,'' was not as punishable as criticising Malema in a daily newspaper was. Blatant corruption at municipal level was the order of the day, and was regarded as an understandable error by a comrade. Villages had no reliable water supplies, nothing new there. More and more educated people were moving abroad, with Australia as the most likely destination, and a few extremists even went to countries like Afghanistan and Iraq, and my family was reiterating a move to Cambodia, grand pa's wish for his 90th.
Now my sleep was becoming really uncomfortable, and I woke up, dripping in sweat. Now, looking at that dream, all those things are possible looking at how much of a cult hero Zuma has become. Dictators, as a former professor of mine once said ''are the most likely to become cult heroes because of the fears people around them have, Zuma is a cult hero, only of a certain kind. It doesn't matter what they do, to their supporters they are always right.
Dangerous.
Mugabe, anyone? What is currently happening in Pietermaritzburg is a shame, prominent politicians dancing and making those crazy statements about ''the president of the ANC.'' We have reached a point as a country were the supposed defenders of the law have become the aggressors of it.
Who could have thought that Matthews Phosa, one of the authors of our potent constitution would stoop to such lows? What of Gwede Mantashe, a former voice of reason when it came to the most important things affecting our people would go to such lows? Supporting Zuma is one thing, but disrespecting the courts like that should be seen by all as a crime. It seems like we have more criminals trusted with public office than we actually do at our already full prisons. I am officially afraid of where this country is headed. Have we reached a point of no return thanks to the ANC as a commentator once said?
NB: Once upon a dream was written in mid 2008 before Zuma became a President of the Republic of South Africa. You only have to look at what has since happened since then to understand, and to a certain degree, appreciate South Africa. No newspaper published it.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
"Africa Unite".
"Africa Unite". By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
“Africa Unite”, said Bob Marley a good few years ago.
As if he saw it coming, in his song titled Zimbabwe, Bob 'Nesta' Marley urged Africans, and all those listening to unite Zimbabwe, and back then things where not even as half bad as they are today.
The recent scandal of the MDC opting to not partake in the Zimbabwean election runoff should be seen by all as the last straw to how bad things have become in that country. Obviously we don't know what the real motive behind the decision by Tsvangirai is. The question is whether that decision is an innocent one, and that can be debated for many days to come.
The Zimbabwean situation has ceased to be a national or regional matter, and as far as I am concerned it is now an international issue because it is people, and not some untamed animals that are at stake here. We have heard statements by a certain faction of the African National Congress (ANC), and by some political parties, and their focus, unfortunately, is to an individual rather than the matter at stake.
Blaming Thabo Mbeki and his government is not going to help us as Africans in anyway. We need to unite as the people of the world and find a solution for the suffering majority in that country. The media, especially in South Africa, should also play its rightful role of being the voice for the voiceless and stop focussing on some angry young man that was not even famous 7 months ago and only became famous controversially.
The focus by the media for the whole week about what Julius 'Rotten mouth' Malema made me to think twice about what the role of journalism is. When we are faced with more important things like the Zimbabwean situation one expects some quality responsible journalism from our journalistic institutions. Today Zimbabweans face a bleak future as a result of Morgan Tsvangirai pulling out of the elections.
The media is supposed to be vigorously interrogating the underlying factors behind that decision. Is it an honest and innocent decision by the opposition party, or is what Mugabe always says about Morgan and his party true? Can there really be the force behind this whole thing? And why does Tsvangirai go and seek refuge in a foreign continent when we have so many countries here in our continent that can or are supposed to help?
Has he lost hope to his fellow leaders here? Why write an opinion piece in a British newspaper and not talk to his people through their accessible mediums? Mugabe is drunk with power right now, and that is a fact, but if an opposition is always going to play victim knowing that the people of the world are going to pity him then we might be having far more serious problems than we thought we had. Tsvangirai should try and solve problems not from a distance. Every time he goes away he is moving further away from his people.
First published by the Cape Times
“Africa Unite”, said Bob Marley a good few years ago.
As if he saw it coming, in his song titled Zimbabwe, Bob 'Nesta' Marley urged Africans, and all those listening to unite Zimbabwe, and back then things where not even as half bad as they are today.
The recent scandal of the MDC opting to not partake in the Zimbabwean election runoff should be seen by all as the last straw to how bad things have become in that country. Obviously we don't know what the real motive behind the decision by Tsvangirai is. The question is whether that decision is an innocent one, and that can be debated for many days to come.
The Zimbabwean situation has ceased to be a national or regional matter, and as far as I am concerned it is now an international issue because it is people, and not some untamed animals that are at stake here. We have heard statements by a certain faction of the African National Congress (ANC), and by some political parties, and their focus, unfortunately, is to an individual rather than the matter at stake.
Blaming Thabo Mbeki and his government is not going to help us as Africans in anyway. We need to unite as the people of the world and find a solution for the suffering majority in that country. The media, especially in South Africa, should also play its rightful role of being the voice for the voiceless and stop focussing on some angry young man that was not even famous 7 months ago and only became famous controversially.
The focus by the media for the whole week about what Julius 'Rotten mouth' Malema made me to think twice about what the role of journalism is. When we are faced with more important things like the Zimbabwean situation one expects some quality responsible journalism from our journalistic institutions. Today Zimbabweans face a bleak future as a result of Morgan Tsvangirai pulling out of the elections.
The media is supposed to be vigorously interrogating the underlying factors behind that decision. Is it an honest and innocent decision by the opposition party, or is what Mugabe always says about Morgan and his party true? Can there really be the force behind this whole thing? And why does Tsvangirai go and seek refuge in a foreign continent when we have so many countries here in our continent that can or are supposed to help?
Has he lost hope to his fellow leaders here? Why write an opinion piece in a British newspaper and not talk to his people through their accessible mediums? Mugabe is drunk with power right now, and that is a fact, but if an opposition is always going to play victim knowing that the people of the world are going to pity him then we might be having far more serious problems than we thought we had. Tsvangirai should try and solve problems not from a distance. Every time he goes away he is moving further away from his people.
First published by the Cape Times
Mad Bob
Mugabe a mad man indeed, By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
So, everybody has been talking about the Zimbabwean situation, intellectuals, academics, scholars (hopefully I am not repeating the same thing here, it is possible), and also politicians, and those who were not good enough to be politicians who today call themselves independent political analysts (by the way, these are just unemployed, and usually uneployable males older than 50).
And there are also those old people who used to be journalists who have now since come out of retirement to utter a word or two about the most famous politician of the 21st century, i.e., Robert Gabriel Mugabe, forget Nelson Mandela, our Madiba, he is just famous because he drinks with Hollywood superstars, laugh out loud).
While Mandela's resume boasts of things like that 27 years in jail, my wonderful Uncle Bobby boasts of a whopping 28 years in power, even when the great Joshua Nkomo was still alive. And the two do have things in common, you know, Mandela celebrates his birthdays with people like broadcast legend Oprah Winfrey, Sir Richard Branson, Bono, Will Smith and many others like Amy Winehouse (a very famous artist who depends on steroids), and people like British model, Naomi Campbell.
Robert, on the other hand, will never be seen in the company of such people, or maybe they will never be around him. Mugabe's birthdays are bashes that take place for days in that country, even when the people are struggling to eat at all.
Mugabe and Mandela were at a stalemate until I remembered something very important that I learned a long-time ago in my media studies class at varsity, and that is that no news is bad news, and since it is public knowledge that Mugabe wins that one then there is no need to declare the winner here.
Now back to the commentators who make Mugabe even more prominent. These guys like Moeletsi Mbeki, Steven Friedman, Aubrey Matshiqi and others should just find something else to talk about instead of trying to come up with solutions for Zimbabwe. Maybe they should talk about something like how our wonderful government is capable of making the Chinese people of the world black, and spending state resources on court cases like the one currently taking place when we know that the accused are criminals.
The situation in Zimbabwe is getting even worse because the commentators are making it a theoretic issue. People are busy blaming Mbeki for his style or lack of, when it comes to mediation in that country. In his letter to the editor of the Cape Times on Wednesday July 09th, Bonginkosi Madikizela says it very well, and I assumed he was fuming when he wrote it, and I quote, 'It's time for tougher actions against Mugabe.' Oh well my friend, it's every body's dream for that to happen, even Thabo Mbeki's, but the poor little man of the African Renaissance does not know how.
Instead of interviewing intellectuals about the Zim issue we should rather have militants who will share information of how to topple that man. The only solution to the Zim situation is not to negotiate with him; he is 86 years thicker, very hardened. You cannot convince Mugabe in 2008 when you failed to do so when he first showed the glimpses of being the mad Uncle Bob we are all accustomed to today.
Having Mbeki going to meet Mugabe and Morgan 'The British Toy boy' Tsvangirai was a mistake that I am thankful Tsvangirai got cold feet and switched off his mobile phone when Mbeki was that side. As the Tsvangirai brain train so rightfully suspected, Mbeki chose the day that he happened to be going to Japan to meet the so called G8, an opportunity for cute leaders like Nikolas 'Pants off' Sarkozy and others to show off.
The cute 8, as I shall refer to the toothless good guys, believe what Mbeki tells them, because they are great buddies, they drink together when they are not being forced to smile for the cameras or fake their concern about the Zim situation. To solve Mugabe is to force him out of office, and that means he must not have much choice about the matter since that will not work at all. I am just so tired of hearing the so called intellectuals and journalists talk of how illegal the runoff election was in the first place - that is not the question here.
The people of Zimbabwe are not waiting for the results of the legality of the runoff, they are leaving that country with little children on their backs and risking their lives, and who accounts to that, no one. The intellectuals are talking all this hogwash from spacious offices and they are just competing with each other, and they repeat themselves over this so called illegal election.
The fact that Mugabe was gutsy enough to stop the NGO's from distributing food when that country needed food more than any other country in the world showed how little respect he has for the international community and everybody who feels affected by what happens to the people of Zimbabwe.
So, do we need any mediation skills when Mugabe is kicking food away when his people need it? No, I don't think so because more than just a show of concern towards the people of Zimbabwe it was just to see if he would allow it. And that was to incite Zimbabwean people if you look at it critically. It's not like the Zimbabwean situation just started now, but where was that kind of help hiding?
While it is obvious that things have gone really bad in Zimbabwe in the past couple of years it is also important that we look further and deeper than the physical eye can go. Mugabe has done the continent a disservice, and it is because of him that Zimbabwe might never recover fully, but we also have to look at those who prefer certain leaders, and see what is in it for them, maybe we will find answers in a few years time, but it might not be good at all.
So, everybody has been talking about the Zimbabwean situation, intellectuals, academics, scholars (hopefully I am not repeating the same thing here, it is possible), and also politicians, and those who were not good enough to be politicians who today call themselves independent political analysts (by the way, these are just unemployed, and usually uneployable males older than 50).
And there are also those old people who used to be journalists who have now since come out of retirement to utter a word or two about the most famous politician of the 21st century, i.e., Robert Gabriel Mugabe, forget Nelson Mandela, our Madiba, he is just famous because he drinks with Hollywood superstars, laugh out loud).
While Mandela's resume boasts of things like that 27 years in jail, my wonderful Uncle Bobby boasts of a whopping 28 years in power, even when the great Joshua Nkomo was still alive. And the two do have things in common, you know, Mandela celebrates his birthdays with people like broadcast legend Oprah Winfrey, Sir Richard Branson, Bono, Will Smith and many others like Amy Winehouse (a very famous artist who depends on steroids), and people like British model, Naomi Campbell.
Robert, on the other hand, will never be seen in the company of such people, or maybe they will never be around him. Mugabe's birthdays are bashes that take place for days in that country, even when the people are struggling to eat at all.
Mugabe and Mandela were at a stalemate until I remembered something very important that I learned a long-time ago in my media studies class at varsity, and that is that no news is bad news, and since it is public knowledge that Mugabe wins that one then there is no need to declare the winner here.
Now back to the commentators who make Mugabe even more prominent. These guys like Moeletsi Mbeki, Steven Friedman, Aubrey Matshiqi and others should just find something else to talk about instead of trying to come up with solutions for Zimbabwe. Maybe they should talk about something like how our wonderful government is capable of making the Chinese people of the world black, and spending state resources on court cases like the one currently taking place when we know that the accused are criminals.
The situation in Zimbabwe is getting even worse because the commentators are making it a theoretic issue. People are busy blaming Mbeki for his style or lack of, when it comes to mediation in that country. In his letter to the editor of the Cape Times on Wednesday July 09th, Bonginkosi Madikizela says it very well, and I assumed he was fuming when he wrote it, and I quote, 'It's time for tougher actions against Mugabe.' Oh well my friend, it's every body's dream for that to happen, even Thabo Mbeki's, but the poor little man of the African Renaissance does not know how.
Instead of interviewing intellectuals about the Zim issue we should rather have militants who will share information of how to topple that man. The only solution to the Zim situation is not to negotiate with him; he is 86 years thicker, very hardened. You cannot convince Mugabe in 2008 when you failed to do so when he first showed the glimpses of being the mad Uncle Bob we are all accustomed to today.
Having Mbeki going to meet Mugabe and Morgan 'The British Toy boy' Tsvangirai was a mistake that I am thankful Tsvangirai got cold feet and switched off his mobile phone when Mbeki was that side. As the Tsvangirai brain train so rightfully suspected, Mbeki chose the day that he happened to be going to Japan to meet the so called G8, an opportunity for cute leaders like Nikolas 'Pants off' Sarkozy and others to show off.
The cute 8, as I shall refer to the toothless good guys, believe what Mbeki tells them, because they are great buddies, they drink together when they are not being forced to smile for the cameras or fake their concern about the Zim situation. To solve Mugabe is to force him out of office, and that means he must not have much choice about the matter since that will not work at all. I am just so tired of hearing the so called intellectuals and journalists talk of how illegal the runoff election was in the first place - that is not the question here.
The people of Zimbabwe are not waiting for the results of the legality of the runoff, they are leaving that country with little children on their backs and risking their lives, and who accounts to that, no one. The intellectuals are talking all this hogwash from spacious offices and they are just competing with each other, and they repeat themselves over this so called illegal election.
The fact that Mugabe was gutsy enough to stop the NGO's from distributing food when that country needed food more than any other country in the world showed how little respect he has for the international community and everybody who feels affected by what happens to the people of Zimbabwe.
So, do we need any mediation skills when Mugabe is kicking food away when his people need it? No, I don't think so because more than just a show of concern towards the people of Zimbabwe it was just to see if he would allow it. And that was to incite Zimbabwean people if you look at it critically. It's not like the Zimbabwean situation just started now, but where was that kind of help hiding?
While it is obvious that things have gone really bad in Zimbabwe in the past couple of years it is also important that we look further and deeper than the physical eye can go. Mugabe has done the continent a disservice, and it is because of him that Zimbabwe might never recover fully, but we also have to look at those who prefer certain leaders, and see what is in it for them, maybe we will find answers in a few years time, but it might not be good at all.
Deep conversations
As a young adult from the Limpopo Province with three little brothers my fear has always been what might be happening to them in my absence as I live far away from them. Recently I went home to spend time with family, and was very happy to notice that my little brothers are fast becoming little men.
They even respond by saying that they are cool when I greet them (the results of trash movies in the SABC?) As I come from a village I know how dangerous a place it is for kids to grow because of little entertainment, and with retards like that Julius Malema guy in the lookout for the youths who will die for Jacob Zuma to rule the country from behind bars, I am really concerned of my little brothers.
As a big brother I decided to call them so as to get to know what kind of influences they have been getting since the unfortunate statements of Malema and Vavi. I must say that I was very impressed by what they all had to say about Julius Malema's statements in particular. The second oldest, Moloko, said to me, 'brother, that guy is a shame to the people of the whole country,' really, I asked, suspecting that was second hand information to me.
Yes, responded my brother, because the teacher said so to us, he continued, with my suspicions of second hand information now confirmed. The other two confirmed that it is generally unfortunate that Malema leads such a gigantic organisation like the ANC Youth League. Now it was really my time to get first hand information from the boys about yet another unfortunate statement by Malema about his favourite man, Jacob Zuma to captain the country with orange clothes (behind bars), possibly with Shabir Shaik as either the deputy president, or with an office at the presidency, only from behind bars this time.
I did not expect my little ones to be like the Moeletsi Mbekis, Aubry Matshiqis, Steven Friemans or Suresh Roberts in the discussion, rather I expected them to listen and learn from me as a big brother. Damn I was wrong, the captain, Moloko again, laughed his clean lungs away. Bhutiza (brother), as I refer to them, why do you laugh so hysterically when I haven't even finished?, I asked. That is just so ridiculous, how can someone who is serving a sentence be trusted with a country's biggest and most prestigious office, he asked back, still battling to stop laughing, the youngest and quietest was now showing his singing prowess by entertaining us with Jacob Zuma's signature nguni song, Awleth'umshini wam.'
The conversation was now really heating up, and quiet honestly I felt challenged by the little village boys with no DSTV access or computers to play games, and I was proud of them. They really challenged me when they asked my opinion on the matter, and then I realised that for the first time I have to indulge with my boys without a soccer ball involved. I told them that I was glad that I do not have to do a lot of convincing when it comes to the kind of man that Malema is, and that if anything, they shouldn't listen to people like him, retards.
That South Africa should be led by Jacob Zuma is one thing, but that he should do so even from behind bars is an insult to the people of South Africa, and even shameful because of the authority it came from. Malema is a threat to South Africa because he is a man apparently good enough to lead the youth of this country, and that the African National Congress is still this quite about his endless militant statements is a shame indeed.
The good thing, however, is that young people like my little brothers are aware of just how pathetic he is, and dismiss him as nothing short of a retard with little if any information at all. I must also pay homage to the teachers, particularly those in the rural areas like where I come from who are indulging in such issues with the little ones from early on. I can't wait to talk about the Zimbabwe talks or the American elections with my boys soon, they made me realise that we are all learners on this earth.
First appeared in the Cape Times
They even respond by saying that they are cool when I greet them (the results of trash movies in the SABC?) As I come from a village I know how dangerous a place it is for kids to grow because of little entertainment, and with retards like that Julius Malema guy in the lookout for the youths who will die for Jacob Zuma to rule the country from behind bars, I am really concerned of my little brothers.
As a big brother I decided to call them so as to get to know what kind of influences they have been getting since the unfortunate statements of Malema and Vavi. I must say that I was very impressed by what they all had to say about Julius Malema's statements in particular. The second oldest, Moloko, said to me, 'brother, that guy is a shame to the people of the whole country,' really, I asked, suspecting that was second hand information to me.
Yes, responded my brother, because the teacher said so to us, he continued, with my suspicions of second hand information now confirmed. The other two confirmed that it is generally unfortunate that Malema leads such a gigantic organisation like the ANC Youth League. Now it was really my time to get first hand information from the boys about yet another unfortunate statement by Malema about his favourite man, Jacob Zuma to captain the country with orange clothes (behind bars), possibly with Shabir Shaik as either the deputy president, or with an office at the presidency, only from behind bars this time.
I did not expect my little ones to be like the Moeletsi Mbekis, Aubry Matshiqis, Steven Friemans or Suresh Roberts in the discussion, rather I expected them to listen and learn from me as a big brother. Damn I was wrong, the captain, Moloko again, laughed his clean lungs away. Bhutiza (brother), as I refer to them, why do you laugh so hysterically when I haven't even finished?, I asked. That is just so ridiculous, how can someone who is serving a sentence be trusted with a country's biggest and most prestigious office, he asked back, still battling to stop laughing, the youngest and quietest was now showing his singing prowess by entertaining us with Jacob Zuma's signature nguni song, Awleth'umshini wam.'
The conversation was now really heating up, and quiet honestly I felt challenged by the little village boys with no DSTV access or computers to play games, and I was proud of them. They really challenged me when they asked my opinion on the matter, and then I realised that for the first time I have to indulge with my boys without a soccer ball involved. I told them that I was glad that I do not have to do a lot of convincing when it comes to the kind of man that Malema is, and that if anything, they shouldn't listen to people like him, retards.
That South Africa should be led by Jacob Zuma is one thing, but that he should do so even from behind bars is an insult to the people of South Africa, and even shameful because of the authority it came from. Malema is a threat to South Africa because he is a man apparently good enough to lead the youth of this country, and that the African National Congress is still this quite about his endless militant statements is a shame indeed.
The good thing, however, is that young people like my little brothers are aware of just how pathetic he is, and dismiss him as nothing short of a retard with little if any information at all. I must also pay homage to the teachers, particularly those in the rural areas like where I come from who are indulging in such issues with the little ones from early on. I can't wait to talk about the Zimbabwe talks or the American elections with my boys soon, they made me realise that we are all learners on this earth.
First appeared in the Cape Times
Real Presidents unify
A real President should unify his people, By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
In his book entitled - The Race, Author Richard North Patterson asks a very important and rather relevant question if one takes into consideration the recent developments in the country, and the question he asks is, “Can an honest man become President?” Usually that should go without a question, because who needs a dishonest President to lead such a country already in crisis?
The swearing in of Kgalema Motlanthe as the acting President of the country for the next seven months has gone rather unchallenged in parliament, even by the fiercest critics of the ANC such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) (Even though they made a rather lame political statement when they nominated Joe Seremane as their candidate), the PAC, the IFP and that party lead by Themba Godi, amongst other political parties. Motlanthe has proved to be a very calm man even in extraordinary political storms like the current one.
He is indeed the kind of man you need in a crisis. But as Motsoko Pheko of the PAC noted in his speech, "The circumstances under which Motlanthe takes over the highest office in the land are rather unfortunate." The good thing for Motlanthe to know is that at least he had nothing to do with such circumstances in that party. It is very interesting to note that since the rumour went around that Motlanthe would take over from President Thabo Mbeki we haven't heard many quotable quotes by the Youth League, the YCL or Cosatu.
Wow, how things can change in politics. Or is it because their mission has been accomplished? Because they have managed to not only remove, but humiliate Mbeki? Obviously they saw him as their biggest obstacle in their quest for a Zuma presidency. I bet they don't care who becomes the president of the nation as long as he doesn't come directly from what Malema calls "Thabo's camp" as long as they know their Msholozi will be president come 2009 after the elections, after all not so long ago did the Youth League warn the very same Motlanthe not to "behave" as if Zuma does not exist, and also, they have been in power since after Polokwane as the country has been operating from Luthuli house more so than the Union Buildings or Parliament.
Motlanthe has been seen by many a political analysts as a compromise candidate for the position of President in this country even long before the not-so-clear Judge Chris Nicholson judgment. I say "Not-so-clear not because it is unclear to me, but because the majority of South Africans, particularly those who danced and chanted Mshini wam in Durban recently did not understand it. It is also going to be very interesting to see how the ANC is going to deal with the situation once the Motlanthe term is over.
Motlanthe is well-received by those within and outside of the ANC, and also, power can be very addictive and obviously he (Motlanthe), takes over the office knowing the possibility of Zuma being tried and very possibly charged over the more than 700 charges of alleged corruption and money laundering as Helen Zille of the opposing DA always reminds us every once in a while. Also of importance, can the Youth League of Captain Malema, Cosatu of Vavi and the YCL of Manamela and other such Zuma-friendly formations be happy with the possibility of a Motlanthe presidency even after the 7 months that he is hired to serve the nation?
I don't think so, after all it would have been an easy one for Comrade Kgalema since these formations fought so hard over the years for Zuma, and anyone with ambitions to rule this country will have to account to them. This is the time that I really wish we had a strong opposition party to take advantage of such pathetic politics at the ANC, but unfortunately we don't as all we have are the Sandra Bothas of this world ranting in parliament.
Motlanthe, just like Mbeki, is calm and well-reasoned, and is not going to sing a song filled with militant lyrics even when he is happiest. And he is not going to keep mum when the Youth League and its not-so-young supporters threaten the peace of the nation and make uncivil comments. Zuma is a very likeable man in the ANC circles, but because of the dark cloud hanging over his head, just like a character in Richard North Patterson's book- The Race, Zuma is seen by many as one trying to escape from darkness to light, and whether he will succeed we have to respect the judiciary, but unfortunately according to his allies Zuma is an already free man, clean and a victim of a political conspiracy.
I think it will be very important that Judge Nicholson explain his September 12th judgement to all of us in plain English what he meant because the majority are really lost in that judgement. He was generally heard, but also generally not understood. Now to answer North Patterson's question, yes, an honest man can become president of a country, and I see Motlanthe as such a man. But we not only need an honest man for the highest office in the land, we need a man who will be able to unify the whole of South Africa, as he is now accountable to almost 49 million South Africans regardless of the party they support. All of the best Mkhuluwa. Aloota Continua.
First appeared in the Cape Times
In his book entitled - The Race, Author Richard North Patterson asks a very important and rather relevant question if one takes into consideration the recent developments in the country, and the question he asks is, “Can an honest man become President?” Usually that should go without a question, because who needs a dishonest President to lead such a country already in crisis?
The swearing in of Kgalema Motlanthe as the acting President of the country for the next seven months has gone rather unchallenged in parliament, even by the fiercest critics of the ANC such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) (Even though they made a rather lame political statement when they nominated Joe Seremane as their candidate), the PAC, the IFP and that party lead by Themba Godi, amongst other political parties. Motlanthe has proved to be a very calm man even in extraordinary political storms like the current one.
He is indeed the kind of man you need in a crisis. But as Motsoko Pheko of the PAC noted in his speech, "The circumstances under which Motlanthe takes over the highest office in the land are rather unfortunate." The good thing for Motlanthe to know is that at least he had nothing to do with such circumstances in that party. It is very interesting to note that since the rumour went around that Motlanthe would take over from President Thabo Mbeki we haven't heard many quotable quotes by the Youth League, the YCL or Cosatu.
Wow, how things can change in politics. Or is it because their mission has been accomplished? Because they have managed to not only remove, but humiliate Mbeki? Obviously they saw him as their biggest obstacle in their quest for a Zuma presidency. I bet they don't care who becomes the president of the nation as long as he doesn't come directly from what Malema calls "Thabo's camp" as long as they know their Msholozi will be president come 2009 after the elections, after all not so long ago did the Youth League warn the very same Motlanthe not to "behave" as if Zuma does not exist, and also, they have been in power since after Polokwane as the country has been operating from Luthuli house more so than the Union Buildings or Parliament.
Motlanthe has been seen by many a political analysts as a compromise candidate for the position of President in this country even long before the not-so-clear Judge Chris Nicholson judgment. I say "Not-so-clear not because it is unclear to me, but because the majority of South Africans, particularly those who danced and chanted Mshini wam in Durban recently did not understand it. It is also going to be very interesting to see how the ANC is going to deal with the situation once the Motlanthe term is over.
Motlanthe is well-received by those within and outside of the ANC, and also, power can be very addictive and obviously he (Motlanthe), takes over the office knowing the possibility of Zuma being tried and very possibly charged over the more than 700 charges of alleged corruption and money laundering as Helen Zille of the opposing DA always reminds us every once in a while. Also of importance, can the Youth League of Captain Malema, Cosatu of Vavi and the YCL of Manamela and other such Zuma-friendly formations be happy with the possibility of a Motlanthe presidency even after the 7 months that he is hired to serve the nation?
I don't think so, after all it would have been an easy one for Comrade Kgalema since these formations fought so hard over the years for Zuma, and anyone with ambitions to rule this country will have to account to them. This is the time that I really wish we had a strong opposition party to take advantage of such pathetic politics at the ANC, but unfortunately we don't as all we have are the Sandra Bothas of this world ranting in parliament.
Motlanthe, just like Mbeki, is calm and well-reasoned, and is not going to sing a song filled with militant lyrics even when he is happiest. And he is not going to keep mum when the Youth League and its not-so-young supporters threaten the peace of the nation and make uncivil comments. Zuma is a very likeable man in the ANC circles, but because of the dark cloud hanging over his head, just like a character in Richard North Patterson's book- The Race, Zuma is seen by many as one trying to escape from darkness to light, and whether he will succeed we have to respect the judiciary, but unfortunately according to his allies Zuma is an already free man, clean and a victim of a political conspiracy.
I think it will be very important that Judge Nicholson explain his September 12th judgement to all of us in plain English what he meant because the majority are really lost in that judgement. He was generally heard, but also generally not understood. Now to answer North Patterson's question, yes, an honest man can become president of a country, and I see Motlanthe as such a man. But we not only need an honest man for the highest office in the land, we need a man who will be able to unify the whole of South Africa, as he is now accountable to almost 49 million South Africans regardless of the party they support. All of the best Mkhuluwa. Aloota Continua.
First appeared in the Cape Times
Rough times, Malema times
As a South African in 2008 I know for certain that my once wonderful country will go down the history books as a country whose president was basically 'ousted' by a 27 year old boy from Seshego township in the Limpopo Province, and that we, as South Africans also stand a chance to be led by someone whose reputation is more frightening than his message, as Newsweek once said about our prez to be, Jacob Zuma.
We also live in times where politicians are afraid to serve the people who got them into power in the first place because they are afraid of being eliminated (and being embarrassed in the process), or simply because they are not of a certain faction in the same ruling party. Crazy times times indeed.
With former President Thabo Mbeki's tenure made short, most Ministers bowed out with 'grace', or was it really? One thing's for sure though, they were going out anyway, but as egotistical humans they had to find a less embarrassing way out, in the process protecting their own images more so than simply 'believing in everything former President Thabo Mbeki stood for.
As the Premier of Gauteng, Mbhazima Sam Shilowa recently tendered his resignation it became increasingly clear that the new power was indeed in power at Luthuli House where our country is recently ruled. Politics, just like the SABC 3 television series, Survivor, is a game of scheming against the other members of the house or tribe because there is a price for only one member in the end. The only difference, however, between the two is that in games such as Survivor we know from the get go that there is going to be lies and deceit between members for that one particular price in the end of it all, whereas in politics such scheming and lies can lead a country in turmoil.
While Survivor is about the survival of the individual, politics involves people, millions of them in this case, honest taxpaying people. At the moment the ANC is like Survivor, but unlike in the classic case of Survivor where only the fittest survive, in the ANC only the loyal do.
Back to our JZ, our Mr right who is also a singing sensation of note. Zuma just recently denied the obvious when he said that there was no crisis, by the way, he of the umshini wam' fame was referring to the recent developments in our country, and to qoute him, he even went as far as saying that crisis was in the heads of those who were talking about it, with applause from his loyal fans of course.
I felt bad because I am one of the millions who believe the events of the past few weeks deserving of a political crisis tag. And come to think of it, when Mbeki denied as crisis the Zimbabwe situation he was seen as a bad guy, maybe deservedly so.
Everybody who can breathe, read, write and or see will agree that the recent developments can't be ignored or regarded as a non crisis by such a leading politician as Zuma. In his dreams, isn't he already at the Union Buildings at least? Now the inconsistent South African media have been very harsh on former President Thabo Mbeki, particularly the white-consumed newspapers like the Citizen, a classic case of kicking an already-kicked dog.
Most white people, particular Afrikaans speaking white males, the elite to be exact, hated Mbeki because he did not pretend to love them. To them he was an angry black man who was also very smart, and never compromised. For an intellectual who lived most of his life in a western setting he never forgot the reasons that forced him to exile in the first place.
Most whites support Zuma not because they love or believe in him as a politician, but simply because they cannot stand Mbeki, and also because Zuma is an easy target of ridicule and a 'simple tribes' man. They would rather have South Africa ruled by a man that kind of a man to the ground, than to have an economically competent South Africa by a man they grew to fear because of his nature as an Africanist to the core.
White South Africa is wounded by lack of political power, and that is evident because 90% of white commentators have nothing good to say about the state of our government, sometimes rightfully so, but most of the times their criticisms are just based on hatred to individuals. It is rather irritating to hear references to the times of Nelson Mandela when he still reigned supreme every time they attack the current leadership, or just Thabo Mbeki.
Mandela is a god to most whites and Mbeki a monster because of the kind of a leader he was. Mbeki's tenure as president was dogged by comments of how the educated white youth were leaving the country for better career prospects elsewhere in the world. Whites left this country when they (wrongfully) thought that this country was going to be in flames, maybe because they thought it was deserved, and also because they could as they had the money to live in bigger currency countries.
And of course, former colonial powers will always offer you a good career, education and better living conditions if you can afford to live there. And that was basically the preserve of whites. When their 'favourite' Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006 there were whispers of how the judiciary might have been tempered with, but when the Honourable Judge Chris Nicholson declared Zuma's prosecution by the NPA as invalid because of the now infamous reasons given it was seen by most whites as a victory because it painted Thabo Mbeki and his cabinet as violators of the law.
It really is interesting how most whites feel about our government. Lately the right thinking whites have turned their attention to praising president Kgalema Motlanthe . Is it because of his reserved nature as a politician, or is it because he takes from their number one enemy? I wonder what it is really.
This opinion was first published by the Cape Times
We also live in times where politicians are afraid to serve the people who got them into power in the first place because they are afraid of being eliminated (and being embarrassed in the process), or simply because they are not of a certain faction in the same ruling party. Crazy times times indeed.
With former President Thabo Mbeki's tenure made short, most Ministers bowed out with 'grace', or was it really? One thing's for sure though, they were going out anyway, but as egotistical humans they had to find a less embarrassing way out, in the process protecting their own images more so than simply 'believing in everything former President Thabo Mbeki stood for.
As the Premier of Gauteng, Mbhazima Sam Shilowa recently tendered his resignation it became increasingly clear that the new power was indeed in power at Luthuli House where our country is recently ruled. Politics, just like the SABC 3 television series, Survivor, is a game of scheming against the other members of the house or tribe because there is a price for only one member in the end. The only difference, however, between the two is that in games such as Survivor we know from the get go that there is going to be lies and deceit between members for that one particular price in the end of it all, whereas in politics such scheming and lies can lead a country in turmoil.
While Survivor is about the survival of the individual, politics involves people, millions of them in this case, honest taxpaying people. At the moment the ANC is like Survivor, but unlike in the classic case of Survivor where only the fittest survive, in the ANC only the loyal do.
Back to our JZ, our Mr right who is also a singing sensation of note. Zuma just recently denied the obvious when he said that there was no crisis, by the way, he of the umshini wam' fame was referring to the recent developments in our country, and to qoute him, he even went as far as saying that crisis was in the heads of those who were talking about it, with applause from his loyal fans of course.
I felt bad because I am one of the millions who believe the events of the past few weeks deserving of a political crisis tag. And come to think of it, when Mbeki denied as crisis the Zimbabwe situation he was seen as a bad guy, maybe deservedly so.
Everybody who can breathe, read, write and or see will agree that the recent developments can't be ignored or regarded as a non crisis by such a leading politician as Zuma. In his dreams, isn't he already at the Union Buildings at least? Now the inconsistent South African media have been very harsh on former President Thabo Mbeki, particularly the white-consumed newspapers like the Citizen, a classic case of kicking an already-kicked dog.
Most white people, particular Afrikaans speaking white males, the elite to be exact, hated Mbeki because he did not pretend to love them. To them he was an angry black man who was also very smart, and never compromised. For an intellectual who lived most of his life in a western setting he never forgot the reasons that forced him to exile in the first place.
Most whites support Zuma not because they love or believe in him as a politician, but simply because they cannot stand Mbeki, and also because Zuma is an easy target of ridicule and a 'simple tribes' man. They would rather have South Africa ruled by a man that kind of a man to the ground, than to have an economically competent South Africa by a man they grew to fear because of his nature as an Africanist to the core.
White South Africa is wounded by lack of political power, and that is evident because 90% of white commentators have nothing good to say about the state of our government, sometimes rightfully so, but most of the times their criticisms are just based on hatred to individuals. It is rather irritating to hear references to the times of Nelson Mandela when he still reigned supreme every time they attack the current leadership, or just Thabo Mbeki.
Mandela is a god to most whites and Mbeki a monster because of the kind of a leader he was. Mbeki's tenure as president was dogged by comments of how the educated white youth were leaving the country for better career prospects elsewhere in the world. Whites left this country when they (wrongfully) thought that this country was going to be in flames, maybe because they thought it was deserved, and also because they could as they had the money to live in bigger currency countries.
And of course, former colonial powers will always offer you a good career, education and better living conditions if you can afford to live there. And that was basically the preserve of whites. When their 'favourite' Zuma was acquitted of rape in 2006 there were whispers of how the judiciary might have been tempered with, but when the Honourable Judge Chris Nicholson declared Zuma's prosecution by the NPA as invalid because of the now infamous reasons given it was seen by most whites as a victory because it painted Thabo Mbeki and his cabinet as violators of the law.
It really is interesting how most whites feel about our government. Lately the right thinking whites have turned their attention to praising president Kgalema Motlanthe . Is it because of his reserved nature as a politician, or is it because he takes from their number one enemy? I wonder what it is really.
This opinion was first published by the Cape Times
Second term? On whose terms?
Zuma should act like a real President of a Nation, By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
It was with great sadness that I learned of my President, His Majesterial the King Jacob Zuma's intentions of two terms, instead of the initial one term. "Wow," I thought. Zwelinzima Vavi, the one who only comes to prominence when civil servants go on strike, apparently told reporters that Zuma will go for two terms, apparently because they told him to.
What immediately came to my mind was argh, what's new there, like his fellow African leaders they just can't let go once they're there. Was he looking for some sort of pity when he initially said that he was going only for one term? Or was he making his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, look bad for wanting not one, not two, but three terms?
African leaders are infamous for clinging to power, but most sadly, for not learning from those who, like they, tried it only to be dictators. I won't use Mugabe as an example for space reasons here. We need new leaders, and new leaders who are not here to settle scores. When Zuma said that he was going to do only one term I thought wow, here is an old and wounded, but new generation of African leaders, someone the up and coming African leaders can look up to, but no, hell no, I was wrong, and basically back to square one.
My worst fears had been confirmed, again. I believe in African leadership, a lot actually. I am not one to think that African leaders are worse than their western counterparts. No. Politicians are politicians actually; one's not good because of where they were born or that sort of thing. You just have to look at what is currently happening in Britain to see that politicians are just that, politicians.
Aren't we in a recession because of what politicians, particularly in the west and supposedly civilized, have done? They fall in the same traps. Having said that, my gripe with my own African leaders is just their obsession with being there forever. Closer to home now, what exactly does Vavi mean when he says that "It is no longer on the table. He will run two full terms."?
What is that actually? Does it mean that Zuma will listen to every suggestion and act on it even when he had initially put his head on the block? Or was that a command? Is it up to Vavi and the others like him to choose what Zuma does? Does Zuma think for himself at all? Are we going to have a country run by Zuma or just a group of guys with him around?
I am starting to have more questions about Zuma than I can take answers here. When colonialism ended and more and more African countries became free it looks like African leaders then turned on their own to colonize. Our recent leaders have turned into cults, they enjoy to be worshipped by those closest to them, and those who are not are enemies that ought to be dealt with.
Recently we have seen what the so called War Veterans have been saying about the Western Cape Province, and all with Zuma there saying no word about the threats. Is this an example of what we're up for? Is Zuma mum because Cosatu is mum, or what's happening here? I am really starting to suspect that indeed Zuma might be paying the price of being supported when he was down. Zuma should start acting like a President of a nation; he is a President of about 50 mln people for goodness' sake.
It was with great sadness that I learned of my President, His Majesterial the King Jacob Zuma's intentions of two terms, instead of the initial one term. "Wow," I thought. Zwelinzima Vavi, the one who only comes to prominence when civil servants go on strike, apparently told reporters that Zuma will go for two terms, apparently because they told him to.
What immediately came to my mind was argh, what's new there, like his fellow African leaders they just can't let go once they're there. Was he looking for some sort of pity when he initially said that he was going only for one term? Or was he making his predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, look bad for wanting not one, not two, but three terms?
African leaders are infamous for clinging to power, but most sadly, for not learning from those who, like they, tried it only to be dictators. I won't use Mugabe as an example for space reasons here. We need new leaders, and new leaders who are not here to settle scores. When Zuma said that he was going to do only one term I thought wow, here is an old and wounded, but new generation of African leaders, someone the up and coming African leaders can look up to, but no, hell no, I was wrong, and basically back to square one.
My worst fears had been confirmed, again. I believe in African leadership, a lot actually. I am not one to think that African leaders are worse than their western counterparts. No. Politicians are politicians actually; one's not good because of where they were born or that sort of thing. You just have to look at what is currently happening in Britain to see that politicians are just that, politicians.
Aren't we in a recession because of what politicians, particularly in the west and supposedly civilized, have done? They fall in the same traps. Having said that, my gripe with my own African leaders is just their obsession with being there forever. Closer to home now, what exactly does Vavi mean when he says that "It is no longer on the table. He will run two full terms."?
What is that actually? Does it mean that Zuma will listen to every suggestion and act on it even when he had initially put his head on the block? Or was that a command? Is it up to Vavi and the others like him to choose what Zuma does? Does Zuma think for himself at all? Are we going to have a country run by Zuma or just a group of guys with him around?
I am starting to have more questions about Zuma than I can take answers here. When colonialism ended and more and more African countries became free it looks like African leaders then turned on their own to colonize. Our recent leaders have turned into cults, they enjoy to be worshipped by those closest to them, and those who are not are enemies that ought to be dealt with.
Recently we have seen what the so called War Veterans have been saying about the Western Cape Province, and all with Zuma there saying no word about the threats. Is this an example of what we're up for? Is Zuma mum because Cosatu is mum, or what's happening here? I am really starting to suspect that indeed Zuma might be paying the price of being supported when he was down. Zuma should start acting like a President of a nation; he is a President of about 50 mln people for goodness' sake.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
ANC school, mhh
By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
The African National Congress (ANC) might be telling whoever cares to listen that the sacking of Balindlela and Rasool are not politically related, but the truth will soon come out. That once respected political party fast resembles a high school political party where people can just be relieved from their duties because they flirted with a girlfriend of a leader. During the times of leaders like O.R Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Goven Mbeki and others there were no divisions because they shared the same values for this country. When they disagreed it was not pettty as is today.
Today that vision is nowhere; all our leaders have in common is self advancement in the expense of the poor majority. The ANC needs to re-focus here because its current leaders have lost the plot completely. Today there are talks of an ANC political school where future leaders will be schooled. One hopes that such doesn't just become a mere talk as it is the case with most things that are said by that party. A few years ago we heard talks of that nature by the Pan Africanist Congress, and the less said about it the better.
Such kinds of schools can be both good and bad for party politics. When it is good the party reaps the good rewards, the party grows into a responsible one with smart leaders. But such kinds of schools can also prove very detrimental to a party if handled badly. As we know the ANC today seems to actually follow the path of its leaders, when this happened with Mandela it proved to be good not only to that party, but to the country as a whole.
Mbeki came in, was supported widely by that party, and generally well received by South Africans of all races, and then came second term and things changed. He attempted third term, and that's where he really committed what political analysts call ''political suicide.'' Zuma is the current leader of the ANC, and if he gets tried and proven innocent he stands to be South Africa's number one boy. Now back to the issue at hand, a political school that they are saying is on the cards.
The one bad thing that can come with such a formation is its colours, by that I mean the different voices that may want to be heard when it comes to what is to be taught, and it might divide the party with certain leaders thinking that the recipients are getting wrong education that contradicts what the ANC stands for. For instance, certain leaders might believe in militancy, as it has come out recently with the "kill" statement by that 'boy' and its repeat by that other old man who did it for popularity's sake.
The ANC is a deeply divided party for such a formation, that kind of formation needs a party that shares a common goal, and unfortunately the current ANC is a complete contradiction. On paper such schools are the best, but realistically it is not as simple. The ANC needs to sit down and come with methods of rebuilding the party to what it stood for during the times of the Sisulus of this world.
This post was written in 2009 and was published by the Cape Times, as we all know, Zuma is now the President of the Republic of SA.
The African National Congress (ANC) might be telling whoever cares to listen that the sacking of Balindlela and Rasool are not politically related, but the truth will soon come out. That once respected political party fast resembles a high school political party where people can just be relieved from their duties because they flirted with a girlfriend of a leader. During the times of leaders like O.R Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Goven Mbeki and others there were no divisions because they shared the same values for this country. When they disagreed it was not pettty as is today.
Today that vision is nowhere; all our leaders have in common is self advancement in the expense of the poor majority. The ANC needs to re-focus here because its current leaders have lost the plot completely. Today there are talks of an ANC political school where future leaders will be schooled. One hopes that such doesn't just become a mere talk as it is the case with most things that are said by that party. A few years ago we heard talks of that nature by the Pan Africanist Congress, and the less said about it the better.
Such kinds of schools can be both good and bad for party politics. When it is good the party reaps the good rewards, the party grows into a responsible one with smart leaders. But such kinds of schools can also prove very detrimental to a party if handled badly. As we know the ANC today seems to actually follow the path of its leaders, when this happened with Mandela it proved to be good not only to that party, but to the country as a whole.
Mbeki came in, was supported widely by that party, and generally well received by South Africans of all races, and then came second term and things changed. He attempted third term, and that's where he really committed what political analysts call ''political suicide.'' Zuma is the current leader of the ANC, and if he gets tried and proven innocent he stands to be South Africa's number one boy. Now back to the issue at hand, a political school that they are saying is on the cards.
The one bad thing that can come with such a formation is its colours, by that I mean the different voices that may want to be heard when it comes to what is to be taught, and it might divide the party with certain leaders thinking that the recipients are getting wrong education that contradicts what the ANC stands for. For instance, certain leaders might believe in militancy, as it has come out recently with the "kill" statement by that 'boy' and its repeat by that other old man who did it for popularity's sake.
The ANC is a deeply divided party for such a formation, that kind of formation needs a party that shares a common goal, and unfortunately the current ANC is a complete contradiction. On paper such schools are the best, but realistically it is not as simple. The ANC needs to sit down and come with methods of rebuilding the party to what it stood for during the times of the Sisulus of this world.
This post was written in 2009 and was published by the Cape Times, as we all know, Zuma is now the President of the Republic of SA.
Media in shame
By Rudzani Floyd Musekwa
Since Jacob Zuma took office in the Union Buildings as the President of the country it's rather embarrassing how some editors have since changed tune in their reportage of the man. Oh, how fast things can change in journ - politics. First Zapiro took the shower head off Zuma's head (apparently temporarily), and suddenly those editors who used to devote their angry columns to further tarnish Zuma's person have since decided against it - now, is this temporarily also, or is it a case of every coming government will have its own lackeys?
I wonder. Journalism seems to be bleeding very hard indeed. It's funny how it's only a few weeks ago when journalists could say as they wished about the poor Zuma. How the so called political analysts called him 'unfit' for public office. At some stage the country was going down under his tutalage. I have always been critical of Jacob Zuma, but I have always been critical of the people he surrounds himself with - those who influence him, not his person. For instance, I find it impossible to talk about Zuma's involvement with the arms deal, and partly because even the media contradicts itself from such an issue.
There was a time when, based on what I read from the media, Zuma was a guilty man, a man only fit to be in jail. But as we all know now he is the president of the country. Is our media failing to inform its subjects? Or is it simply falling apart? I think so, or actually both may apply. At some stage commentators made fun of Zuma's favourite struggle song, Um'shini wam', it became stuff for dinner tables, I suppose usually with kids on sight, perhaps making sure that those kids respected Zuma less? The right thinking public of South Africa is eating humble pie now as Zuma leads them.
Former presidents like Mandela and Mbeki never got as much flak as Zuma did, and you may argue by saying that perhaps they were less controversial, but controversial or not controversial on whose terms, the media's? Zuma fought with his life to be where he is today whereas the other presidents had people fighting for them to be there simply by means of voting them in while Zuma on the other end had to fight the judicial courts as well as the media courts. As a media student I ask myself a question what the reason for the media is - I am in between wondering whether it is to tarnish people's images when it suits you, or if it is to inform the people so that they can make informed decisions for themselves.
We need the journalism that seeks truth and reports it, not one that reports just for the sake of it. It's such a relief that there are no longer sensational stories about Zuma and those close to him. It's rather also unfortunate that the media and political analysts are saying that Zuma is rewarding those who supported him to be where he is today - names that come to mind are Nzimande, Mbalula and others, but I find that opportunistic because all those people he chose are politicians, and what do you expect? and also, which president the world over can surround himself with people he cannot trust? None.
It's funny how people like Desmond Tutu and Frederick Willem de Klerk are either suddenly mum about the Zuma presidency or they are suddenly 'optimistic' about Zuma's presidency. I do not ever think that Zuma alone can change South Africa for the better good, but with the right people around him I believe that this country is going places. The sooner the people of South Africa are 'optimistic' as de Klerk is, the better our country.
Since Jacob Zuma took office in the Union Buildings as the President of the country it's rather embarrassing how some editors have since changed tune in their reportage of the man. Oh, how fast things can change in journ - politics. First Zapiro took the shower head off Zuma's head (apparently temporarily), and suddenly those editors who used to devote their angry columns to further tarnish Zuma's person have since decided against it - now, is this temporarily also, or is it a case of every coming government will have its own lackeys?
I wonder. Journalism seems to be bleeding very hard indeed. It's funny how it's only a few weeks ago when journalists could say as they wished about the poor Zuma. How the so called political analysts called him 'unfit' for public office. At some stage the country was going down under his tutalage. I have always been critical of Jacob Zuma, but I have always been critical of the people he surrounds himself with - those who influence him, not his person. For instance, I find it impossible to talk about Zuma's involvement with the arms deal, and partly because even the media contradicts itself from such an issue.
There was a time when, based on what I read from the media, Zuma was a guilty man, a man only fit to be in jail. But as we all know now he is the president of the country. Is our media failing to inform its subjects? Or is it simply falling apart? I think so, or actually both may apply. At some stage commentators made fun of Zuma's favourite struggle song, Um'shini wam', it became stuff for dinner tables, I suppose usually with kids on sight, perhaps making sure that those kids respected Zuma less? The right thinking public of South Africa is eating humble pie now as Zuma leads them.
Former presidents like Mandela and Mbeki never got as much flak as Zuma did, and you may argue by saying that perhaps they were less controversial, but controversial or not controversial on whose terms, the media's? Zuma fought with his life to be where he is today whereas the other presidents had people fighting for them to be there simply by means of voting them in while Zuma on the other end had to fight the judicial courts as well as the media courts. As a media student I ask myself a question what the reason for the media is - I am in between wondering whether it is to tarnish people's images when it suits you, or if it is to inform the people so that they can make informed decisions for themselves.
We need the journalism that seeks truth and reports it, not one that reports just for the sake of it. It's such a relief that there are no longer sensational stories about Zuma and those close to him. It's rather also unfortunate that the media and political analysts are saying that Zuma is rewarding those who supported him to be where he is today - names that come to mind are Nzimande, Mbalula and others, but I find that opportunistic because all those people he chose are politicians, and what do you expect? and also, which president the world over can surround himself with people he cannot trust? None.
It's funny how people like Desmond Tutu and Frederick Willem de Klerk are either suddenly mum about the Zuma presidency or they are suddenly 'optimistic' about Zuma's presidency. I do not ever think that Zuma alone can change South Africa for the better good, but with the right people around him I believe that this country is going places. The sooner the people of South Africa are 'optimistic' as de Klerk is, the better our country.
Mbeki missing, or is he missed?
Oh finally, I managed a moment with Thabo Mbeki. The former Captain of the rocky South African ship was in Grahamstown addressing the Rhodes University students after the SRC invited him (I don't believe that it was a student initiative as they wanted us to believe). He was referred to, the whole time without mistake, as Mr. President, like really, of what country? I wondered.
Anyway, Mbeki was here to celebrate the overrated Africa Day, and good that guy can orate stories so well. I wondered why some quotas of the media called him boring and aloof. There was no aloofness to the Mbeki I listened to, he smiled, he joked, he used 'cool' phrases like "like really" to a laughing and applauding students. Now I understand why the ANC couldn't take it anymore, the guy is formal, yet welcoming, and very patient as he later on showed during a Question & Answer session.
You make a terrible mistake if you think you have him at a tight corner, as he showed when an IsiXhosa speaking lady vigorously (and naively) asked him why he didn't speak any IsiXhosa when he was in Mpuma Koloni (An IsiXhosa name for the Eastern Cape Province. He listened as the female student grew with confidence as the crowd roared.
He then politely told her to take into consideration that IsiXhosa was not the only African language and that in order for him to be inclusive of everyone he had to speak the language that could be easily understood by all. This time the crowd, the very one that roared the first time around roared for him. It was really getting interesting.
"Mr. President, just exactly who are these 'people on the ground' that you refer to? and who determines that they are ordinary? asked another student, again to a roaring crowd, by now I took it the roaring crowd roared because of the validity of the question. The ordinary people, according to the former skipper, are the people on the ground, the people without certain acquired skills as we at Rhodes University have. "And if you think you are ordinary, then you are abdicating from your responsibilities as you are supposed to be giving back to these people," he said, and the roaring went on again, and I joined in this time. According to Mbeki, the children of Africa need to embrace their continent, and I believe that we have to.
Africa needs a new generation of leaders who will reclaim it back with pride. Because the talk was not meant to be a political one there were almost no questions about him and his former party, the ANC. But one student managed to ask him why he didn't go back to parliament as a former president, and well, he said he couldn't do that because he didn't want to be a mere back bencher.
Mbeki is a leader we will miss in this country, surely he made some errors in his time, but his leadership will be missed solely. He is indeed an intellectual, and he engages you, only if you can concentrate when he speaks. He is not someone you will applaud every 2 minutes, because you need to be attentive until he finishes talking. There were times during his address I wished he was still a president of this country, but the Rhodes staff that was present made it their point to quench that thirst of me as they referred to him as Mr. President. How I wished it was true.
First appeared in Cape Times
Anyway, Mbeki was here to celebrate the overrated Africa Day, and good that guy can orate stories so well. I wondered why some quotas of the media called him boring and aloof. There was no aloofness to the Mbeki I listened to, he smiled, he joked, he used 'cool' phrases like "like really" to a laughing and applauding students. Now I understand why the ANC couldn't take it anymore, the guy is formal, yet welcoming, and very patient as he later on showed during a Question & Answer session.
You make a terrible mistake if you think you have him at a tight corner, as he showed when an IsiXhosa speaking lady vigorously (and naively) asked him why he didn't speak any IsiXhosa when he was in Mpuma Koloni (An IsiXhosa name for the Eastern Cape Province. He listened as the female student grew with confidence as the crowd roared.
He then politely told her to take into consideration that IsiXhosa was not the only African language and that in order for him to be inclusive of everyone he had to speak the language that could be easily understood by all. This time the crowd, the very one that roared the first time around roared for him. It was really getting interesting.
"Mr. President, just exactly who are these 'people on the ground' that you refer to? and who determines that they are ordinary? asked another student, again to a roaring crowd, by now I took it the roaring crowd roared because of the validity of the question. The ordinary people, according to the former skipper, are the people on the ground, the people without certain acquired skills as we at Rhodes University have. "And if you think you are ordinary, then you are abdicating from your responsibilities as you are supposed to be giving back to these people," he said, and the roaring went on again, and I joined in this time. According to Mbeki, the children of Africa need to embrace their continent, and I believe that we have to.
Africa needs a new generation of leaders who will reclaim it back with pride. Because the talk was not meant to be a political one there were almost no questions about him and his former party, the ANC. But one student managed to ask him why he didn't go back to parliament as a former president, and well, he said he couldn't do that because he didn't want to be a mere back bencher.
Mbeki is a leader we will miss in this country, surely he made some errors in his time, but his leadership will be missed solely. He is indeed an intellectual, and he engages you, only if you can concentrate when he speaks. He is not someone you will applaud every 2 minutes, because you need to be attentive until he finishes talking. There were times during his address I wished he was still a president of this country, but the Rhodes staff that was present made it their point to quench that thirst of me as they referred to him as Mr. President. How I wished it was true.
First appeared in Cape Times
War Vets out of their heads
The Umkhonto We Sizwe veterans Association really require some upstairs inspection. The said Vets recently went to Cape Town to deliver a memorandum requiring Premier Helen Zille’s apology about whatever she said about South Africa's number 1 citizen, J. Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. I say they need counselling because they then hurled insults when MEC Madikizela wanted to receive the memorandum on behalf of Zille.
"Voetzek," they said apparently, laughing and chanting with the police watching and guarding against any possibility of that march turning into something 'ungovernable', as they have threatened if Zille does not apologise to President Zuma. Unless the vets are really that old and forgetful, they should have known that they went there at a wrong time when Premier Zille was in Pretoria attending Cabinet Lekgotla with the very President she's supposed to apologise to. Are the vets even aware that Zuma and Zille are talking via the phone? I wonder. Aren't the vets supposed to know better about peace and harmony since they have worked all their lives doing, or attempting to do that? Again I wonder.
And what is the ANC saying about all these threats that are being toyed with by that group? Is the ANC going to be mum just like they were when Malema was saying all those things before the elections? I expect the ANC leadership to intervene in such serious cases as threatening to make the WP, or any part of the country for that matter, ungovernable. Demonstrations are allowed in democratic societies because they might yield fruits to those oppressed, but threats shouldn't. Is Zuma afraid of calling the MK Vets to order because he is afraid they may turn to his government? And just how powerful are they?
Too powerful to control? Who's funding them? I remember reading somewhere in the print media last year during the Zimbabwean elections how apparently Mugabe wanted to concede defeat but the Military Vets (equivalent to the MK Vets) 'forced' him not to. Are we in the same situation here, maybe just a bit differently? I am really afraid of where our country is headed if such militant organs are allowed to do as they wish.
Is there more to what we are all seeing here? Is this an ANC strategy to bully the opposition parties? Threats may lead to action, and Mr. President, did we, the voters, go to the polls for that? Please President Zuma, now you are a President to all of us residing in South Africa, even those who might have not voted for the ANC, or if at all. You are a President to even all the foreign nationals who now live with us here, and the world is watching this development with interest, and it won't be in our best interest if you ignored this.
The biggest fights in the world did not start with the biggest weapons; they started with a few unruly members of the community, and blossomed into something regretful. Mr. President, you are known to be a listener, and I may not be that important a person to you, or anyone, because I am not into politics, but I am a citizen of South Africa, of Africa, a son of the soil just like you are and please hear me out here.
I am writing this letter after having just watched the documentary, The Burning Man, a sad story of what happened during the now infamous Xenophobic attacks, and I must say that I felt closer to my continent than ever before, and I also realised that what happened during the xenophobic attacks started very softly, if I may say so.
The function of the MK Veterans in a free democratic society like ours puzzles me. I would have thought that the re-emergence of the said veterans was just to make sure that the families of those who died or got injured either physically or mentally during the struggle years are well taken care of by our government just like a lot of the former apartheid soldiers and policemen and women are still receiving some sort of grants, not what they are threatening to do and the pitiful language they are using.
I am a sad man today because I don't know what tomorrow will be like if threats like these are made and ignored by those we voted for. It's time we act, and stop talking, because cliched as it may be, talk is cheap, very cheap, and threats can be rich, very rich.
First published by Cape Times
"Voetzek," they said apparently, laughing and chanting with the police watching and guarding against any possibility of that march turning into something 'ungovernable', as they have threatened if Zille does not apologise to President Zuma. Unless the vets are really that old and forgetful, they should have known that they went there at a wrong time when Premier Zille was in Pretoria attending Cabinet Lekgotla with the very President she's supposed to apologise to. Are the vets even aware that Zuma and Zille are talking via the phone? I wonder. Aren't the vets supposed to know better about peace and harmony since they have worked all their lives doing, or attempting to do that? Again I wonder.
And what is the ANC saying about all these threats that are being toyed with by that group? Is the ANC going to be mum just like they were when Malema was saying all those things before the elections? I expect the ANC leadership to intervene in such serious cases as threatening to make the WP, or any part of the country for that matter, ungovernable. Demonstrations are allowed in democratic societies because they might yield fruits to those oppressed, but threats shouldn't. Is Zuma afraid of calling the MK Vets to order because he is afraid they may turn to his government? And just how powerful are they?
Too powerful to control? Who's funding them? I remember reading somewhere in the print media last year during the Zimbabwean elections how apparently Mugabe wanted to concede defeat but the Military Vets (equivalent to the MK Vets) 'forced' him not to. Are we in the same situation here, maybe just a bit differently? I am really afraid of where our country is headed if such militant organs are allowed to do as they wish.
Is there more to what we are all seeing here? Is this an ANC strategy to bully the opposition parties? Threats may lead to action, and Mr. President, did we, the voters, go to the polls for that? Please President Zuma, now you are a President to all of us residing in South Africa, even those who might have not voted for the ANC, or if at all. You are a President to even all the foreign nationals who now live with us here, and the world is watching this development with interest, and it won't be in our best interest if you ignored this.
The biggest fights in the world did not start with the biggest weapons; they started with a few unruly members of the community, and blossomed into something regretful. Mr. President, you are known to be a listener, and I may not be that important a person to you, or anyone, because I am not into politics, but I am a citizen of South Africa, of Africa, a son of the soil just like you are and please hear me out here.
I am writing this letter after having just watched the documentary, The Burning Man, a sad story of what happened during the now infamous Xenophobic attacks, and I must say that I felt closer to my continent than ever before, and I also realised that what happened during the xenophobic attacks started very softly, if I may say so.
The function of the MK Veterans in a free democratic society like ours puzzles me. I would have thought that the re-emergence of the said veterans was just to make sure that the families of those who died or got injured either physically or mentally during the struggle years are well taken care of by our government just like a lot of the former apartheid soldiers and policemen and women are still receiving some sort of grants, not what they are threatening to do and the pitiful language they are using.
I am a sad man today because I don't know what tomorrow will be like if threats like these are made and ignored by those we voted for. It's time we act, and stop talking, because cliched as it may be, talk is cheap, very cheap, and threats can be rich, very rich.
First published by Cape Times
Zuma addresses the nation about its state
I must have been deep in sleep when I heard a voice saying, "Floyd, Floyd, wake up, for your President requests". I woke up, but still half asleep, or was it half awake? It was at a time when my President, J. Gedleyihlekisa was saying something about his predecessor, T. Mvuyelwa Mbeki aka the dude who 'used' to be important until Malema existed.
The words, in my half awakeness, or half asleepness, were as thus, and I quote, "This is evidenced by the presence here of our icon Madiba, who laid the foundation for the country's achievements, and that of former President Thabo Mbeki, and now this is the really interesting part, the speech goes on, 'who built on that foundation, and then fired me." What? I thought, still in my half asleep half awake land.
After that I was so devastated at Zuma's lack of reconciliatory skills, and my girlfriend, who, by the way, was wide awake, told me that I had heard Zuma wrong and that actually he said nothing of the sort. She insisted that he just stopped when he said "Former President Thabo Mbeki who built on that foundation." Is it possible that Zuma still harbours a grudge against a man who sacked him out of office one day? I love South Africa.
I really do. Apparently, no, actually the history books tells of how FW. de Klerk's government jailed uTata Madiba (the internationally respected icon whose very own grandson is apparently already making moolah attached to his death, source? Snuki Zikalala) only to one day be his deputy, or one of his deputies, or were they called Vice Presidents then?
Then Umzukulu kaNxamalala as Zuma is affectionately received by those closer to him (read Mbalula, Malema, Blade et al) was excused from his duties by Mbeks (a pathetic sounding reference to Mr. Renaissance), and then the tables turned when on that fateful Saturday afternoon, Mbeks was officially certified dead ... well, I mean politically, or did that happen in Polokwane?
Well whatever the case, you just got to love South Africa. And then Zuma goes on (by the way, I'm still not soberly out of sleep here), and he says, "Crime, like freedom of expression, is the cornerstone of our government." "What?" I shouted again, very loudly. "Baby what's up?", said my girlfriend, dumbfounded as they come. I then related what I 'heard' Zuma say in his speech, the very one we're supposed to be watching together. "But what's wrong with that?", she asked before telling me that he (Zuma) didn't say that, and that she feared that I might be 'seeing' things, or hearing them, or both. She then went on to tell me what she heard him say, something to the nature of the following quote, "the fight against poverty remains the cornerstone of our government's focus".
Now I was starting to sober up a bit, but couldn't help thinking that he could have said something of that nature since many in his government, Julius included, are well known talk shops who just talk twaak for nothing really. Now back to my sick opinions about the speech. I was looking at that screen only so I could analyse, like those guys such as Friedman (Steven), Malala (Justice) and many more who thought COPE was capable of running a nation, like really now? Now let me quote someone who knows very little about SA politics, a Brazilian national called Joel Natilino Santana, he of the I-know-English only when we win games fame.
That dude, and I quote him from an interview he had with a weekly soccer publication, and he said, "Support all the players who have been selected". He (Santana) was referring to the noise he's had to deal with about the players he chose for the Confed Cup (read we'll lose early and support our favourite European players).
Santana could easily have been talking for Zuma about the cabinet he's chosen to take mzansi forward. As a recent believer in Zuma and his people in higher positions of governance, I have a request to all the people of South Africa, let's rally behind the people who've been chosen by a coach we have trusted in the polls, and this time it's not a Brazilian guy who only speaks impeccable English when it suits him, but a man from rural Nkandla, a simple tribesman like me, and his name is very simple and popular today, Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma. A man of all seasons indeed, a man who proved to all of us that indeed seasons come to pass.
Rudzani Floyd Musekwa is a senior Journalism and Media student at Rhodes University, and he writes in his personal capacity as a sick man in need of some serious upstairs inspection, just like the recently famous MK War Veterans, as foul mouthed as Julius Malema (only a bit reasoned).
Rudzani Floyd Musekwa is a senior Journalism and Media student at Rhodes University, and he writes in his personal capacity as a sick man in need of some serious upstairs inspection, just like the recently famous MK War Veterans, as foul mouthed as Julius Malema (only a bit reasoned).
First published by The Mail & Guardian (SA)
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