The power of ignorance

Barolong Seboni | Thursday April 2, 2015 13:08

In other words, our man Chicken owes so many people so much money that he dare not venture out into the pot-holed streets of Gaborone. So he has found refuge for his “exiled ass,”as Mr Kool would refer to his delicate situation in Botswana, at the Nitty Gritty. All this due mainly to the patronage and benevolence of the chief executive hostess and sole proprietor of the shabeenly establishment, Ausi Maggie. Ausi Maggie is a humanitarian at heart and in spirit. She would not turn out anyone in need of a drink- as long as they pay for it! But this means that our man Chicken must have been going around getting loans in order to repay his debts with Ausi Maggie. There`s no doubting the fact that Chicken is one cat who knows which side his bread is buttered.

Tshini also knows which side his business bun is buttered, but at this point in time he is a very frustrated individual. He is sitting in the dark corner of the lounge on the simple green sofa. Upon enquiry from Smooch on why he is forlorn, he says; “My enterprises are not thriving. I applied for an empty piece of land a long time ago in Gabane and I’m being sent from pillar to post between the chief and the land board. Meanwhile, the NDB won`t consider my application for a loan unless the land has title deed and has been properly surveyed.”

“Tell me about it! You mean you don’t know that bureaucracy and officialdom are the opposite of development in this developing country?” says someone rhetorically. Then Nikita downs his last tot of vodka and says: “The trouble with Botswana today is no longer one of lacking!”

“I see what you mean wena Nikita. As we move into the 21st century, bureaucracy in Botswana is propelled by the belief that ignorance is power. Everyone operates in their own sphere of ignorance!”

“Hey, monna you are very right. I have actually seen people in all these offices hoarding ignorance, actually stacking it and feeding on it so that I couldn’t even get my piece. And they were doing it as if it was running out of fashion, man!” exclaims Mr Kool in complete disbelief. Then he continues: “You all know what I think…”- and Nikita couldn’t resist interjecting: “Oh please tswe tswe! Spare yourself and us, the agony of your thinking!”

“Very funny! What I think, or suspect, is that when all these important officials meet in their official capacities, driven from their official cars, they then compare notes and say: “Look my ignorance is more intelligent than your ignorance!”