Politics of strongmen, blood relations and dynastic successions; Their turn to eat
Correspondent | Friday January 27, 2017 15:44
Sadly in South Africa, like in many African countries, it is an issue which tribe rules.
The two major tribes Zulus and Xhosa's have dominated the first prize. But with Magashule, Zuma is sure he wont go to jail. Now while it would be a little easier to get Nkosazana into Mahlambandlopfu-the official residence of the President of the Republic- the probem is that Nkosazana is a 'Mbekite' in many ways and Zuma would not be happy to see 'another Mbeki' in the form of his ex wife in Union Buildings. What about jail?
Zuma can't go to jail with Nkosasana in, after all they have three kids together. And Ace, Ace is a loyalist, if elected president, he will protect Zuma legacy and protect him from DA and EFF jailing him and the Gupta's. And Matamela? Matamela is closer to the prize but thats if he polarises KZN because KZN decides who becomes the continent's most powerful man.
It decides the price of our bread, fuel and electricity. Ramaphosa must then choose his Deputy President from KZN if he wants to become President. Him being a Venda? it is maybe too late for that tribal prejudice. South Africa needs a president who can inspire confidence in the business community and the unemployed youth, a President who can influence continental matters. What is the position of the Stellenboch mafia?; a cortorie of wealthy oligarchs that select the President of South Africa and influence its economic policies. Its simple,they will choose their own protege' Ramaphosa-a capitalist. Its quite interesting.
Back home in Botswana, its also a matter of life and death who replaces Seretse Khama Ian Khama. Khama leaves office in April 2018. But for his successor, the prize is for only 18 months for there is an overwhelming sensation for change in 2019.A rejuvenated coalition on the horizon, a disgruntled youth, a nation living in fear, a wealthy and vocal labour movement- the successor knows he only has 18 months on the trophy. 2019 might see new leadership.
In the DRC, Kabila refuses with the trophy.He doesn't want to be ruled by a Congolese Greek Jew called Moise Katumbi. A wealthy man who made his fortune in Zambia during exile, who also calls Belgium home. Now, in Zimbabwe they have been very smart, they say everyone has tried to change from Nkomo to Tsvangirai-they all agree that it is now up to God to decide for Zimbabwe.
In America, they threw away textbook economics and rhetoric of Barack Obama for a pragmatist they know best Donald Trump. His message was simple; lets make America great again. In Zambia, nothing has changed besides the pulsating but fragmanted dreams in the markets.
Angola, the wealthy African regime that chooses Presidents for poor African nations, has also seen no tangible growth after a 25 -year-old war. Dos Santos family still owns the country with Isabella Dos Santos,Africa's richest woman preparing for a take over. Lesotho is another sad story where the riches of a dam have polarised a traditionally quiet nation. What Lesotho fails to do is to apply to be incorporated under the FreeState. The politics of Lesotho have now endangered the water we import from them.
However their heritage remains intact. And the political drama in Maseru has not bothered the horse and blanket ntate in the rural peripherals. It is interesting, elsewhere, Yaya Jammeh has also behaved 'correctly' like an African looting a country he so loves over R5 billion fleeing into exile. But who would want to go to a foreign country without cash?
Next is Kenya, another unfortunate state ruled by politics of blood relations and oligarchs from Moi to Kibaki to the Kenyattas.Another wealthy enterprising popular politician Raila Odinga has set his eyes on the trop. Like Ramaphosa, for Odinga, its now or never. He wants a piece of the East African superpower. Mozambique is okay with its potholes and their fish and sporadic rebel attacks. Ethiopia; my favourite country, is a managed democracy more like Botswana; some call it a 'nice dictatorship' but the similarity is that while people complain quietly in both countries,it appears the levels of dissatisfaction havent risen to a level of necessitating change-they enjoy peace with pain. Namibia is still a Cape Colony in shape and form.
OK, sometimes there crops up an iron fist by a liberation movement that almost died only to be saved by a fraudulent electoral law that brought about expensive electronic voting machines. After expensive Swedish Grippens in the midst of falling bridges due to corrupt tenders, Botswana like Namibia has gone to India to procure electronic voting machines to save itself from imminent change. Algeria; President Boutiflika is not well-for years now, he lives and runs Algiers from a hosipital bed in France.
What did he do? He criminalised all discussions about his health! LOL. Its now a crime in Algeria to say the President is not well. I love Africa and its sociological dynamics. The carefully arranged food chain and the men in charge of the people. But more interesting is the gullible voter; you and i, the people on the ground, the hoi-poloi.
How long it takes us to read political arithmatic. If you sum it up, its indeed profit over people. You can say its their turn to eat. These are the paradoxes of this place we call home, Africa and the men we call leaders-strong men.
Olebile Sikwane
Selebi-Phikwe