Nchindo's demise compared to Marie Antoinette's

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Friday February 19, 2010 00:00

The question that has kept lingering in the minds a of many is: how could such a man, who had occupied many lofty positions depart this world in such a humbling manner? While the events leading to the former Debswana managing director's death keep on unfolding in the local media, the parallels between Nchindo and another person whose life has fascinated people for years, Queen Marie Antoinette of France are shocking. Both figures led lives of opulence, they were influential because of the positions they held, interestingly Marie Antoinette was married to a Louis and both exited the world in a way that had even their greatest enemies feeling sorry for them.

While there are so many parallels, there have been clear contrasts too. Marie Antoinette was born into a royal family and married into one, while Nchindo was just an ordinary Motswana. The French Queen died while she was relatively young while the former MD died at the ripe old age of 69 years. One was a white woman, while the other was a black man.

As mentioned, the parallels between the two are just as many and startling as revealed below.

CareersNchindo was one of Botswana's best-known kingmakers having been influential as the MD of Debswana. The man had an illustrious career and according to Wikipedia, he rose to become the managing director of Debswana, the chairman of the Botswana Stock Exchange, Botswana head for Barclays Bank and resident director of Anglo-American Mining in Botswana. In 1991, when De Beers Botswana joined with the Botswana government to form Debswana, he became its first managing director, a position that gave him a lot of influence and turned him into a kingmaker of sorts.

Born into the royal courts of Austria, Marie Antoinette knew that she was destined to live an opulent life with many privileges. According to Wikipedia, at the age of 14, she was married to Louis-Auguste, Dauphine of France and on the death of King Louis XV in May 1774, her husband ascended the French throne as Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette assumed the title of Queen of France and Navarre. Although it has been recorded that her husband sidelined her in his decision-makings, she remained an important figure in the political climate of France so much that when the French Revolution broke out, she was one of the primary targets.

Political influenceAs mentioned before, Louis Nchindo was one of the best-known kingmakers in the country and a local Sunday newspaper aptly describes him thus:'At 38, he landed the pound seat as Chief Executive Officer at De Beers Botswana (as Debswana was previously known) where he established himself as the power behind the scenes who allegedly directed millions of Pula in the De Beers money to Botswana leaders, the puppet master who pulled strings of officials in key places, a power broker who built a huge social capital in high places'.

At the height of his influence, Nchindo was said to have determined who would become president and he is also said to have retired at least one president. According to some sources, he was consulted whenever cabinet was made. He also reportedly rescued former president, Sir Ketumile Masire a number of times when he (Masire) was in financial dire straits using company resources.

The man's 'fall' began when he had a fallout with former President Festus Mogae in 2004, who went on to refuse to renew his contract, a move that saw his steady descent into embattlement.

A few years later, he was arraigned before the court to answer multiple corruption charges and that most certainly added a nail to his coffin (no pun intended).

On the other hand, by virtue of her being the Queen of France, Marie Antoinette was a political figure although Wikipedia records:'From the outset, despite how she was portrayed in contemporary libelles, the new queen had very little influence with her husband. Louis, who had been influenced as a child by anti-Austrian sentiments in the court blocked many of her candidates, including Choiseul, from taking important positions...'

Marie Antoinette was however much later brave enough to stand by her husband refusing to leave him in order to escape angry mobs at the beginning of the French Revolution that eventually led to their deaths.

Their love of opulenceThose who have interacted with Louis Nchindo say that he loved the finer things in life. His hangers-on, who were allegedly many, are said to have been treated to the best Cuban cigars, cognacs, wines and expensive clothes. At times, the man was spied buying his friends very expensive bottles of liquor and he is said to have encouraged them to indulge as much as they wished. He was always spotted wearing expensive labels that are out of reach for ordinary men. Stories of that infectious laughter that his peers emulated and carefree lifestyle abound. One can safely say that in Nchindo's 'courts', hangers-on were spoilt for choice.

There are talks of luxurious houses not only in Botswana but also in the leafy suburbs of South Africa, Russia and Monaco. Monaco happens to be the playground of the richest people. Luxury getaways peppered with naughty sexual escapades have also been mentioned with one South African Sunday paper calling him a 'randy grandpa'. The big question is: did Nchindo use the coffers of Debswana to finance his life of opulence, while still the MD of Debswana?

Sofia Coppola has successfully given Marie Antoinette's enthusiasts a glimpse into the life of luxury the queen led in the royal courts of France in the acclaimed film, Marie Antoinette. Those who get the chance to watch the movie would not help envying the beautiful, carefree queen whose infectious laughter filled the corridors of French palaces.  Wikipedia says of her:

'To make up for the lack of affection from her husband and the endless criticism of her mother, Marie Antoinette began to spend more on gambling and clothing, with cards and horse-betting, as well as trips to the city and new clothing, shoes pomade and rogue. She was expected by tradition to spend money on her attire, so as to outshine other women at Court, being the leading example of fashion in Versailles...'

Like Nchindo, Marie Antoinette loved beautiful houses and according to Wikipedia, 'on June 7, 1784, the queen occupied herself with the creation of the Hameau de la reine, a model hamlet in the garden of the Petit Trianon with a mill and twelve cottages, nine of which are still standing'.

The French people would later accuse her of bringing the country into bankruptcy by her overspending.Like Nchindo, Marie Antoinete was said to have led a decadent life of infidelity and in her case her detractors also accused her of lesbianism and committing incest with her son, a charge that she vehemently denied until the end.

Their deathsAs mentioned before, the death of Nchindo grabbed the attention of the nation because of the drama surrounding it.  It was clear that by the time he died, he had made many enemies including some people at the top. According to a statement made by his son Garvas Nchindo, he flew from Gaborone to Kasane on February 4, which was a Thursday.  On February 7 he is said to have left in the afternoon but never returned, only for his body to be discovered after a 'massive' search on February 11. According to some reports his head was missing having been possibly blown off in a suspected suicide.

Marie Antoinette's death was equally dramatic because by the time she died, she was a prisoner of the French people who incarcerated her in the tower of the Temple after deposing the royal family. After a trial, which some described as a sham, she was taken to a guillotine where according to Wikipedia, dressed in a simple white dress. Her last words were, 'Pardon me Sir, I meant not to do it,' to her executioner, Sanson whose foot she had accidentally stepped on before she was killed. According to some accounts, Sanson held out her head to the bloodthirsty crowd after it was cut.

ConclusionA careful study of Nchindo and Marie Antoinette would show that both lived lofty lives, they shared the love of finer things, had a measure of political power and all that created enemies for them. Ironically, by the time they died they had been accused of misappropriation of public funds, cut off from the people they loved the most and ironically both of them lost their heads at the end of their lives (if the Nchindo story is to be believed).