I was attracted to this article by the popular picture of Honourable Ndaba Gaolathe. Below the picture there were the words in bold letters: “Plan to dethrone Gaolathe exposed.” The article opens with the words,” Politics will always be a dirty game,” and ends with the lament, “Indeed politics is a dirty game…” A very short article, it made me think many thoughts.
It wasn’t the first time I heard or read the uncomplimentary and harsh statement about politics; if it’s a game many people, including journalists, see it; it makes one sit up and mull over the nature of games people play. Politics if indeed is a game differs from many other games played to entertain, win personal or group prize or exercise body and mind. Though games are played by rules, precisely to scrape off the dirt that may be inherent in them, it appears some dirt always sticks, resisting scraping or laundering. But let’s face it, politics is a vastly different game from many games played: it’s played and ought to be played to preserve the peace, order, and good health of human species to let the species survive the challenges and rigours of communal life full of contradiction and conflict, the species is heir to. Without politics our world, would be a jungle where humans live under the law of eat or be eaten.
