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Many days for the thief

Over the last 10 years, glorified thugs walked the corridors of power with romp and pomp. They exuded impunity and arrogance, and rightfully so. They owned the earth beneath our feet, the jobs we dreamt of, the tenders we bidded for, and if you happened to be a government or parastatal executive, you virtually took every breath and every step at their pleasure.

They felt secure in their largesse, content that the political conditions of the time were permissive of their wrongdoing and that the institutions of government fashioned for deterrence were securely on a short leash at least, for the medium term.

It would be unfair to say that every act of corruption that happened during those years had the blessings of the meritless and kleptocratic government of the day. But a fish rots from the head and the head – the government enclave - was a cesspool of corruption and unbridled arrogance. The further away from power one was, the more vulnerable and insignificant they were. Sycophancy took hold of government and kleptocracts were fetishized and worshiped. Name-dropping became the order of the day. So dire was the situation, that even the most junior of all staff, was feared by the most senior if their connections to power were discernible and clear.

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Editor's Comment
As A3 opens, responsibility rests with driver

For decades, the Francistown-Nata road has witnessed countless accidents, many of them fatal. Families have lost loved ones. Businesses have suffered delays while motorists have repeatedly complained about the poor condition of the road.The opening of the new section is therefore welcome news and a reminder that investing in quality infrastructure can save lives.However, while the smooth new surface brings relief, it also comes with greater...

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