Page 59 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 20

Leadership

from the sidelines and pouring as termined individuals meet at the passionately covet.
much cold water on their achieve- ballot box to face off against one This is how it goes every election
ments on social media as possible. another. Meanwhile, more goons cycle, all across Afrika, and in many
Hateful, demeaning words designed are recruited to stuff ballot boxes, parts of the world. Monotony,
to disprove the popularity of that steal ballot papers, or other dirty senselessness and utter disrespect
particular candidate. “Oh, there tricks designed to ensure that the for the people that they say they
weren’t as many people as they unknown outcome becomes much want to represent.
claim in attendance.” “Oh they are more predictable and dependable.
using stock photography.” “Oh this After all, having spent hundreds of Meanwhile, self-righteous ‘middle
person is evil and guilty of so many millions on the entire stinky process, and upper’ class Afrikans blame the
crimes.” On and on they go as their one must ensure that they get the poor choice of leaders on the deci-
mobilized social media ‘troops’ commensurate return on investment sions made by ‘lower’ class Afrikans.
faithfully regurgitate these words, which comes in the form of a politi- Saying that it is the cooks, the clean-
slightly edited for freshness, to their cal seat, hard fought and hard won. ers, the gardeners, the peasant farm-
own followers. And the heads of the After the elections – they quickly ers and so on who make the choices
electorate swivel to and fro between increase their salaries to recover that leave them with a motley repre-
the two camps, as if watching a live from their debts and pay back the sentation of such mediocrity. Never
tennis match. Waiting to catch the favors received either in cash or in once considering that they were in
latest insult and have a good laugh kind: tenders, favors, roads, laws and a position to educate and help them
at the expense of somebody else. on and on. Leaving the voter duped to understand what is really going
Missing the point that they are what and exploited and with nothing to on and to be able to make a decision
is being served up – their opinion, show for it at the end of the day. that they can actually celebrate and
perspective and motivations are the For in the next 4 or 5 years, the only stand by in the aftermath of the vot-
fare on which these political aspi- thing they will see or hear from their ing and counting process.
rants are dining. Their hearts and ‘chosen one’ will be some mediocre
minds are the bounty that are being excuses made in public for why they All hail the democratic process and
targeted for capture. are not doing their jobs. They will the modern world and way of living
witness the horror of realizing that that we have chosen for ourselves!
Sometimes the candidates resort to the man or woman that they select- Actually, no. Let there be no hailing.
the worst tactic possible, the hired ed to represent them only ever had I am sick of it. Just as we all ought
goons. The people who are mo- their selfish interests at heart and to be sick of it. This inanity must
bilized to visit violence upon the not once considered the people who end. Did you notice that in NONE
rival’s team or the electorate should they went to, begging for votes and of the scenarios highlighted above
they dare attend a rival’s political access to office. did any of the candidates demon-
rally or receive their ‘gifts’ or even strate insight into the real needs of
consider supporting them. Violence, And once it is all over, the one who the people, love for them or a pos-
threats and intimidation become the thought they were the only one fit itive and transformative vision for
tools of choice for those who are for the job begins the process of where they would like to take them?
afraid of losing and want to keep protest. Into the courts they march Seriously speaking, how can it be
‘their seats’ at all costs. Behind the with lengthy petitions and claims to that we are willing to allow cycles
scenes, political actors lobby one make about how illegal the elections of 4-8 or 5-10 years just roll by,
another, using bribes and threats were. Onto the streets they stream, over and over, the way that we do?
to coerce individuals who would hooligans in hand, to make life diffi- Especially when we have such clear
be better leaders than they to give cult for everybody in the capital city evidence of such rot and decay
up their aspirations in exchange for until their claims are heard. Before sitting atop our heads and directing
cash, silence or both. So that the the microphones they troop shout- or attempting to direct our destinies
one who is so desperate for ‘power’ ing to be heard about the injustice in some specific direction. These
that he would grab it at any cost can that has been visited upon them and Afrikan politicians, the majority
have his way. just how horrible it is. Some resort of them, roll into office with their
to violence in order to get their heads held high, driving huge 4x4s
And so, political rivals are struck so-called rightful places restored to which we fuel and maintain, acting
off the list, one after the other, them. Because no one, other than as though they are now our kings
until only the two or three ultra-de- they, should hold the office they so and chiefs, sit on their faux-leather

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