SOUTH AFRICA — Since the creation of humanity, the social, economic and political interactiveness of human beings have never been peaceful and orderly. In his/her state of nature the human being is perpetually very reckless, ambitious, dangerous and disorderly.

 

The history of societies, nations and states from time immemorial to date is exactly in line with what Karl Max labelled a history of class struggles.

 

Every empire (from Nguni, Rozvi, Napoleon, Roman, Automan, Alexander The Great, Bitish Empire, etc.) in every part of the world were/are characterised by fatal struggles to dominate one another and enrich oneself.

 

Modern political writers have generally summed politics as who gets what, when, how and where, but African politics is generally dictatorial, bloodier, tribal or jobs for the boys’, very parochial, shameful and reckless.

 

Africa’s history of struggle seems to be the only one that has borrowed heavily from and remained stark in the Soviet/Mao era political philosophy of classifying citizens as revolutionaries or reactionaries.

 

That is why in one society or community or government or nation or state like Zimbabwe we  continue to have some citizens addressed as comrades and others as Mr/Mrs/Miss.

 

You may be tempted to draw parallels with what the West often claims to be a civilised culture (theirs) and paganism or backwardness (in most underdeveloped parts of the world).

 

What is unfolding in South Africa today with the sacking of President Thabo Mbeki is scaring to say the least. It may be used by clever and selfish African leaders to mock and despise the functionality and relevance of democracy on the continent.

 

They will simply argue that what should “genuine” African revolutionaries, the “real” comrades and the “most” patriotic citizens do when they see their country being taken over by roddy violent political thugs who claim to be democratic and experts of good governance.

 

Such thugs may be in the opposition or among the rank and file of such “revolutionary parties like the ANC, Zanu PF, Frelimo, SWAPO, MPLA, Chama Chamapinduzi?

 

Mugabe has repeatedly revealed without total conscience that he was afraid of retiring because that will open up vacancy in the presidency for opportunists to scramble for and render the spirit of the revolution valueless.

 

The recenet behaviour of many leaders of organizations that constitute the South Africa’s governing coalition around the thorny issue of prosecuting the ANC leader Jacob Zuma on corruption charges can not be deemed or considered civil nor politically examplary.

 

The political posturing of ANC Youth leader Malema and his supporters/admirers with regard the Zuma saga is very distressful and shocking as once again another revolutionary party follows the same garden path to political personal cultism.

 

The apparent failures of Robert Mugabe of Zanu PF in Zimbabwe as a genuine revolutionary and nationalits following decades of hero worshipping and exalting him to the status of the second Son of Man do not attract enough attention from those in the ANC and South Africa who claim to have the future role in nation building there and beyond.

 

I have very little doubt that an historic revolutionary political organization like ANC has a higher moral responsibility to protect the integrity and aspirations of the South African people, and has the necessary leadership depth to achieve just that.

 

I however, have many question marks with regard the political prudence, viability and sustainibility of the thugish political behaviour of some of the current leadership particularly Malema the ANC’s Youth Chairman.

 

Surely different phases of people’s struggles call for different leadership styles and political militancy, therefore many expect a more tolerant and civil leadership during this process of nation building and stabilisation.

 

Thus the political conduct of leaders like Malema characterised by more thugish, threats to use violence and disorderly tendencies to achieve political goals in a free and democratic South Africa seem to be not only disproportionate, but barbaric, cruel and out of sinc with the 21st Century.

 

I would have preferred Malema to be Youth Leader during Apparthied South Africa when violence was the norm, not today nor tomorrow. He is simply a leader of a group of thugs and opportunists calling themselves young politicians.

 

Hence my frank advice is beware of thugs taking over South Africa. We have seen it in Zimbabwe and have lived its consequences. Imagine in South Africa. Do not call me a reactionary, I am not.

 

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