Opinion / Columnist
Zanu-PF's Godfrey Malaba comment, 'a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury'
06 Aug 2011 at 06:27hrs | Views
Right to Response: Godfrey Malaba's comments in the News Day of Thursday 28 July 2011
Grapes are sour when you can't reach them
It is amazing how some people look intelligent or at least devoid of malice until they open their mouths and fulfill the famous advice that it is best to keep your mouth shut and have people thinking that you are intelligent than to open it and confirm your foolishness.
Reading the comments made by one Godfrey Malaba, a full member of Zanu PF's Central Committee in which he is quoted as having amongst other things said that government ministers who hail from Matabeleland are powerless it is with no doubt impossible not to feel a tinge of embarrassment for this gentleman.
Taking aim at the cabinet initiative tasked with seeking solutions to the demise of Bulawayo's industries, he said, "Professor Welshman Ncube can be the chair of the task-force on the Bulawayo industries, but there is nothing he will do. He is so powerless that he cannot even ask his permanent secretary to bring him water. Even speeches are written for him".
It is tempting to ignore this statement and simply describe it as a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury and thus signifying nothing were it not for the gross attempt at misleading those affected by the industrial flight. It is important to deal with this denial and it matters little if Mr. Malaba meant his comments to be taken figuratively or literally because either way they are intended to be misleading.
Evidently these statements flow from a process of thought that assumes that what one has not imagined, thought or done cannot exist. That their limited world view and reality is actually the universal truth. This way of thinking is as sad as it is tragic.
It is of paramount importance to underline the fact that this apparent ignorance of the function of a government ministry is being displayed by a senior member of a political party that has been in power for no less than an un-interrupted thirty years. It is sad that in all that time he has learnt precious little about how government business operates. This is shameful.
For a member and leader in a party with years of government experience to expect a permanent secretary to be reduced to serving water and tea to a minister is not only a frightening display of pedestrianism but a loud announcement of why this barren leadership could not take the people of Bulawayo and Matebeleland anywhere.
That any minister will certainly need the expertise of the permanent secretary in discharging their duties is a fact obvious to a kindergarten child, for this to be lost to a Central Committee member is frightening to say the least.
The misplaced belief that all ministers from Matabeleland cannot deliver is based on the failure of a plethora of Mr. Malaba's colleagues who over the years have watched as Bulawayo's industry shrunk until now when a new breed of this region's young national politicians are attempting to tackle the problem without fear of displeasing godfathers from Bambazonke.
If Mr. Malaba who spoke like a man who has suddenly encountered his 'Damascus road moment ', believes that after years of ruling, his political party has made only token attempts at solving Bulawayo's problems, the obvious question that begs an answer is, what then is he still doing in that political party?
Stoically sitting in the top echelons of a political party whose policies are at variance with one's beliefs must surely be torture. It is both obvious and instructive that his views are contrary to those of his superiors such as V.P. John Landa Nkomo and Mr. Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu who believe that there is no marginalisation in Matabeleland and that anyone who says so is not only lazy but is also a small dog / fox terrier, utitisi.
While some people might be tempted to sympathise with such self confessed failure in leadership now being justified by wanton criticism of anyone who attempts to take the bull by the horns, speak to issues and propose solutions. No sympathy should be given to those who continue to enjoy the trappings of office where they have failed the people for years and still fail them today.
It is worth pointing out that the culture of creating solutions and addressing issues which is being pursued by young politicians like Prof. Ncube is not only strange but difficult to comprehend for political leaders who are cultured in the art of political failure and non delivery.
If it were true that all ministers from this region are powerless then how does he account for the good work that a colleague of his, former minister Professor Jonathan Moyo undertook in his constituency of Tsholotsho? Maybe that is why they spitefully said that he had put up tower lights for lizards.
The sterling work done by the Minister of Industry and Commerce at Ziscosteel and in re-positioning the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair amongst other notable achievements is conveniently forgotten because tangible delivery is not part of the DNA of failed pseudo political leaders who only believe in rhetoric, empty vote seeking promises and excuses.
The reality that faces such pseudo leaders who are not only clueless but heartless in matters of public affairs is that today's political society will spare nor brook any waste of its time on denials, useless justification and escapism. Only those politicians who are tuned to the desires of their communities like Prof. Welshman Ncube, who will never give up no matter the odds, will be afforded support.
Rather than justifying his inability to solve Bulawayo's glaring problems by imagining that what he failed to think and do means no one else can. We encourage Mr. Malaba to challenge Prof. Ncube to a public debate on the matters in question and indeed any other matter concerning policy. We can assure him that such a challenge would be gladly accepted because it is good in a democracy for people to call their leaders to account by interrogating the veracity of their ideas.
The realities of life are that there are positives to be found out of even the worst of situations. In the case of Malaba's ranting we have found a clear support for devolution as an answer to his frustrations. It is as clear as daylight that the solution to the purported powerlessness of this region's ministers and the limitations of appointed governors correctly justifies the calls for devolution of power as a system of government.
This is why Prof. Ncube and the political party he leads have constantly demanded that devolution be located at the epicentre of the new constitution of Zimbabwe to afford provinces the power to control their resources and thus decide their destiny.
It is time to confine yesteryear politics such as those proposed and pursued by Mr. Malaba to the dustbins of history and allow the new crop of clear minded leaders to take the ropes and deliver based on the reality that servitude is the cornerstone of all public leadership, a reality found in abundance outside Mr. Malaba's political party hence his disillusionment.
Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube is the MDC – National Media, Information and Publicity Secretary
Zethule1@yahoo.com
Grapes are sour when you can't reach them
It is amazing how some people look intelligent or at least devoid of malice until they open their mouths and fulfill the famous advice that it is best to keep your mouth shut and have people thinking that you are intelligent than to open it and confirm your foolishness.
Reading the comments made by one Godfrey Malaba, a full member of Zanu PF's Central Committee in which he is quoted as having amongst other things said that government ministers who hail from Matabeleland are powerless it is with no doubt impossible not to feel a tinge of embarrassment for this gentleman.
Taking aim at the cabinet initiative tasked with seeking solutions to the demise of Bulawayo's industries, he said, "Professor Welshman Ncube can be the chair of the task-force on the Bulawayo industries, but there is nothing he will do. He is so powerless that he cannot even ask his permanent secretary to bring him water. Even speeches are written for him".
It is tempting to ignore this statement and simply describe it as a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury and thus signifying nothing were it not for the gross attempt at misleading those affected by the industrial flight. It is important to deal with this denial and it matters little if Mr. Malaba meant his comments to be taken figuratively or literally because either way they are intended to be misleading.
Evidently these statements flow from a process of thought that assumes that what one has not imagined, thought or done cannot exist. That their limited world view and reality is actually the universal truth. This way of thinking is as sad as it is tragic.
It is of paramount importance to underline the fact that this apparent ignorance of the function of a government ministry is being displayed by a senior member of a political party that has been in power for no less than an un-interrupted thirty years. It is sad that in all that time he has learnt precious little about how government business operates. This is shameful.
For a member and leader in a party with years of government experience to expect a permanent secretary to be reduced to serving water and tea to a minister is not only a frightening display of pedestrianism but a loud announcement of why this barren leadership could not take the people of Bulawayo and Matebeleland anywhere.
That any minister will certainly need the expertise of the permanent secretary in discharging their duties is a fact obvious to a kindergarten child, for this to be lost to a Central Committee member is frightening to say the least.
The misplaced belief that all ministers from Matabeleland cannot deliver is based on the failure of a plethora of Mr. Malaba's colleagues who over the years have watched as Bulawayo's industry shrunk until now when a new breed of this region's young national politicians are attempting to tackle the problem without fear of displeasing godfathers from Bambazonke.
If Mr. Malaba who spoke like a man who has suddenly encountered his 'Damascus road moment ', believes that after years of ruling, his political party has made only token attempts at solving Bulawayo's problems, the obvious question that begs an answer is, what then is he still doing in that political party?
While some people might be tempted to sympathise with such self confessed failure in leadership now being justified by wanton criticism of anyone who attempts to take the bull by the horns, speak to issues and propose solutions. No sympathy should be given to those who continue to enjoy the trappings of office where they have failed the people for years and still fail them today.
It is worth pointing out that the culture of creating solutions and addressing issues which is being pursued by young politicians like Prof. Ncube is not only strange but difficult to comprehend for political leaders who are cultured in the art of political failure and non delivery.
If it were true that all ministers from this region are powerless then how does he account for the good work that a colleague of his, former minister Professor Jonathan Moyo undertook in his constituency of Tsholotsho? Maybe that is why they spitefully said that he had put up tower lights for lizards.
The sterling work done by the Minister of Industry and Commerce at Ziscosteel and in re-positioning the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair amongst other notable achievements is conveniently forgotten because tangible delivery is not part of the DNA of failed pseudo political leaders who only believe in rhetoric, empty vote seeking promises and excuses.
The reality that faces such pseudo leaders who are not only clueless but heartless in matters of public affairs is that today's political society will spare nor brook any waste of its time on denials, useless justification and escapism. Only those politicians who are tuned to the desires of their communities like Prof. Welshman Ncube, who will never give up no matter the odds, will be afforded support.
Rather than justifying his inability to solve Bulawayo's glaring problems by imagining that what he failed to think and do means no one else can. We encourage Mr. Malaba to challenge Prof. Ncube to a public debate on the matters in question and indeed any other matter concerning policy. We can assure him that such a challenge would be gladly accepted because it is good in a democracy for people to call their leaders to account by interrogating the veracity of their ideas.
The realities of life are that there are positives to be found out of even the worst of situations. In the case of Malaba's ranting we have found a clear support for devolution as an answer to his frustrations. It is as clear as daylight that the solution to the purported powerlessness of this region's ministers and the limitations of appointed governors correctly justifies the calls for devolution of power as a system of government.
This is why Prof. Ncube and the political party he leads have constantly demanded that devolution be located at the epicentre of the new constitution of Zimbabwe to afford provinces the power to control their resources and thus decide their destiny.
It is time to confine yesteryear politics such as those proposed and pursued by Mr. Malaba to the dustbins of history and allow the new crop of clear minded leaders to take the ropes and deliver based on the reality that servitude is the cornerstone of all public leadership, a reality found in abundance outside Mr. Malaba's political party hence his disillusionment.
Nhlanhla Bahlangene Dube is the MDC – National Media, Information and Publicity Secretary
Zethule1@yahoo.com
Source - zimscribes.blogspot.com
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