Opinion / Blogs
A tale of two professors
24 Apr 2011 at 18:11hrs | Views
WHEN you see a rock lizard nodding, don't think it is happy, it is actually its nature, says the soothsayer who lives in a hovel in the village.
While on a retreat to consult the soothsayer in the land of milk, honey and dust (Guruve) last weekend, this villager put his ear to the ground and got wind of the turn of events in MDC-M or MDC-N, whichever nomenclature you prefer!
The village wondered what was happening to the two professors, for in the village it was difficult to find the diction for robotics and mechatronics or megatronics, whichever, inasmuch as it was equally difficult to find diction for family law or constitutional law, whichever! What was worse for the villager was how the professors would apply robotics or that kind of law in running the land of Munhumutapa, without confusing themselves.
These being the disciplines represented by the two professors, the villager was at a loss to explain to fellow villagers what these two professors were educated in. The truth was, however, that they were fighting for the control of the smaller faction of the sellout party that was equally articulating the West's hullabaloo about democracy, good governance and accountability.
It was accepted though, in the mindset of the village elders that the two professors, representing highly educated people, might have gobbled too much of the white man's books and got too educated to the point of confusing themselves and think they were introducing democracy, good governance and accountability. Because much to the chagrin of the villagers, democracy, good governance and accountability are the things that lacked in Rhodesia and were only brought through the barrel of Mugabe's gun.
"What other democracy, good governance and accountability are they talking about outside that brought by our liberators?" asked a village elder as he frowned to push snuff up his nostril.
"The difference is the same!" shot another villager.
All along, the two professors had behaved like the proverbial lizards always nodding as if in agreement yet, they were worlds apart, so went the argument in the village.
Professor Arthur Mutambara had for long thought he was in agreement with the other professor, Welshman Ncube, but he was later to know that it was a nature-driven nod. It was nothing more than a public show!
But what value do these two professors add to Zimbabwe's political scenario and what does the switch of positions, change? There is more to running the country than being too bookish and democratically undemocratic.
Like or hate him, the professor from the East played his part in the GPA, of course with mistakes here and there like any educated young man, slowly getting learned. In the village there is a difference between being learned and being educated.
This other professor whose political springboard is the City of Kings and, of course, queens, despite being sired from the middle of the land of Munhumutapa, will have to prove to us that he is both learned and educated.
His faction, call him a king-maker while the United States -- through Wikileaks cables -- called him a divisive element. Indeed, he had divided his own house and as for his role in GPA, time will tell. After all, Mutambara might have the last laugh!
"Pane akakunyepera chinin'ina changu, kuti iwe watova muhombe . . . Pane akakunyepera! Ndima inemakata iyi chinin'na changu, inotoda muchina muhombe! . . . Pane akakunyepera!" sang Tongai Moyo in one of his social renditions.
Who was the legal brains at the crafting of Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act from the MDC formation before it split? The soothsayer in the village told this villager it was a professor who misplaced his education. Chinja maitiro!
This other professor, who was absent then but blindly joined in the white man's anti-democratic regime change agenda, says the soothsayer, is now pondering joining the great revolutionary party and that is precisely where he belongs now. He was wasted and abused and like a prodigal son, must come back home to the party, whose education he is a product of. Even chicken come back home to roost and so why not a professor?
DRINKING TEA WITH MUGABE
This villager, having been born at the height of the liberation struggle to end colonialism in Rhodesia and having joined the independence euphoria as a young boy, still vividly remembers President Robert Mugabe's touch, charisma, gait and principled stance that has made him a darling of many truth seekers.
Having followed the guerilla-cum-statesman run the country, for three decades, this villager was not amused when newly elected MDC-T leader Ncube was ecstatic about drinking tea with the First Republic President, as a new principal to the Global Political Agreement.
"I am now principal . . . I will now be drinking tea with Mugabe," screamed one local daily.
This villager wonders if the learned professor thinks he has taken the reins of power to drink tea with the President. It is fact, not fiction, that deep down in his heart, the professor loves the President and admires him to the core. Opposing President Mugabe politically is a money-spinning game, is that not so Professor? Behind the tea are serious issues of governance, which never seem to occur to the professor!
Serving under the First Republic Leader has been the desire for all and sundry in these MDC formations. This has been the biggest boost in sprucing the CVs of many politicians in the MDC-T and MDC-M, N.
Ncube, who ascended to power and is slowly sidelining Mutambara, seems clearly too excited to be sitting with the First Republic Leader. As for the GPA, this villager wonders if Ncube can convince President Mugabe to remove Mutambara. That is the President's prerogative now, for as long as the GPA is living.
Of course, the professor might get the chance to drink tea with President Mugabe and, hopefully, he will learn a lot from the veteran nationalist. Understandably, it is no mean feat to be a principal of a GPA with a man of the stature of President Mugabe and everyone ambitious would love to be there.
If it happens, Ncube's CV will grow big from a mere foot lecturer at the university to a principal to the GPA and then increasing his chances to see his in-law Jacob Zuma's professional side. The excitement gets more and more!
At this rate of publicity since ascending to power, this villager wonders if the educated professor will not behave like a boy who has just received a new toy.
The Dande soothsayer tells this villager that the new post will only boost the CV, for, who does not want to save under President Mugabe and make money out of the experience?
Merely working with the firebrand First Republic Leader is enough to get a job anywhere in the world and to fascinate the multifarious array of Western think-tanks that are failing to understand where President Mugabe beats them to the game.
At the end, this villager believes it was a good move professor to circumvent another professor and get the chance to work with the veteran statesman. If you have ears, you will hear. If you have brains, you will learn. At the end of the day, you will not sell Zimbabwe. As for your future Prof, time will tell, but remember President Mugabe is the greatest statesman ever!
------------------------
This article was first published in the Herald of the 13th January 2011
While on a retreat to consult the soothsayer in the land of milk, honey and dust (Guruve) last weekend, this villager put his ear to the ground and got wind of the turn of events in MDC-M or MDC-N, whichever nomenclature you prefer!
The village wondered what was happening to the two professors, for in the village it was difficult to find the diction for robotics and mechatronics or megatronics, whichever, inasmuch as it was equally difficult to find diction for family law or constitutional law, whichever! What was worse for the villager was how the professors would apply robotics or that kind of law in running the land of Munhumutapa, without confusing themselves.
These being the disciplines represented by the two professors, the villager was at a loss to explain to fellow villagers what these two professors were educated in. The truth was, however, that they were fighting for the control of the smaller faction of the sellout party that was equally articulating the West's hullabaloo about democracy, good governance and accountability.
It was accepted though, in the mindset of the village elders that the two professors, representing highly educated people, might have gobbled too much of the white man's books and got too educated to the point of confusing themselves and think they were introducing democracy, good governance and accountability. Because much to the chagrin of the villagers, democracy, good governance and accountability are the things that lacked in Rhodesia and were only brought through the barrel of Mugabe's gun.
"What other democracy, good governance and accountability are they talking about outside that brought by our liberators?" asked a village elder as he frowned to push snuff up his nostril.
"The difference is the same!" shot another villager.
All along, the two professors had behaved like the proverbial lizards always nodding as if in agreement yet, they were worlds apart, so went the argument in the village.
Professor Arthur Mutambara had for long thought he was in agreement with the other professor, Welshman Ncube, but he was later to know that it was a nature-driven nod. It was nothing more than a public show!
But what value do these two professors add to Zimbabwe's political scenario and what does the switch of positions, change? There is more to running the country than being too bookish and democratically undemocratic.
Like or hate him, the professor from the East played his part in the GPA, of course with mistakes here and there like any educated young man, slowly getting learned. In the village there is a difference between being learned and being educated.
This other professor whose political springboard is the City of Kings and, of course, queens, despite being sired from the middle of the land of Munhumutapa, will have to prove to us that he is both learned and educated.
His faction, call him a king-maker while the United States -- through Wikileaks cables -- called him a divisive element. Indeed, he had divided his own house and as for his role in GPA, time will tell. After all, Mutambara might have the last laugh!
"Pane akakunyepera chinin'ina changu, kuti iwe watova muhombe . . . Pane akakunyepera! Ndima inemakata iyi chinin'na changu, inotoda muchina muhombe! . . . Pane akakunyepera!" sang Tongai Moyo in one of his social renditions.
Who was the legal brains at the crafting of Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act from the MDC formation before it split? The soothsayer in the village told this villager it was a professor who misplaced his education. Chinja maitiro!
This other professor, who was absent then but blindly joined in the white man's anti-democratic regime change agenda, says the soothsayer, is now pondering joining the great revolutionary party and that is precisely where he belongs now. He was wasted and abused and like a prodigal son, must come back home to the party, whose education he is a product of. Even chicken come back home to roost and so why not a professor?
DRINKING TEA WITH MUGABE
This villager, having been born at the height of the liberation struggle to end colonialism in Rhodesia and having joined the independence euphoria as a young boy, still vividly remembers President Robert Mugabe's touch, charisma, gait and principled stance that has made him a darling of many truth seekers.
Having followed the guerilla-cum-statesman run the country, for three decades, this villager was not amused when newly elected MDC-T leader Ncube was ecstatic about drinking tea with the First Republic President, as a new principal to the Global Political Agreement.
"I am now principal . . . I will now be drinking tea with Mugabe," screamed one local daily.
This villager wonders if the learned professor thinks he has taken the reins of power to drink tea with the President. It is fact, not fiction, that deep down in his heart, the professor loves the President and admires him to the core. Opposing President Mugabe politically is a money-spinning game, is that not so Professor? Behind the tea are serious issues of governance, which never seem to occur to the professor!
Serving under the First Republic Leader has been the desire for all and sundry in these MDC formations. This has been the biggest boost in sprucing the CVs of many politicians in the MDC-T and MDC-M, N.
Ncube, who ascended to power and is slowly sidelining Mutambara, seems clearly too excited to be sitting with the First Republic Leader. As for the GPA, this villager wonders if Ncube can convince President Mugabe to remove Mutambara. That is the President's prerogative now, for as long as the GPA is living.
Of course, the professor might get the chance to drink tea with President Mugabe and, hopefully, he will learn a lot from the veteran nationalist. Understandably, it is no mean feat to be a principal of a GPA with a man of the stature of President Mugabe and everyone ambitious would love to be there.
If it happens, Ncube's CV will grow big from a mere foot lecturer at the university to a principal to the GPA and then increasing his chances to see his in-law Jacob Zuma's professional side. The excitement gets more and more!
At this rate of publicity since ascending to power, this villager wonders if the educated professor will not behave like a boy who has just received a new toy.
The Dande soothsayer tells this villager that the new post will only boost the CV, for, who does not want to save under President Mugabe and make money out of the experience?
Merely working with the firebrand First Republic Leader is enough to get a job anywhere in the world and to fascinate the multifarious array of Western think-tanks that are failing to understand where President Mugabe beats them to the game.
At the end, this villager believes it was a good move professor to circumvent another professor and get the chance to work with the veteran statesman. If you have ears, you will hear. If you have brains, you will learn. At the end of the day, you will not sell Zimbabwe. As for your future Prof, time will tell, but remember President Mugabe is the greatest statesman ever!
------------------------
This article was first published in the Herald of the 13th January 2011
Source - Herald
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