Better be poor, free than be in Kaseke’s shoes

via Better be poor, free than be in Kaseke’s shoes – NewsDay Zimbabwe November 4, 2014

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Karikoga Kaseke is not a happy man after revelations in the local media that he had barred the bussing of people to one of Grace Mugabe’s many rallies.

That effectively put him in the camp of those opposing Grace, the seemingly expired Gamatox.

In response, Kaseke chronicled the role he had played in enabling supporters to travel to the rally. Kaseke went on to add that: “I want to be clear. I respect the First Family. I don’t just respect, I respect and fear the First Family.”

Kaseke went on to say that he had instructed his wife to ensure that she attended Grace’s rallies and was seen by the First Lady, this as a form of homage paying.

I feel for the likes of Kaseke who are in this desperate situation where their participation in civil, political and economic issues is no longer a matter of personal choice, competence and personal satisfaction, but they serve at the mercy or benevolence of someone.

This person that is Grace has no recognised constitutional role, but happens simply to be the First Lady who assumes power and influence beyond her expected boundaries.

That a whole family is so terrified of the First Family, and to be so honest about it demonstrates the levels of abuse that those serving under this leadership have accepted in order to eat, drink, drive and fly.

The ZTA chief’s comments were what we many call the moment of the heart speaking while the mind is shut and it is at such moments that many say the truth. Kaseke at least was honest that he understands the source of power and what keeps him on the job.

That this is nothing about competence and effectiveness, but you show your face and pay homage to the First Family and all is well. This is the reality many in our leadership may not accept or pretend not to see or practice, but all under this leadership are troubled and haunted men and women who are in jobs not so much because they are competent, and respected for that, but because they lick the boots of the First Family.

It is for this reason that we saw as many ministers abandoning their offices to follow the First Lady all over her rallies, that is to show face and pay homage. Those who did not, the likes of war veterans’ leader Jabulani Sibanda are openly questioned why they did not attend Grace Mugabe’s rallies.

These are men and women who are not free to think, to criticise or to offer different ideas, but rather know where their bread is buttered and sheepishly follow instructions. I am poor and a free man to write and say what I want.

Money is never enough, but I cherish my freedom and would rather be free than in the situations that all these men and women find themselves in. They have sold their souls for the love of the crumbs that fall from the table and the love of driving in flashy cars and pretending that they have power.

The revelations by Kaseke tell us that in Zimbabwe there is only one source of power, one source of wealth, as Kaseke said it is the feared and respected First Family. Many in the top decision-making bodies of our State are therefore prisoners and are pretty told by Grace that they will be out in the streets where even dogs will shun them.

They are told they will have diarrhoea once the day of “judgment” comes.

The trappings of wealth and power are so sweet and enticing that none of these men and women are prepared to break off and be free to walk the potholed streets of Harare and other towns, to sleep under a mango tree in the rural areas and cross their legs in relaxation not worrying about paying homage to someone, but simply watch the sun move by.

This political system has created such trappings for the leadership as a way of control and manipulation. We also saw Presidential Affairs minister Didymus Mutasa kneeling in front of the President paying condolences for a deceased relative of the First Family.

Mutasa is over 70 years, a war veteran, a father and grandfather, but there he was kneeling before the First Family. We see how the Chief Protocol officer Munyaradzi Kajese almost trips trying to show the First Family that he is in control of situations. If it was up to him, he would carry the President on his shoulders all over.

And in all this I wonder are these people still confident as men and women of ability or all that matters is paying homage? I wonder what system has Zanu PF and this government created that bestows so much power on one family and everyone else falls in line.

For the love of eating and drinking as many have sold their souls, and cannot think of life outside this patronage system. When Sibanda and Vice-President Joice Mujuru were working for the system, showing homage, kneeling down and doing all sorts of bootlicking, the State media called them heroes.

Sibanda organised the 2007 million men and women march, ran the Zanu PF re-education camps in rural areas, but now he is a nobody. Same with Mujuru, Mugabe once asked, do you want her to end here?, meaning the VP post, now she is a thief and corrupt. To those in the leadership of Zanu PF and this government, your day is also coming when you will be nobodies, it is only a matter of time.

My advice: Please do come out and enjoy the freedom that we have in Zimbabwe, as our lives are not dependent on the master of this country. We vend, hustle, skip the border, change money, laugh and cry, but we are ourselves and nobody’s poodle and at the opportune will reclaim our country.