Zimbabwe: The state controlled but Party abused daily Herald newspaper in Zimbabwe has been ordered to call Robert Mugabe as The President, His Excellency, Commander-in-Chief and Head of State and Government each time they mention him in any article, news bulletin or program. Zimbabwe never ceases to amaze me, but on the whole, I am a depressed man.
The reason why Mugabe now wants this chain of titles is because since the formation of the Governmnet of National Unity in Zimbabwe on February 10, 2009, Morgan Tsvangirai has been inaugurated as the Prime Minister and Head of Government. Indeed the Agreement that sets out this unity Government clearly states that the Prime Minister shall be the Head of government. However, fearing for his waning light because of being in the shadow of a fairer minded Tsvangirai, Mugabe who because of his iron fist on the state media, has ordered that his name be called as such everytime his name is mentioned.
It reminds me of Kamuzu Banda of Malawi who wanted to be called Life President, Ngwazi, President Kamuzu Banda. But that is short of Mobuthu Sese Seko who ended up with about 12 names including Marshal, First Citizen, Liberator etc. Obviously Idi Amin fared very well in this category. You may ask whats in a name? The underlying common thread in all the leaders I have mentioned is their dictatorial tendencies. Dictators are usually so afraid of anything, everything. They fear their shadow. They fear their people. They fear their friends. They fear their enemies. They fear the west.
They love fellow dictators in the east.
Doing 'La-pour' in the City of Accra
-
When I was a curious, capering child street-sauntering at Achimota School,
there was an obliging, octogenarian gardener with no known name. People
called h...
8 years ago
hahahaha....what's in a name indeed. It sometimes marvels me also. Things that wouldn't put food on the table is what some of our leaders seek for. But who isn't afraid of the West? Kwame Nkrumah IS afraid of the West; Patrice Lumumba IS afraid of the West; Mandela IS afraid of the West and many such brilliant African leaders. As for the West you must be afraid of them, most especially if you are not serving their interest and you have something good in you.
ReplyDeleteNames, things we can achieve through hard work without blinking an eye. Kwame Nkrumah was voted the best African of the Century ahead of Mandela. Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize. They now have names, positive names indeed...not commandeered names. Hitler has name, so does Caligula and Nero and many others...
NFA, incisive as ever!
ReplyDelete