A week of madness

Gunmen storm private villa of Haiti President, Jovenel Moise in Portau-Prince, kill him and injure his wife, Martine. In South Africa, former President Jacob Zuma hands himself in for incarceration, whilst in eSwatini, the fate of King Mswati III remains precarious with clashes between pro-democracy protesters and state security agents claiming over 50 lives.

In Mozambique, the so-called terror groups continue to wreak havoc, prompting Rwanda, a member of the East African Community (EAC), to send troops to help restore peace and stability.

And to cap the week, a Gauteng divisional court hands down a ruling compelling the Department of Justice to respond within 14 days to Botswana’s request for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) in the controversial P100 billion fraud and money laundering case that implicates prominent personages both in Botswana and South Africa.

But the worst was yet to come, when on Sunday three British men of African descent all failed to convert from the spot-kick in the high stakes Euro Cup, when England succumbed 2-3 to the dominant Italy!

Now, in spite of the knee-jerk antiracism stunt that the white world has pulled over the entire sporting world following that atrocious George Floyd incident in the United States – the Angles have once more demonstrated to all and sundry that they are inherently racist!

My heart feels for that young Gunners player, Bukayo Saka, who is still in his teens, but has to endure such devastating taunts – it’s a traumatic experience that no one would wish on their worst enemy!

But anyways, I meant to locate the assassination of Haiti’s President, Jovenel Moise within the wider Black world community, cognisant of the historical significance of Haiti in Africa and the Diaspora.

All people of colour hold Haiti in the highest esteem, for it was these gallant ex-slave warriors led by Toussaint Louverture (who holds the honour of being the first Black general of the French Army)- that launched and defeated Napoleon Bonaparte’s army in the decisive Haitian Revolution (1791 – 1804).

It was this revolution that bequeathed us, through Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the first independent nation of Latin America and the Caribbean.

History tells us that Haiti is the only state in the world set up through a successful slave revolt. It became the second republic in the Americas and the first country to abolish slavery.

Now, when a man that comes from such a decorated past, is killed like a dog in his own yard, it behoves the host of Africa’s ilk, to not only enquire of the circumstances giving rise to such an atrocity, but to also stand up in defence of justice.

I understand that Moise had lately ruled the country by decree, unleashing terror and fear on the people by reason of his perceived links to the country’s gangs. But, be that as it may, the domestic political mood had turned against him, thereby providing a fertile ground for hired guns and mercenaries from Colombia to stage what effectively amounts to a coup given the response of the Presidential Guard!

The Afrikan Diaspora must really wake up to the realities of the time. They must hark back to the timeless teaching and philosophies of Marcus Garvey, who taught us of the imperative of repatriation back to the homeland, where we would find an exclusive Black Nation!

Until these words come to pass in the hearts and minds of our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora, I am afraid we are going to continue to toil under the oppression of the white man and the illusion of freedom.

As for Msholozi, I think he acquitted himself admirably. He tried within the limits of human capability to avoid spilling blood in the inevitable event had his supporters clashed with the state security forces.

Sadly, as of yesterday (Tuesday), violent clashes accompanied by looting and carnage in Kwazulu Natal and parts of Gauteng Province, had claimed 49 lives and still counting!

The lesson to draw from Msholozi’s incarceration is the utmost need to educate South Africans of the inviolability of law, including the sacrosanct principle of separation of powers, which underpins functional democracies.

We Africans, especially those that fought in the liberation struggle, must accept that we did our part, our duty at our appointed time and pray from wisdom to pass the baton to the next generation- for indeed our rite of passage is an infinite relay from the corporeal to the incorporeal.

This lesson, I daresay, bestrides all human endeavours, and is the singular reason why Africa’s development has remained stagnant all this while. Let us give way to those that have been entrusted with the mandate to lead us, to do their duty unencumbered.

And as for the King, who sits majestically on the rickety throne in eSwatini, the hour has dawned. It can’t be turned back. The spark has been ignited. The youth demand jobs, freedom and political rights to choose their leaders.

These are basic human rights common to all men and women. They cannot be denied one and given the other!

But, again thank God for President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s wisdom to enlist Lesotho’s King Letsie II with the onerous task of convincing his fellow sovereign to heed to the people’s will!

We can only pray for Mswati to stand on the right side of history.