The tragedy of Julius Malema
THE noun “tragedy” goes synonymous with vivid images of self-destruction, great suffering, and calamity and a plethora of mishaps. These collectively depict an unhappy ending. In plays, a tragedy is usually characterised by a character’s downfall. It gets worse when beings, out of ambitions and failure to learn from the past, orchestrate and engineer their own downfall.
Tragedy traits are visible in the person of Julius Malema, that apt description of an appalling political character. From president of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League to a social media buffoon with disorder and stubbornness being his close acquaintances as he, like an empty vessel, perpetually makes the most noise in the South African Parliament.
He does not tire in pressing the “self-destruct” button. He has on record shown disregard for authority. He has shown disrespect for his former mentor and constitutionally elected head of the Republic of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma.
He has on record called him a “thug” and a “criminal” in his face and in the full glare of the world. He has lambasted the members of the South African National Assembly, calling them “cowards, afraid of one man who has singlehandedly destroyed the country”.
He has become a symbol of political and social destabilisation in the region. Arrogant and in ignorance, he has made vain attempts to export his ill-informed and misguided ideologies north of the Limpopo. Surprisingly, when he visited Zimbabwe in 2010, he admitted that he had come for inspiration. During the visit, the Economic Freedom Fighters leader criticised MDC-T, aptly describing its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai as an ally of imperialists and challenged South Africans to emulate patriotic Zimbabweans in repossessing their natural resources, to engage in agriculture in order to reduce dependence on white farmers. He also blamed MDC-T for introducing political violence to Zimbabwe and at the same time, defended and praised President Mugabe in all respects.
As recent yesterday, Malema told his party supporters that the problems facing Zimbabwe were not because of President Mugabe but rather capital constraints but now, the same Malema is blaming Zimbabwe’s problems on President Mugabe.
Not surprising and highlighting his level of confusion, he once begged the ANC leadership after his expulsion from the party. On SABC television, the once overweight baby once cried, “Please leave me with a card because the imagination of being outside the ANC is too scary, I love the ANC, and I don’t have anything except the as ANC”.
What a gross display of confusion manifested under desperate circumstances! No wonder why renowned cartoonists Zapiro and Jeremy Nell have often drawn this political flip flopper dressed in nappies. Where is your mama Juju?
All along it has been opaque but now it’s getting clearer that with regards to empowering the black South Africans, Malema hasn’t been meaning his words. He has proved an opportunist who has raised the issues on land, not to solve them but to hoodwink the black South Africans, keeping them in optimistic suspense while he manoeuvres his way up the political ladder. If only it could click in his stubborn mind that he will one day need his fellow South Africans on his way down the ladder.
However, the lad can be vindicated. There is no need to blame him or take him seriously after all. The recent amateurish utterances on the person of President Mugabe are part of an array of attempts to stay relevant and afloat on the political quicksand.
Probably he needs to understand that Zimbabweans are an educated lot, with one of the best education systems in Africa. We are not docile and we make decisions from reason, not emotions. Unlike him who is bitter over his expulsion from the ANC, we are responsible for our political affairs and destiny. He has no right whatsoever to criticise our leadership from the anthills of neo-colonialism. Instead, he should just concentrate on his fight for his economic freedom from whoever wrestled it from him (not our business).
And the so-called fight for economic freedom is eating deep into him, how he has lost weight! He has displayed gross irresponsibility; he has even failed to manage his own finances. In February 2013 his property was on the verge of being auctioned to pay off a R16,1 million debt he owed the South African Revenue Service (SARS). This is a youth who claims to be compassionate with the suffering black Africans.
Not surprisingly, he is using speed in politics. He wants no one ahead of him, he thinks he can make decisions on behalf of the people concerned. This is not the first time Malema has pressed the “self-destruct” button. At one point, he once cast his machinations over to the Kalahari, clamouring for a regime change in Botswana. He has become a nuisance and a security threat in the region.
Whatever his political machinations are, most of us north of the Limpopo appreciate him as a social media buffoon. Through him, we have developed an intimate relationship with the South African Parliament. But for the sake of progress, it’s high time he lays his spiteful tongue and hands off our democratically elected Head of State and Government.