Leaders must be cautious before they post their views

WHEN Helen Zille wrote that colonialism tweet, little did she know that it would bring her party into disrepute and that the response from the majority of people would be nothing but condemnation.

DA leader Musa Maimane is subjected to controversial judgements from the people.

His leadership in the DA is now questionable as to whether he is a leader with power or just a puppet used by white masters in the party.

He went on the public record to announce the suspension of Zille from participating in the party’s activities.

Zille then challenged that decision based on the DA’s constitution.

James Selfe, DA federal executive chairperson, said during his interview with Power FM that Maimane had focused on the wrong section of the constitution when the decision to suspend Zille was applied.

If Maimane was focusing on the wrong section of the DA’s constitution as claimed by Selfe, then the question is: Doesn’t Maimane, as a leader, have advisers?

I believe the decision to suspend Zille was not Maimane’s sole decision, but a collective agreement by those who are in charge of executive and disciplinary powers in the DA.

The simple interpretation in this case is that, it is not only Maimane who does not understand the constitution of his own party, but all of them are included.

Something that is embarrassing.

As a South African citizen, Zille is entitled to freedom of expression.

But she should have been more cautious and circumspect as a leader and a provincial premier, before she posted that tweet.

She cited in her tweet, for example, that transport infrastructure and piped water were some of the good things achieved through colonialism.

Perhaps Zille needs to be reminded that the infrastructure she is referring to was built through forced labour.

The hard labour force used to produce the infrastructure, was unfortunately from black people who did not even have a union to represent them.

There are black men who were taken to participate in WWI and WWII as front liners and they did not return.

Even those who made it back were given rewards and tokens of appreciation which were far less compared to what their fellow white soldiers were given.

Everything happened under the auspices of colonisation.

Historically the colonisers had one primary objective about Africa: to take control of its resources.

Furthermore, they had to enrich themselves at the expense of the sweating and hardship that a black man was subjected to.

If leaders like Zille really want to build their parties, they must refrain from citing things like colonialism as good because this is surely reviving the sad memories of those who suffered during that time.

It is high time that leaders must be cautious before they post their views and beliefs on social media because the damage is something that they cannot control.

The reputation and dignity of Zille in the DA is now dented by just tweeting.

Zille’s reputation is dented due to a tweet

Temba, Hammanskraal