Floods, money and trials
Hard times bring out the worst in people. I was brought up to believe that Zimbabweans are loving people. I was also made to believe other things like how we have the highest literate rate in Africa. I now believe that both are not necessarily true and not necessarily connected. WAS among a group of people who were ‘celebrating’ Borrowdale homes flooding. Yes, they were actually drawing some sort of pleasure on other people’s nightmares. Imagine going to bed with your home intact and waking up with your vehicle swept away and half of the building structure itself collapsed. This is no joke! It is real life, real disasters, real lives put at risk, real money wept away. There seemed to be lack of sympathy for residents of Harare’s northern suburbs judging from the comments on online news sites. Most of those who commented felt that the victims of the floods deserved it and others felt it was better for it to happen in Borrowdale than other place. I am guessing that their cold justification is that northerners can afford to rebuilt, but remember, the damages were severe on very high value properties so a lot of money will be forked out to repair the walls, driveways, vehicles and homes.
IThere seems to be an invisible battle between the ‘haves and have nots’. The assumption is that all Harare northerners acquired their wealth through unscrupulous ways. This of course is not the case. What if the floods had hit Hatcliffe? Would people be more compassionate then?
This is just a reflection of how our morals as a society have eroded. Since when is it okay to ‘celebrate’ another’s downfall?
Apparently, the Environmental Management Agency has issued warnings to homeowners about the risk of building in waterways. But somehow, they got Harare City Council’s approval? Or are we saying they went against all authorities and built anyway?
Zimbabwe National Water Authority also jumped on the bandwagon of reactive messaging alongside Harare City Council and the Meteorology department. I appreciate the use of short message service by The Civil Protection Unit. They issued flooding warning across Zimbabwe. For some reason, heavy rains also induce high levels of unreasonable actions and bad driving among other crazies.
We are told more floods are expected, please take all the necessary precautionary measures and keep safe.
Gerrie Nel on leaving NPA: I’m creating something new- mg.co.za
Remember that guy who reduced Oscar Pistorius into tears and then in a cold tone told him ‘to stop crying please’? Yes, Gerhard Nel, known as ‘Gerrie’ or affectionately as the ‘Pitbull’ has quit being a public prosecutor in South Africa.
It is the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius who killed his fiancée Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013 that brought Nel to worldwide fame.
He is also notoriously remembered for calling a top cop an ‘arrogant liar’ in 2008. ‘Mr Selebi, this is becoming more and more ridiculous. You know what this shows?
That you are arrogant and that you lie,” Nel said at the time to the late former South African Police Commissioner and former head of Interpol, Jackie Selebi.
A few days later, Nel was arrested by 20 police officers at his home while his wife and children looked on. The fraud charges against Nelwere were later dropped but the message had been sent loud and clear. This did not shake or move the ‘Pitbull’. In fact, he become more determined.
Two years later, Nel secured Selebi’s 15-year imprisonment for corruption. Selebi was released on medical parole in 2012, and died after a stroke in 2015. May his soul rest in peace.
Nel is known for being tough and for many months he was watched across the world and was at the centre of real life drama which unfolded during the Pistorius case.
“I’m not leaving the NPA because I’m upset, I’m creating something new,” Nel said.
As expected, each time a high profile and influential individual leaves office, speculation will be in hot pursuit. Now we hear he was unhappy at the National Prosecution Authority and was one of the four senior prosecutors that were being investigated for ‘bringing the administration of justice into disrepute’.
The rest of us will never know what actually happened and why he really left after giving only 24 hours notice. We shall miss some courtroom drama and his passion to bring criminals to book.
Headmaster steals $92 000
Still on crime, have you noticed how there is an increasing number of theft in schools. This is very worrying. How safe are our children if the very people we entrust perform dishonest acts like stealing?
As I was researching on this topic, I was alarmed at how common this crime is all over the world. If things are happening to you or your environment, we often think it is unique to us. Of course this doesn’t make it any better.
What I learnt is that it is not poverty that is pushing school headmasters to steal as the thefts are from all the economic spectrums and equally experienced in developed and developing countries. Who is policing the police?
Most school structures give absolute power to the headmasters. I am using the term ‘headmaster’ knowing fully well there are also headmistresses. In this instance, I am focused on the male head of schools who seem to have very sticky hands.
If a person can commit such a grievous crime, surely they are also capable of other crimes. This leaves our children exposed to unpredictable behaviours. How much do we really know about our children’s care givers? #foodforthought
Norah Spie is author, journalist and communications consultant. She writes in her personal capacity and can be reached via email :norah@journalist.com or Twitter : @norahspie