Something is not right!

Before I attend to today’s subject I thought I should say something about some loose cannons within the Royal Swaziland Police Force.  

First I must warn Commissioner of Police Isaac Magagula against handing loaded guns to lunatics. While I personally appreciate cops fighting crime in the country, it becomes worrying when they open fire and shoot at people indiscriminately.

I challenge Isaac to convince us that the lunatics within his force will be brought under control. I still fail to understand how a person (suspected criminal or not) is shot in the head. What is going on really?
Has the shoot to kill slogan been misinterpreted? Isaac, please do something about the dwindling morale and humanity levels. I call for cease fire.
My subject today is on embattled Public Works and Transport Minister Ntuthuko Dlamini.

As you read this Ntuthuko is not sure what the future holds. He is presumably at home after being advised to take some days off from work to ‘cool off’ after a self-made hectic week.
To fill you in briefly, Ntuthuko was on my TV twice this week saying two different things that were, however, related. He first appeared telling me and the whole country about the lifting of the suspension of CTA General Transport Manager Polycarp Dlamini.

In his own words Ntuthuko said: “The suspension has been lifted because investigations done did not link him to any corrupt practices”. I shot straight to bed, the time was 7:13pm, something I hardly do on a normal day. I was shocked, not because I thought Polycarp was corrupt but purely at the speed of his cleansing.

Horror of horrors, the following day Ntuthuko was on my TV again this time in full tra-ditional gear withdrawing everything he had said the previous night. This time around he had two ‘bodyguards’. He claimed to have spoken out of turn and his information was not complete. I cried, bled internally and retired early to bed again.

Today my intention is not to apportion blame but rather to attempt to help where I possibly could.
Before I do that I thought it would help Ntuthuko (while he rests) to turn back the hands of time and make him realise that ignoring advice is the worst enemy of every human being.
I feel it is time people took me (or at least what I say) seriously than to question my background and make stupid comments. It’s not that I am worried, no, I am just concerned that some politicians tend to miss the boat and bark up the wrong tree.

A case in point is that of Ntuthuko, who probably after I attacked him on this very page for indiscriminately eating prawns in the US, decided to pay little attention to what I had to say.
Below are some of the quotes where I was attempting to drum some sense into the man from LaMgabhi who today finds himself in a kraal where only black sheep are locked.

On January 17, 2009, this is what I said to Ntuthuko; “Before fighting corruption, Ntuthuko needs to do what the rest of his predecessors never did.
He must first embark on a mission to find the heart of the ministry. I have a strong feeling the heart of the ministry is not where we think it should be”.
As expected and presumably after consulting with the comedians that doubt my mental state, he ignored this friendly advice.

See where you are now, Ntuthuko. Where are your friends who spoilt you with sick advice to ignore me?
I further wrote to Ntuthuko on the same date; “So now, we have a younger version of A.T Dlamini (ex-PM) in Ntuthuko, who appears ready to take the bull by its horns. I say take it, but make sure you consult before you upset your employers because you will become a political zombie”.
As you already know, Ntuthuko did not heed this advice. He never consulted before titivating himself for TV cameras thus he spewed bile.

I further wrote to Ntuthuko then; “A bully-like aproach will not work for him because it will leave him with a big egg on his face and be childishly humbled for life like some of his predecessors. Ntuthuko needs a rhino skin, so to speak. His approach to things is similar to the one ex-PM A.T applied, the bhubhubhu style”.
Once again Ntuthuko did not bother. See now where he is. Bhubhubhu!

Finally I wrote; “Now, Ntuthuko must count his steps if he is to deal entirely with corruption in that ministry. Corruption in that ministry was long insti-tutionalised, thus the minister needs to follow all channels one has to explore when bringing down an institution”.
In a nutshell that is what I said to Ntuthuko, then. I am certain that if he  had bothered to listen he would not be in the mess he finds himself in today. It’s a pity that in Swaziland we often opt for cons for advisors because the idea is to tell them what to do instead of the other way round.

An advisor must be someone who is more clued up than you are, not a joker that will always take advice from the person who should be receiving it. However, crying over spilt milk is as good as looking for a virgin among sex workers.
All said and done, Ntuthuko messed up. He must shoulder this rubbish. There is something wrong somewhere but it can still be corrected.
Certainly, I wrote three weeks ago about the cracks of division in our society and as expected no one took notice, instead what preoccupies people’s small and individualistic minds is my up-bringing which I doubt should be an issue, really.
Some people are very selfish, gold diggers, arrogant, ignorant and above all downright greedy. Some politicians like to appear good when their hearts are pumping black blood. It is time we open a new page.
I read somewhere where the DPM was suggesting Ntuthuko is a good politician. I disagree. For the record our DPM has deservedly for many years been rubbing shoulders with diplomats overseas thus being diplomatic with issues runs in his veins. It’s not a crime but an honour.

However, let me welcome him back to reality; what Ntuthuko did, had nothing political about it. This was downright overzealousness on his part. This is the same lunacy that we witnessed when one Mfomfo Nkambule was serving as a Cabinet minister in the previous government.
What Ntuthuko and Mfomfo have in common is the willingness to make fools of their persons where they say the right things the wrong way.
Who would trust Ntuthuko from now on? Does the withdrawal change the glaring fact that Polycarp’s suspension has been lifted? Does this change the other smiling fact that there was an error in the suspension Polycarp? Let’s be real.
All said and done, Ntuthuko did not only embarrass his person but the whole government because this shows something could be wrong.
I hope Ntuthuko (and many others) has learnt the importance of involving many people in all aspects of his work as a politician. Personally I hate one-man’s shows. They are a bore.

This is directed to anyone who is a politician or holds political office in the country, a single person should not be allowed to think on behalf of a country no matter how much authority and influence he possesses, it becomes extremely dangerous. I am not suggesting this could be happening, but merely sounding a warning.
Let’s work as a team in all our set-ups where we are employed and see if there would be a need for belt-tightening. People should respect an individual not to be scared.
Thanks.