Selby Vusimusi Moyo
activist
By Vusumzi Moyo
“Go to hell”, says Minister of Defense and Military Veterans, General Bantu Holomisa to a caller on Gagasi fm.
“Go to hell, nawe”, he says, this time around to the host who was asking him to retract.
The show had to be ended!
It must be stressful when citizens ask politicians questions, and cautioning them about being “arrogant”.
Citizens can ask you direct questions than politicians are asked by their peers in parliament.
I suppose sometimes they feel like sh*tt*ng themselves.
It wouldn’t be surprising because one politician was supposedly heard farting in public.
Spokespersons said that was not true.
But nowadays politicians are irritable, and that they feel hot under the collars is an understatement.
They must be feeling that citizens are really tired of them – – each and all of them!
Yet they continue to be so entitled that they can even tell voters to “go to hell… You didn’t vote for me”!
What does it matter if someone voted for somebody else?
You are in a government for everybody.
But how on earth would a politician know who voted for them?
But how “arrogant” of anyone to tell a person whose finances you depend on for your luxurious lifestyle!
I don’t think politicians have the luxury to tell off voters.
Their elevated positions in the seats of government does not translate into their lording over the rest of others.
They are lawmakers who always must be aware they are responsible for upholding and protecting the dignity of citizens.
In South Africa that principle is slipping away because the sense of respect, even of the very foundations in the constitution are fluted by these lawmakers on a daily basis.
One would wonder if in this case we need the constitution and those who are supposed to be the lawmakers.
These people who are supposed to ensure all citizens live in a safe environment, but collude with criminal syndicates to endanger citizens’ lives! Who needs such leaders of government, anyway?
Now even those we might have thought are different, at least as far as they have always carried themselves, are showing their true colours.
If they are not caught up in unbecoming behaviour, they are developing unpalatable language.
To tell us – – for it could be anyone – – that we should “go to hell” is beyond uncaring, it is disrespect of the public. No matter who says it!
Indeed, it is proof that all of us can reach a breaking point.
But politicians do not have the luxury to show it, especially when addressing voters.
It’s been a simple strategy, and it has worked for many a great politician. Yes, there are great ones out there; unfortunately, it is the bad ones who always project themselves.
At times to the point of being oblivious of the fact that one day it will be the citizens who tell the politicians “Go to hell!” and really mean it.
And it would really be hell when tables turn. In this world, the wheel keeps turning… And hell might break lose, if politicians are not guarded with what they say to citizens!
Their patience could be tested to the limit, considering their current social conditions…