RESPECT IS EARNED NOT FREELY GIVEN

Ofentse Ramatsetse

Ever thought what it would be like to be led by leaders with the same leadership skills as Nelson Mandela’s? I bet we would not encounter such mediocrity and poor leadership among today's leaders. I despair for the future of our generation for they're only being fed with misleading and derailing information because our leaders preach impertinent gospel. I react to the three conservative police Commissioners who have been booted out of their office because of their engagement in skullduggery activities which are not in sync with protocol of our constitution. Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Bheki Cele, and Jackie Selebi are few who have been dismissed from office. One may ask, what is wrong with our government?

After some fine-tooth-comb observation, it dwelt in my mind that such a succession of leaders with malfeasances are voted to power by the republic to lead and deliver sufficiently, but fails the nation beyond doubts. Many aspiring politicians and leaders of tomorrow undergo inaccurate paths as they follow the same trails of these leaders. They are not fed with indispensable knowledge that could help shape our country into a righteous direction.

Therefore, it is not by default that many of  South African youth seems to be indolent ( if that’s a suitable word to describe them), to engage their minds in the politics, social, economic and all pressing issues merely because our so-called leaders seem to have plunged themselves into a deep pool of corruption and embezzlement of the state fund. Given the status quo of our government, it is still impertinent to adorn the stakeholders our government with respect because clearly, none of deserves it, let alone our president, philander – JZ! Oops! Did I just called our president a “philander?” Oh, it must have slipped out by mistake. Our president is not philandering; our president is just a womanizer! HaHaHa! Perhaps this sounds much better, huh?!

Fellas, allow me to ventilate some of the values and customs I live under, I grew up in a patriarchal society where men are supposed to lead with integrity and self-respect, not other way round. Question arises then, how do you respect a man with 22 children? Ofentse, shut up! I am sorry, folk! It must have slipped out by mistake again. Back to business, I personally think the practice of polygamy should be considered a crime in our constitution, mind you, it’s my opinion. First question I am asking myself is, what message is our president sending to young people across the country? Does he teach us to spread infants all over the country? Or is it perhaps because he lacks educational background?

 There are tons of prospective employees out there who are full-fledged and willing to work, but they can’t because people who are voted to power to deliver the essential services to the community tend to give themselves big slice of cakes whereas majority of people get crumbs. If these people could only understand how hard it is to wake up every morning to attend classes, sometimes even when we do not feel like, they would certainly understand why we vehemently demand jobs and better life [for all].

I am deeply saddened by many fellow folks who by virtue of unemployment resort to illicit activities in search of a better life. It turns my stomach to see young people with ‘highest qualifications under their beds being domesticated by drug substances. That, in itself proves that there’s a problem with our government regime. Why do we have to study for so many years then become unemployed after?