From the beginning I couldn’t help but feel that Mbeki was arrogant for even allowing his nomination for a third term. I mean the signs were written for him all the way to Polokwane that Zuma would win but instead of doing the sensible thing and bowing out gracefully, he went ahead and laid the grounds for the most humiliating moments in his career. But I’m glad it’s finally over, and come 2009 only time will tell if Zuma will take the ANC and indeed the country into a new era of change from what the Mbeki critics often describe as the “borderline Stalinist leadership style”. Well that’s if the NPA doesn’t get to him first. And as for Hellen Zille criticizing the ANC delegates for voting the way they did, well I guess that’s what an opposition party is there for in a democracy- releasing publicity stunt much-ado-about-nothing comments about the ruling party.
And oh if you hear us, dearest old ANC, here’s a special request from us all at HHH. If you would like to see these young people showing up at the polls in the next elections, how about sorting out that mess that is the Umsobomvu Youth Fund and making it a little less complicated for young people aspiring to start businesses from scratch. I mean there has to be an alternative way for hardworking, ambitious young people without payslips and 3 month banking statements to access micro and macro loans in order to contribute positively to the growth of their country’s economy. Don’t tell us about rules. Who made them if they don’t work for us? Away with the age of the aloof Oxford School of Economics-educated African leaders nested on ivory towers and out of tune with the man and woman on the street. This country needs change and that means free education, not free condoms.
Now by now some of you must’ve heard about the “Get Out” Zubz video being banned from SABC and Channel O. It seems to me there is a naïve group of people in SA hell bent on censoring any voice other than the “we are the rainbow nation” one. So much for freedom of speech after thirteen years of democracy.
photo courtesy of wwww.stippy.com
Today we remember the real Grim Ripper- HIV and AIDS. I know you probably didn’t think we’d take time to mention it but then you clearly must be new here. Here’s our 2cents worth. If you have a concert- 46664 as a case in point- where men and women are drinking and dancing the night away and claim to be raising awareness on a predominantly sexually transmitted disease- tell me what’s the point? All we’re saying is how many people meet at these functions where alcohol flows freely and drinks are spiked only to wake up the next morning in a stranger’s bed. This hogwash about raising money for HIV/AIDS by any means necessary is risky and exposes a nation gone to war with kid gloves. And just because Mandela endorses something doesn’t make it closed to scrutiny so dont even go there! It’s no secret we went from known for bringing down Apartheid to having the highest Aids infection rate in the world. And you might be cool with the status quo of things with the ANC leadership being the infallible liberators that can do no wrong but damn it we need answers and they better be the truth. Our nation has become morally bankrupt and no Black Economic Empowerment policy can save us from that.
