Monday 18 June 2007
masked men rule, or not
This morning I heard citizen reports on Harvest FM that some soldiers had been relieved of their weapons by some thugs driving a vehicle with US Embassy plates. The reports continued that the soldiers who are manning the roadblocks are abusive and have been assaulting people. Later in the day reports indicate that they have "abducted" for want of a better word, some people from Ha Leqele. According to reports the soldiers are masked. I didn't believe this until I saw it with my own eyes. The was a group of masked thugs just a few minutes ago in a government registered Toyota Hiace and a 4x4 probably a Nissan, also government registered, at the junction where Mpil0 meets Pioneer. So its true, the lawlessness has begun, all this in the name of the law.
Sunday 17 June 2007
six to six is good for something...
I spent this morning ruing the curtaillement of my freedom. And this evening having the most fun I have had in years! i just discovered You Tube. yes, I new about it. I didn't quite understand the point. Now I do, I found a video of Stan Getz and Trane playing Hackensack, and Trane playing "My Favourite Things". Rollins and Don Cherry playing "52nd Street Blues". Marsalis playing Haydn's Trumpet Concerto and "Cherokee" with the LCJO at Albert Hall. Classic! Altogether a fun Sunday evening. Thank you LCD.
and this too shall pass
A curfew was announced in the Maseru District on June 15th. It is effective immediately. Ostensibly, it has been announced in order to free the police to contain an armed criminal element that is distabilising the capital city (and district?).
The curfew will hit the low income group hardest, all street vendors will be significantly affected as thier right to free and thier customer's right to free movement is curtailled. The factories and anybody running plant that needs to work 24 hours will also be very hard hit, the transport industry either needs to obtain permits or re-arrange thier routes. Consider the case of a taxi driver who needs to start ferrying his passengers to work starting a 6:00am, when and how is he expected to get to work? How is he expected to get home after he has disembarked his last passengers at 6:00pm? Do we have the capacity to ferry everybody home and have the streets clear by 6:00pm? Would the objective still not be met if the restrictions we imposed from 5:00am to 8:00pm?
Why do we have roadblocks that are manned exclusively by very young and discourteous soldiers? While are male soldiers feeling up er- excuse me, searching women? What are the roadblocks intended to achieve? Do those who are manning them know what they are looking for? What will they do if they find it? Where do thier loyalities lie?
Is the curfew an effective remedy for the problems that have been identified? If it is, how will we know that it is effective? If its not, will our leadership be brave enough to admit that they were wrong? That they trampled over the rights of the many because of the ineptitude of the few?
Yes, this too shall pass, whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger. We shall overcome.
The curfew will hit the low income group hardest, all street vendors will be significantly affected as thier right to free and thier customer's right to free movement is curtailled. The factories and anybody running plant that needs to work 24 hours will also be very hard hit, the transport industry either needs to obtain permits or re-arrange thier routes. Consider the case of a taxi driver who needs to start ferrying his passengers to work starting a 6:00am, when and how is he expected to get to work? How is he expected to get home after he has disembarked his last passengers at 6:00pm? Do we have the capacity to ferry everybody home and have the streets clear by 6:00pm? Would the objective still not be met if the restrictions we imposed from 5:00am to 8:00pm?
Why do we have roadblocks that are manned exclusively by very young and discourteous soldiers? While are male soldiers feeling up er- excuse me, searching women? What are the roadblocks intended to achieve? Do those who are manning them know what they are looking for? What will they do if they find it? Where do thier loyalities lie?
Is the curfew an effective remedy for the problems that have been identified? If it is, how will we know that it is effective? If its not, will our leadership be brave enough to admit that they were wrong? That they trampled over the rights of the many because of the ineptitude of the few?
Yes, this too shall pass, whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger. We shall overcome.
Monday 4 June 2007
and a 100 days later....
Yes, its been 100 days! Exactly 107 since election day. Mosisili has had our mandate for a 100 days, what has he done with it?
I recall the following events from the last 100 days:
They say "ha li fofe, ha ho tatoe, moruo o hole" since we no longer write Sesotho properly, I will leave the intepretation to you. I have never come across a more apt slogan. In a way it has characterized the last 100 days.
I recall the following events from the last 100 days:
- A limp budget speech
- SADC report still unpublished
- Mosisili's South African ID is now in the public domain
- Heavy casualties in road incidents
- MP's have started availing of themselves of the interest free loans
- Children have died from expired food
- Judges have also been "rewarded" with the M4000.00 Mercs.
- A "motion of confidence" was tabled in parliament
- Mystery fire at Qobosheaneng
- ABC has not disintegrated. Instead it seems to still be growing.
They say "ha li fofe, ha ho tatoe, moruo o hole" since we no longer write Sesotho properly, I will leave the intepretation to you. I have never come across a more apt slogan. In a way it has characterized the last 100 days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)