Back to the Future with Kampala Sound

Did Mr. Kiwanuka chase you from a bar at Mile 15? Do Peugeot taxis and UTC buses mean anything? If so, may be you were ahead, and now you guys are ministers, permanent secretaries, judges, etc. You are quietly serving as glorified clerks. What does the NSSF saga mean to you? We used to look up to you when you were dormitory prefects at Lourdel or Mugwanya. Now when you speak you utter oppression. Now, I can understand when a Munyankole came on campus and shook things up before we could have eggs for breakfast. You are just trained to follow; not to bring change and lead.

Enjoy the music and the week-end.

Winning Symbolism, Losing Symbolism

A symbol is something that may be an object, picture, written word, a sound or mark used to represent something else by association, resemblance or convention. Hence, symbolism is thus the practice of using symbols. It is a tool of communication that can often be very powerful in the hands of those who are adept at using it to win hearts and minds.

I have long been fascinated by the use of symbolism by politicians to laud themselves or to bury their oponents. And so I have compiled a list of contemporary and not so contemporary symbols which have packed punches or were duds. I have also been interested in social symbols of individuals as each navigates the wonders of living.

1. Obama & Grandparents


I believe him when he said his grandmother was so sick that he had to leave the campaign trail to visit her in case she passed away without a recent contact. I hope she lives to see and visit him in the White House.

For a couple of days TV networks showed this photograph several times as they mentioned his unprecedented decision to leave for Hawaii. Being a political junkie I could see his poll numbers ticking up day by day as the picture was flushed on the screens. Without saying anything the picture reminded skeptics and the ignorant Americans that the dude wasn't an Arab, but part of their white blood. Was that powerful or what?

2. Prosperity-for-all or Bonagagawale. This is the coinage of Mr Museveni and it is the current battle cry of the NRM government of Uganda. This is an overstatement--a kind of hyperbolic nonsense that even a rustic village kook laughs at. The Man said in John 12:8, in effect, that the poor will always be with us. Rather than this silly slogan what Uganda needs are good infrastructures and exorcising the nation of the politics of fear and corruptions. This is a loser.

3. Mao, to the right in an NRM militia cadre training. What?!

Mao is the current Chairman of Gulu district, and is slated to be the standard bearer of the Democratic Party (DP) come 2011. Tell me if you can understand this: an opposition leader of a party goes to attend his opponent's militia course--a course, the symbol of which brings viscerial dislike or even hate in some. What message is this guy trying to send? It is, at best bizarre and calls attention to the quality of his judgement. This is an F.

4. Carrera 911 Porche'

Get behind the wheel of this baby, spin it on to the freeway and feel its power. It is the ultimate statement that you have arrived with style and power. Those Huns in Deutschland know something or two we don't. Winner.

5. Super Minister Amama Mbabazi


US of A Sen. Ted Stevens going to jail

The man on top is furious and angry and is ready to strangle someone. Why? People with no power are questioning his sweetheart deal of easy money which he obtained by dint of his position in government. He will not go to jail. Might even become the next president! Compare that to the man below who is now wishing he had not taken those gifts from a "generous"citizen who was effectively buying support for his business in Congress. The man on top should invite the guy below to Uganda for a speedy citizenship to escape the jaws of civilized law. Losers

6. The White Man's Burden


To the left, British businessmen are carrying Idi Amin through the streets of Kampala. To the right the same are kneeling before Idi to pledge their allegiance. Were those crude images? But what about the images of Africans carrying these people in the jungle or being hanged for asserting their rights to freedom? Hate him, but here he showed them. Winner or Loser?

7. Obama braves the rain while Museveni is dry under a tent while wanainchi soak

A tale of two different people. One shows care of people; the other doesn't give a hoot. Winner v Loser

8. Others. Make your own readings of these symbols

Did this make the point anticipated?





Check the body languages in these pictures. For a cool £9M in aid even a hardened turn-coat Marxist can, unlike Sarah Blair, curtsey to royalty! Why is the guy always in military fatigue whenever he goes to my hood?

Idi, the Chancellor of Makerere University gets a doctorate!


Hair dos that say volumes. If you remember hot iron combs, then you must be really old. Now chemical technology does the trick. It has made fortunes for quick-footed entrepreneurs. One Asian guy has driven out all the small Black mom-and-pop operations in my hood. He has just completed building a spanky new office complex with his profits. Michelle Obama, give me some Afro do, and I won't turn off the TV whenever you appear. Mama Janet and Sista Beti your dos rock even if your politics stink.
Word is that some Nigerian girls applied the hair chemicals to the plumage under the skirt--thanks God for the British national Healthcare!

MP Beti Kamya Michelle Obama MP Janet Museveni

Compare & Contrast: How Two Men Deal with Rain

One man leaves his people in the rain while he is cosy under a tent. The other is right in the rain talking to his people. What do the two scenes say?



Obama talking in the rain in Philadelphia



Museveni under a tent when people of West Nile drench in the rain.

Origins of Gun Politics in a "Free" Uganda

One can trace the gun politics to that obnoxious government, called the British government to which Ochieno has voted with his feet to give his allegiance since his physical and mental well-being depends on it.

Here is my brief outline of key events that are crucial.

1. In 1894 the British created a protectorate in Buganda and sought to expand to the rest of what is now called Uganda. In the process it annexed to Buganda parts of the rebellious Kabalega’s territory—sowing the first seeds of future troubles.

2. UPC/KY Alliance.
a. 1961 Elections results: DP: 43
UPC: 35
Others: 13
b. 1962 Election results: UPC: 37
DP: 24
KY: 21
While UPC had a majority in the 1962 elections, there was a clear unfairness with the indirect elections in Buganda where DP could not take advantage of where it had relative strength. KY MPs were appointed by Mengo. The Mengo setup was supported by the British with the connivance of UPC. This was another seed of future troubles. What would have been the outcome of the 1962 elections had Buganda participated in a direct one-man-one vote?

3. 1966 Crisis. While the apparent crisis seemed to be between Mengo and the Obote’s government, the real problems were the intrigues and fights for control of UPC in which Obote muscled his way out of, hence the beginning of the post-independence gun politics.

Monday Rain Dance

Hope Dikakapa, in Pula from Botswana brings in you equal excitement with quick steps on your feet as you begin another Monday. Go plough that field!

Why No Links to Tanzanian Newspapers Here

Despite Tanzania being a major East African country, we have hesitated to have the country's newspapers' links on this blog. We value freedom of expression, and we believe that Tanzania's superpredators, even at a minimum, have only shrivelled balls and incapable of facing the challenges of different ideas.

In solidarity we send our prayers to our brothers of MwanaHALISI weekly paper.

The Black Man's Burden

It used to be about rape. A white woman could scream or make up a story and angry white mobs would set on a black man who would be hanged up a tree. I know this from experience up close.

Here is a McCain volunteer who has alleged that a tall black man attacked her and scratched a letter B on her face. The reporters never translate the B, but we all know it is Barack. As it turns out, the woman was lying. Evil has many permutations.

DeNyeko can Jumpstart you for the Wk-nd

Don't be fooled by her preaching on the folly of alcohol as she needles her omera in the first half of the video clip. In the second half she gets naughty and bodacious with the borrowed Congolese
tune which can be very appealing to the genre's aficiandos. If you can, dig the challenge between Ogwalpok (frog) and Twol (snake)--a rather clever subtleness that can generate a smirk on your face.

Is Endorsing/Embracing Adversaries Unprincipled?

An African friend postulates that joining hands with an adversary or opposition is unprincipled. From that he concludes that that is the bane of Africa, which has led to our failures. If his hypothesis is true, it should be applied to the individual as well as to the collective whole of tribes, religions, political affiliations, etc. He begins his argument by discussing the folly of the US Gen Powell’s endorsement of Obama, and then he meanders into Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda politics

First, Gen. Powell’s move is in keeping with the nature of the man, that when he learned of the true reasons behind the invasion of Iraq, he resigned. His endorsement was well-timed after a careful consideration, taking into account the race baits and other unsavory tactics that were being played by the other side. The timing was his decision, and you can’t blame the Obama campaign for it.

Will Gen. Powell’s endorsement generate a race-based voting pattern? There is always an element of race or tribe, for that matter, in any election everywhere—not only the US of A. Many Americans, except ultra right wings like Russ Limbaugh, saw no race as a factor in the endorsement. Since the General is a well-respected establishment personality, his endorsement affirmed and gave confidence to those who doubted the Obama man. These are the Independents who usually decide the US presidential elections since the majority of the electorate are generally rooted in their particular camps.

Changing or going across party lines is more common than one may think. One example is Joe Lieberman, who is still in the Democratic caucus while being Independent due to anger over having been thrown to the dogs by the Democratic bigwigs in his last senatorial election. He is a constant companion of McCain and was rumored to have been short-listed for the VP until when even he was shocked, when the “maverick” chose another “maverick!” He still votes with the Democrats in major legislative issues.

Now, let us look at the issue of joining hands with adversaries in Africa, and whether instances where it has been manifested meant lack of principles or not.

Nelson Mandela is reputed to have forgiven and joined hands with the Boers to maintain peace while giving away key ANC principles of re-distributing wealth to the millions of poor Africans. That doom never came to South Africa is an accepted fact. The choice of giving away control of the Central Bank and other key financial matters in the negotiations leading to the settlements between Mandela and De Klerk was more a function of the naiveté of Mandela’s men than an edict on falsehood in the exercise of joining hands.

Has Raila Odinga thrown his principles out the window in the coalition government of Kenya? The answer would be in the affirmative if one were heartless to the post-election Kenya. I think what Odinga did was courageous and showed a people-first outlook rather than a selfish immovable stake.

The same can be said of Tsivangirai but the opposite may be said of his rival, Mugabe who, in spite of the settlement, in practice has not truly joined hands to the detriment of millions of Zim people.

In practice, the Zimbabwean outcome could follow any overture by Besigye to Museveni because he (Museveni) is made of the same cloth as Mugabe—being endowed with a clinical stubbornness that betrays fear and perverted inadequacies.

Museveni went to the bush because he was “principled,” and thousands of bones littered Luwero to give him what he wanted. He is hanging there because he is “principled,’ even as the country is in hell to many. Even when it was evident to all that the Acholi had been spanked and would be wiser to tactically surrender, the LRA, on “principle” carried out a war of attrition that will take many years for Acholi to recover from.

Lastly, carrying out the logic of the argument, should Uganda, for example, continue with the “principled” religious and tribal divides? Are those not what have been the thorns in our collective asses?

Well, the moral of the story here is that stupid stubbornness that masquerades as being principled is, in fact, the bane of Africa, rather than vice-versa. If you look at all the African dictators and the trouble spots, you see streaks of “principled” stubbornness. Yes, be principled, but let the compass be the genuine interests of the people. Only then can a president be second to God, as the man perceives himself when in reality he is second to Lucifer.

In Awe of Joyce Meyer's Gulf Stream and Gigantic Stage

In his latest Letter from Gulu Mao was very impressed with Joyce Meyer’s Gulf Stream and the huge stage built in an equally huge tent. He effusively praised the woman on her message of hope cackled to the people of Gulu.

First, the impression portrayed by Mao is not unlike that of the Afrikan chiefs of yore years who marveled at beads, snuff and gun powder. Sooner or later their power was taken from them and aliens were in control and the people were traded like goats.

The message of hope is well and good but, if it has to reach home from a rich foreign preacher woman, then the people of Gulu are in serious trouble for lack of inspiring leadership. This is mental, and it is incumbent on the leadership to be able to navigate the collective mind.

In Europe there was the Berlin Airlift of food and other essentials. Europe had the advantage of the massive Marshall_Plan to rebuild from the ruins of war. Show me a similar overture, apart from the pittance being wagged in our faces. So, to Joyce Meyer: we are not sitting on our fanny waiting for manna to fall from heaven. Instead of the cruel comparison with Europe get off your high horses and lobby your governments to help us rebuild the dilapidated schools, hospitals and roads. The rest we can take care of. Thank you.

What an Insult by Joyce Meyer

No where in the world does a foreigner go and heap insults on the natives on their most recent grave history. This is exactly what happened recently in Acholiland--courtesy of one American witch, called Joyce Meyer. This broad goes to Acholiland and says to their face that they brought the war on themselves because of witchcraft. This Joyce does not bring the name of Museveni, the agent of witchcraft whose evangelical wife probably invited her to come tame the wild natives. We allow her--a testament to how low we have sunk because of want and need. Just as the recent wave of NRM cadre courses, this is another mental humiliation that many should take it with the disdain it deserves.

We should take the cue from what our colonial masters did to our minds. This time around we should sort ourselves on our own terms. One, is that Mato Oput is a recognition that troubles at times befalls a family, and it is imperative to reconcile to move forward. We need no patronizing speeches from without.

Is it Time for Another Fundamental Change?

When Museveni and his gang marched triumphantly into Kampala, it heralded a new era, to which, if I were in the country, I would have probably welcome had they not gone native in my home region up North. At the time Obote had already squandered his chance, and the stars were already misaligned against him—nothing was humanly possible to save his brand.

In modern democracies of whatever shape—that includes post-independent Uganda— new ideas brought by a charismatic leader lasts, at the most, twenty years, give or take. Usually the leader rides into town in a milieu of wide arrays of discontent. Soon he or she sets out to make his or her mark. Institutions are torn down, and new ones created by the acolytes of the new regime who may lash the country to the other side of the extreme, causing instabilities. Nature, however, gravitates towards balance, and any imbalance is eventually corrected to achieve a stable state.

Take the leading democracies of today—United States and Britain. In the eighties Reagan rode into town like a cowboy coming to save the country and the world from the bad guys. He could do no wrong. Big government, welfare queens, and the evil empire were marked for dismantling. He could destroy a little black country of Grenada, and he would be cheered for it. New Dealers with liberal outlook retreated into hiding, wondering what went wrong having saved the population from institutional injustice and extreme poverty in the midst of plenty.

The Reagan period has lasted for over twenty years. It came crashing this year in an economic debacle many call the worst since the Depression of the 1930s. In fact, Clinton, a Democrat, did not make an about-turn in Reaganomics. Following his first election, with his eye to the next election, he made sure he paid homage to Reagan at his ranch--a significant symbolic statement for those astute enough to read the tealeaf. He could not go to Nelson Mandela inauguration—even if it was the single most important event of the last fifty years—because of the same reason. Now, the stars are aligned for Obama to come to town and make his mark.

The same story can be said of Thatcher’s Britain. Even if her brand seemingly had a shorter self-life, it nevertheless influenced and spawned Blair's New Labor.

Museveni’s Uganda saw drastic changes in the faces and nature of power and economics. The Zeitgeist of the period is embodied by obscene wealth, extreme poverty and crumbling infrastructures. This imbalance is unsustainable because nature abhors it. It has to be corrected to achieve balance. Museveni can use all kinds of tricks to hold on to what is no longer his because the die is cast.

Did Catholic-Protestant Chasm Influence the NSSF Saga?

I was stunned when I read Muniini’s last week’s piece on Mbabazi and the NSSF saga. I did not know the religious divide had such a bearing on Ankole politics in this day and age. I had read about the Baganda’s historical challenges with Muslim-Catholic-Protestant court politics, which may have had a great influence on Uganda’s fate, but which seem less pronounced these days--at least not to the extent of a faction taking over Mengo only to be driven out by another. In the Acoli region there may have been some elements of it, but I never experienced or saw any intense religious divide.

To emphasize Muniini’s point, a writer in the now defunct Monitor’s readers’ view section talked of how his father often urged his fellow Banyankole to abandon the religious chasms in the region, but to no avail.
The writer went on to say that the NSSF saga is rooted in this chasm. Apparently since Centenary Bank belongs to Catholics, no worthy Ankole protestant would patronize it. Hence, the urgent need to buy controlling shares in the National Bank of Commerce lest the Nigerians gobbled the bank. Where else to go but dip their thieving hands into the NSSF and, if push came to shove, they would muscle their way out of it. So far they are showing they are their fathers' boys.

I thought the NRM had wiped out sectarianism. Up North our NRM lords tell us it is our past primitive sectarianism that caused the past problems of Uganda--that is why our young are being subjected to the micky mouse NRM brainwashing cadre courses. When president Museveni seems partial to high-level thieves from his home turf, it is not sectarianism. When all the generals are 90% from his hood, it is not sectarianism. Who can argue with a man who is second to God?

While we are at it; in the land of the infamous Goldenberg gazillion shillings swindle in the Moi era, trouble is brewing in Kenya’s NSSF . What up with the Afrikans? Workers of Afrika unite!

The Monitor Pulled the Rug

I had a feeling it would not last. For a moment I thought I was having an out-of-body experience. The Monitor was experimenting with a section for readers’ comments, and it was a jungle out there. Angry citizens came out of the woods and poured scorn on the regime of Museveni. And Museveni and his kind did not disappoint us with all kinds of depraved headlines. Even an imbecile can see that this is not how a sustainable country is run. Like all good things, it had to come to an end—the Monitor readers’ comment feature, that is. Museveni or Mbabazi called the Riot Act on the Monitor, and the section was kaput. Thank you, Monitor—at least we had a taste of the future when leaders will not be scared by words.

The NSSF saga would not go away. Last week Mbabazi and Museveni made pre-emptive strikes designed to influence the outcome of the probe report. They met with the NRM members on the committee. Can you imagine the brazenness? They were putting pressures on these people in broad daylight. What arrogance! How cynical and disrespectful of the citizens of this tortured country.

And now we start the week with Brig. Tumukunde being given a gift from the Supreme Court. This is a man who had a Faustian pact with Museveni and was the face behind past election harassments. One was tempted to have a Schadenfreude feeling when he got into shit, but we are a Christian nation—we don’t have those feelings, do we? Whatever; it is in my DNA to root for the little guy—the underdog—against the bully.

The week also comes on the heel of Mao being splashed with accolades by DP’s who-is-who. Supposedly they see an Obama in Mao. May be, may be not. First, he should stop playing multiple personalities and Clintonian triangulations for me to take him seriously. Take the idea he posited about uniting the party which he then took it away by dissing those born before 1962; what was that all about?
And then comes Beti Kamya, all decked up in green and white, symbolically shouting to the whole world that she is an FDC all but in name only. Why not be a true revolutionary, resign, and contest in a by-election under another banner? In the US of A there is a Joe Lieberman--who behaves similarly--, a one-time Democrat turned Independent playing very complicated acts of being in the Democratic caucus but was nearly named by the "maverick" McCain for VP. If you understand politicians, then you are ahead of me.

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While you are here, pop in at these developing sites--they maybe sites for office breaks or just entertainment centers in the future:
UgandaPlays
AcholiSensation

If it is Sunday, let Mutima Gwange do it to ya!

Enjoy!

Can a Ugandan Journalist Predict the Future through a Seer?

Those who have heightened sense of consciousness probably could reach the rarefied spiritual world and predict the future. That is the world the prophets, including Joshua (aka Jesus), the Buddha and others likely reached with a lot of mental discipline. We know of how the Buddha abandoned a life of privilege to go isolate in a forest, reflect and reach a revelation. We don’t know about the life of Joshua for nearly thirty years until he burst into the Jewish world. He probably did the same thing.

That a journalist who affects some intellectualism now predicts the future through some unnamed seer is an overreach and should probably qualify for the entertainment section rather than a serious op-ed section. If he were to prognosticate by serious and rigorous extrapolations from events and actions, like an economist or a political scientist would do, may be he could be taken seriously.

Having said all that, I have a lingering awareness of a non-physical world which is influenced by our thoughts and deeds which, in turn, are manifested in the physical world—individually as well as collectively. Hence, such truisms as: we reap what we sow, or what goes around comes around. However, to explain world events in terms of this is best left for the Synagogue, Church, Mosque and other temples.

Just do the soca and forget the Uganda miseries

Leave Museveni alone. Just do the soca!

A Yellow Bus on a Perilous Road to Nowhere

Korea's and Japanese's economic miracles started with an agreement on the mode of economic development--Nationalist Market Economy. China's was imposed Socialist Market Economy by the CCP from within. Current Uganda's is imposed Unfettered Market Economy from without by the IMF-World Bank.

First, we need a system that we can agree on or, at least, develop from within based largely on our peculiar situation. The Ist Obote did well--at least in the economy--because it built--with the tacit concent of the majority-- on what was handed over without major shocking changes for a few years. Had Ben Kiwanuka been at the helm, he would have probably followed the same course without moving to the far left.

We will never know what the shock of Obote's Move-to-the Left would have engendered. The restlesstness in expectations may have contributed to his first overthrow.

The current government has not provided the atmosphere for bringing people together to talk and come to some agreement on the way forward. It is all about the man with the vision. He can have all the oil in the world, build railways, or have an infallible military infrastructure, chances are he is taking the country down a perilous yellow bus to nowhere.

Here We Go Again: The Crowing President Museveni

At a funeral of one Ldt. Lutara in Acholi district Mr. Museveni characteristically crowed: Amin_ruled_me_for_two_days. Oh! How impressive! Implicitly all the Acholi who perished in the Amin regime were fools who could not compare to him. And then to add insult to injury, Mr. Onek, a minister with roots in Acholi lectured the Acholi that they misunderstand Museveni, and they should take up the so-called Museveni’s development plan for the region.

Onek, what do we misunderstand? This is a man who lauded an NRA military operation in Acholiland with this mocking statement: We massacred them. This is a man who refused to declare the Acholi region a disaster area even when displaced residents were dying by the thousands from simple diseases due to overcrowding in his concentration camps. What don’t we understand?

The Acholi like everyone else want development. But development is not going to be by giving away large swaths of land for dubious enterprises. Acholi land, a precious resource, should be well managed for the benefit of generations to come. Blood of our ancestors has been shed and their bones litter this land. Whoever, either works with us for mutual benefits, or against us with dire consequences.

Response to Muniini in Living_under_fear_of_the_state

Muniini in Living_under_fear_of_the_state

This is from a man who holds the view that Museveni's bush war was ordained by God and was, therefore, a necessary evil that deserved the lives of several hundreds of thousands. If anything, there was at the time still an opportunity for a gradual evolution instead of the terrorist shock and awe that characterized the NRA's, aka Museveni's revolution. Just maybe Uganda could have cured the Zeitgeist of fear in our times as the world was changing at the dawn of the so-called New World Order.

Now, just when countries like Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Kenya to name a few, have overcome their dark days of state fear, Uganda's has become more virulent--all because we let a pyscho get away with murder and emboldened him--courtesies of the Muninis of this world and the peasant Lumpenproletariat. The genie is out. Can it be controlled in space and time? That is the challenge of our time. Not Wall Street—although Uganda gets a glancing swish from the upper-cut punch. Not whether American empire is on a downward spiral vis-a-vis China to which my village aunt doesn't give a hoot—and there are many such aunts in the hinterland of Uganda.

So, as one great American said: The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. And the beat goes on—the march towards a perfect union to which we all have responsibility. It will not come from the so-called “development partners” holding their purse string, because they will not. It will not come from the Ogre himself stopping behaving as if he were a foreigner, as one political wonk plaintively pleaded. He will not, because he is a man on a mission for himself above all else.

Ease out into the Wk-nd with Tabu Ley Rochereau - Karibou ya Bintou

America's, hence the world's economy was in flames. Meanwhile Uganda's corruption has reached the nadir of depravity as high-level ministers loot the workers' retirement security treasury. Let Afrika's premier crooner--the one and only Tabu Ley-- take you with grace into the week-end.

The Prosperity-for-All Gimmick of President Museveni of Uganda

The man has been in power for twenty plus years, and yet his most loyal constituency—the teeming rural poor—are no better than they were in the sixties. He tried this and that—no can do.
The poor masses soak in the rain as Mr. Museveni blesses them for their stupidity and support

First there was the barter trade. Just after his most violent revolution, he went around the world begging to barter his coffee and bananas. There were no takers. The only way out was the IMF-World Bank. This was the Thatcher-Reagan era when unfettered free market was the in-thing. No Marxist has changed course at the blink of an eye than Museveni. Soon the bitter structural adjustments of the IMF-World Bank were the order of the day. All benefited the few—the powerful and those informed enough to take advantage of the anything-goes economy. We were told that the economy was growing at a rapid clip—evidenced by buildings and auto-vehicles that choked Kampala traffic—a taxi driver once affirmed to me when I asked him on the state of things. But then what about the roads, the hospitals and other infrastructures that make life tolerable? You have to see to believe.

The challenge for Museveni has been how to catapult the millions of peasants into the good life since structural adjustment doesn’t allow socialism and is slow to trickle down, if at all. The dilemma is that these millions are his most loyal voters. So, clever as he is, he from time to time comes up with slogans and gimmicks disguised as major policy overtures. There was a loan scheme, called Etandikwa, which died a natural death since the peasants took it for gifts for their votes. In the last election campaign he coined Prosperity-for-All—Bonna Bagaggawalle —his native language equivalent. Soon this became a public policy with a cabinet post for his brother and a hurriedly put up lending scheme. This will die another natural death, and he will blame somebody come 2011 when he goes to the voters again to extend his stay in the “sweet chair.”

There are true and tried ways of bringing up the lot of the poor. Gimmicks and slogans are not.