Dilemma of young politicians

19 Nov, 2017 - 02:11 0 Views

The Sunday News

Micheal Mhlanga

We meet yet again on a Sunday. Like most that we have shared on this column, this one is no different from the rest, we continue to interact on issues you and me encounter in this journey called life.

Our discussions through correspondence and reference to unfolding events always demand me to revisit some subjects you feel become more and more relevant as each event ensues, even though the discussion was long past.

Dear reader, you will definitely agree with me that we are living in interesting times. Times which demand our unity as a nation and cautiousness on what may gobble the conscience should one be reckless. I say this in referral to one of my articles which implored that people be cautious of the slim difference between loyalty and exploitation.

In that article I deliberately spoke to young people of this beloved country who at this demanding time have been caught up in the frenzy of the “politics of the stomach”. The politics of the stomach coerces one to substitute reasoning and introspection with unrevised action, regrettable actions which in most times are so quick to contribute to the erasure of your legacy, however, small it may be as a young person.

This presage is so common in active young politicians who have found themselves wanting when it comes to an in-depth reflection of their political actions. It is in politics where you find young people so zealous that they can do anything just to fill their stomachs, which in many times I have pleaded with these brilliant young minds to stop using their stomachs to think.

In African politics, young people are a valuable currency, not because of their brilliance in propelling goodwill in most instances, but machines of advancing personal interests however, crude they maybe.

This common action is very popular in African politics mainly because of the economic nature of African countries where the economy reduces hope for prosperity and the alternative to ambition achievement is perhaps a full venture into career politics however, misinformed the young “blood” maybe.

This lack of alternative opportunities is a catalyst for desperation in young people in politics who are willing to do anything to make it in the pitch of politics.

To many, the idea of political ideology of any party they belong to is alien and even projecting the founding principles of the party for the future is non-existent in their schemata.

Evidently, many of you may have witnessed it in displays of either political ignorance or policy incomprehension by some of the young politicians in public debates or simple discussions.

The endeavour of that political dwarf is to associate with “power” and nothing else. The assumption is that proximity to power relates with prosperity regardless of what the “significant others” believe in. This is where the problem begins.

Misreading role models

Everyone has a role model, be it a Hollywood celebrity, a priest, a neighbour or a political stalwart and those are the people who influence one’s worldview and reaction to the universe’ offerings. In pop culture it’s easy to identify a teenager’s role model because it is resembled in the imitation of dress, language and behaviour in general.

This is mainly effected by massive exposure to media which is a conduit of selling one’s couture hence its gross influence on youth behaviour.

However, in politics, it’s rare to pick one’s role model from their dress-code, and behaviour, although in some cases we do, but we easily pick it from political language. Political role models influence our beliefs in principles such as nationalism, socialism, communism, Pan-Africanism, liberalism and democracy to mention but a few.

A reflection on our liberation history teaches us that many young people crossed into Mozambique and Zambia on foot because a shared concern for nationalism as a guiding ethos of our liberation.

Their knowledge of Karl Marx was mainly acquired through interaction and contact with the liberation fighters they saw in their villages or head over the shortwave radio.

This is how they could vision how their role models only read or heard about, looked like and behaved. They had a zest of sharing the same beliefs with them even if it meant at the cost of their lives. To them, it was more of being influenced by individuals to pursue an idea not the individual who bore the idea. It would be a bit robbing to conclude that there were none who misread role models, they were there but the numeracy of those who celebrated good ideas possessed and shared by the heroes was significantly successful in neutralising those who were missing the plot.

Take note, most of the young people who were influenced by the Umvukela/Chimurenga idea were either still at school or worse still poor, in most instances from the barren reserves.

If there is anything to compare with today, most young people’s opportunities for prosperity were limited but it did not become a central excuse of allowing themselves to peddle selfish agendas which did not resonate with the intents of the liberation struggle.

It is that pledged allegiance to an idea that made them hard to be exploited politically hence they are a rare breed which we so miss.

They were able to actively accentuate that a role model is a person who can shift his or her behaviour but what they prefer from him is an idea for a common good. That is the reason why we have many man and women who fell by the wayside during the liberation struggle but the armies remained intact till 1979 Lancaster negotiations.

Do we still have that breed today?

Seemingly, that crop of an idea religious youth has quickly faded since 1980. What is more sad is how promising talent speedily vanishes as soon as its “expiry date” is determined by whoever is using it.

At this juncture let me show you how young politicians misread role modelling and succumb to exploitation. I would not delve into names, but what is central is that young people have been at the junction of confusing themselves on what is political loyalty and if they are being exploited.

When one is loyal in politics, it means they are religious servants of the founding ideals which bind the very existence of that political party.

They pledge their allegiance to an ideal because it is the best if not only consistent phenomena in the party.

Party leadership and members may change but the founding idea is usually stagnant and successes of Nationalist parties has been hinged on the respect of founding principles and ideologies. It is the young people who fully comprehend and respect the aspirations of that party’s guiding ideologies who best protect and serve the majority’s interest bestowed on them.

When young politicians submit to ideologies and principles governing discipline, they protect themselves from being manipulative tools of those with ulterior motives, intentions which do not in any better way resemble objectives of the party.

It is the overly zealous whose intention of joining a party were not contributing to the cause but a flagrant desire to associate with “power’ and accrue economic benefits who are susceptible to exploitation.

In their assumption that they are loyal to the party by being ardent followers of so and so, they become mouthpieces and front actors of a cause they cannot trace its inception. In that trance, they fail to foresee the future and their political destiny should politics not favour whomever they are following.

This is the reason why so many young politicians find themselves making reckless actions which render them expendables even at their peak in the political fraternity.

Most young people are always caught in a political frenzy whose results eliminate their chances of growth in politics and a possible positive contribution in the development of a nation.

Let me conclude by reminding young people that loyalty in politics is mostly ideal when it’s pledged to an idea not an individual. People change priorities and if you are caught up in their transition, you remain confused and end up exposing your carelessness.

It is wise to remember that when you get into politics to pursue riches, you are the easiest target of exploitation because you are hungry and when a carrot is dangled you become easy prey.

Take heed of those who demand that when you pledge allegiance to them in politics they remunerate you with abundant riches, that is a classical importation of the “prosperity gospel” popular in some Pentecostal churches — it’s all magic, it will quickly vanish.

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