THE RETURN OF THABO MBEKI

There is some chatter about bringing back Thabo Mbeki. I think it is highly unlikely; more a clutching at straws. But lest we forget, in February 2008, when a vote of no confidence in the president was proposed by the opposition in parliament, I wrote the following poem (later published in 2010). Mbeki resigned in September 2008. The foolish times seem now to have come upon us.

Vote of no confidence

What have you done to us, my President?
The centre can no longer hold; regain
then that patient faith the masses handed you:
‘a better life for all'; far better for some,
who, with favour gained, are quick
to turn opportunity to profit:
first arms and bribes, then AIDS, now power too. 

On race you hector, outspoken, outraged,
ignoring crime, denials, excuses; whilst
the People's Contract, broken, thrown to some
unprincipled posturing politician.

We sit in darkness; wait upon a plan,
while you betray our neighbours to the north;
No Nepad, African Renaissance will help
Zimbabwe's people squeaking truth to power.

The struggle orphaned; greed betrays
our history in fine print squandered.

I wonder yet if foolishly some day,
we come to think of this as a golden age.

Epitaph for Thabo

The burden of office has always been such,
that too many people must die, while we
sit struggling to accept ourselves.

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