Africa-Press – Lesotho. Our warring behaviour as a people could be one of the main reasons why our economy is not growing. You see it in the way we conduct our businesses and joint ventures.
We cannot agree even on simple things. We could argue about the colour of the sky until someone has a knife in their belly. Muckraker has never fancied all the fancy jargon that people use to explain why Lesotho’s economy is not growing.
It’s not the lack of foreign direct investment because we all know that the engines of most economies are small businesses driven by locals. Yeh, I said it!
Foreign direct investment is overrated. It’s not the lack of capital or ideas either. The real issue is that we are just incapable of collaborating and working together.
We are an abrasive and greedy bunch that cannot build sustainable relations in both formal and informal sense. Just look at the chaos at Enrich Stores.
It’s some epic embarrassment that one. They could not even work together for more than three years. Three! The board is holding a press conference to spill bad news as if they are announcing the opening of another branch.
What shocked Muckraker was that there was no trace of shame in their faces as they eloquently aired their dirty linen in public. Announcing their self-inflicted confusion and misery as if like the
Feselady who had been awarded an honourary doctorate from some Mickey Mouse university. Muckraker was so disgusted that she put her left hand in the pocket and pulled the middle finger on the whole spectacle.
The chief executive won’t zip it about being the founder as if he founded some billion maloti company. It’s just a tiny supermarket smaller than the one founded by one Chinese man across town.
Nothing special or innovative. Just a place where people buy groceries. It’s only called a supermarket because it is in a country of small things. Anywhere else it will be a spaza shop.
Yet Muckraker is not shocked that things have turned sour so fast. That is how we roll. The cooperatives of the 70s and 80s collapsed because of infighting.
The same applies to political parties. The only time we collaborate is at funerals. We unite in death. Death makes our hearts tender. But even in that, our collaboration is haphazard.
That is why 10 siblings have 10 different funeral covers for their mother but none has her on medical aid cover. The siblings take out the funeral policy with the same company.
When she dies only one policy is paid out. The replication of policies could have been sorted by one simple family meeting but it won’t happen because it always ends in chaos and allegations of witchcraft.
Don’t you dare pretend to be outraged or surprised by Muckraker’s words. When was the last time you visited your aunt in Ha Tsolo? Yeh, Muckraker is talking to you who stays in Ha Thetsane.
When was the last time you called your mother? Muckraker is talking to you who likes to say “‘M`e oe!” at the slightest pain. How about the nephew who works in the same building as you?
How was last night’s gossip about that cousin who has hit hard times? Mmmmm. Sweet, neh! Now get ready for that prayer. on Sunday! Can Muckraker hear an Amen? Say it, just say it!
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