When watching what is going on in Eastern Europe one always, or at least I do, try to understand each side's position. Admittedly I have always had a fear of Putin, maybe because of his KGB background and all of those John le Carré books I have read. Seriously, my problem with him is he has always wanted to portray himself as the face of Russia, with him knowing what it needs, like or not. Also, world leaders that can write a book about judo must have something missing. Simultaneously as events unfold in Ukraine I have been watching on TV ‘The Rise of the Nazis-Dictators of War’. This focuses on both Stalin and Hitler, both of who saw themselves as the saviour of their countries although destroying them in the process. I fear Putin may do the same. Shelling a nuclear plant is insane.
I have no time for the Scottish Nationalists but even though I have not lived in that country for more than fifty years I still consider myself a patriot and always offer my support to their rugby team despite how frustrating that can be. In my mind, I always felt there was a difference between nationalism and patriotism. So this week decided to research the definition of each and found these definitions. Perhaps you have all known this before.
“Nationalism is an ideology that emphasized loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state and holds that such obligations outweigh other individual or group interests.” - Britannica
This I think clearly defines Hitler, Stalin, Putin and may I include Sturgeon. There always needs to be a perceived threat to ensure their dictatorial leaders call to people to rally around them for the safety and good of the nation no matter that in fact, it mostly brings both their and the downfall of the said nation. Bad managers always blame someone else, so do dictators who are inclined to not only get rid of their enemies but also any sensible ally who they think could become a threat. Just look at Mugabe.
“Appeasing a dictator is like not disciplining a badly behaved wilful child. Both will bring heartache and pain beyond measure in the future.” - Peter McSporran
So what is a patriot?
“Patriotism, feeling of attachment and commitment to a country, nation, or political community.” - Britannica
In fact, in many definitions patriotism is said to simply be love of one's country, so maybe I am only a nostalgic patriot. Certainly not a Nationalist who sees the state as being more important than its people. The trouble with nationalism; it requires a person or group to ensure the population adhere to their particular nationalistic values even if it takes them into aggressive unprovoked conflict with its neighbours. So even if I had a vote it would not go to Sturgeon and as my good friend, John Tidy tells me, “who in his right mind would vote for Jimmy Krankie?”
“It is so important your patriotism is in the form of love for one's country rather than the banner of nationalism. This banner is often carried by exploitative self-interest motivated leaders. ” - Peter McSporran
This week has been enlightening, whatever the outcome, Europe will change. Combined with the Covid-19 pandemic and now the fuel crisis, western Europe will be reviewing not only its energy policies but also other strategic industries in which they have been found wanting. Is the Global Market going to shrink? It has also shown clearly some of the hypocrisy around the ‘Green Policies.’ Can you believe over 60% of Germany, Holland and Belgium’s thermal power is fueled by Russian coal? So if you source your coal offshore does it become ‘clean’ when you burn it in your thermal plants? Of course, the Russians have been funding the ‘Greens’ in their protest against fracking for years.
Once again, this fact is only really being aired by the press now that this crisis is upon us. Is ‘unfracked’ oil and gas any cleaner or safer than fracked? I am sure nuclear energy will once again be re-visited, Germany certainly will be doing a lot of soul searching in this regard.
For ourselves it has been a week at home as food, due to my disposal system malfunction, is not a priority. Can you believe it is now three weeks since I have had a Cozido Portuguese? I have my colonoscopy this week and hopefully, that will shed some light on what my stomach problems are. I think Rozanne will be more relieved than me when we find a solution. It is always hard on the partner when one's diet is limited. Look at how hard it is when one or other decides he or she is going on diet. Rozanne is fantastic and sacrifices her eating pleasure to support me in getting some comfort.
Update: Had the colonoscopy on Thursday and results immediately showed no obvious causes for my stomach problems. It was suggested by the consulting doctor it could be one of my medications triggering the flare-ups. Which medication? After all, I take twelve tablets daily. I had yet another very disturbed and painful night on Thursday.
Final Months of National Service
There is so much that can and has been written about the Rhodesian Bush War that I do not want to take you through all of my experiences. I therefore will only from time to time, when events of significance occur in my life’s journey, both personal or national, I will mention them in my ongoing story.
Once returning to Wankie in April 1974 after yet another trip to the warzone in the northeast I found myself with half the platoon at Pandamatenga on the Botswanan border. A nice camp with permanent barracks. Luxury! Panamatenga lies about 70 km south of Victoria Falls, west of Wankie National Park surrounded by national parks and the Matetsi game area with its game ranches then being run by old settler families. A pristine area, flat, prone to flooding but full of wildlife and few people. Currently, Hwange National Park is some 14,600 sq km (1.5 million hectares) in area to give you an idea of the scope, populated by animals and not humans.
Our role was to patrol the border north of the Zambezi and about 100 km south. Many of the pans were still flooded so the patrols spent many uncomfortable nights trying to bed down in knee-high water. One troopie had his boots stolen by hyenas in a very inaccessible area. The war had not come here yet so boots could be removed at night. For myself, I befriended the police ‘member in charge’ who on occasion took me to visit the game farms and into the park including the occasional beer at Sinamatella Camp. Lions and elephants were common, today some 50,000 elephants still roam Hwange National Park. I had my first sighting of bat-eared foxes then as we repeated this past December. Magic when you see shy elusive animals.
Our troopies would play football with a combined team of the Botswanan army and police stationed across the border which was stopped immediately when the army hierarchy got wind of it. So, as a posting after the northeast, it was like a holiday camp until events at the time in far away Portugal reminded us of the danger Rhodesia was in. Listening to our short wave radios on the 25th of April 1974 we heard there was a military coup in Portugal. We all knew this would impact our lives as no doubt the friendly country of Mozambique could now become hostile with imminent independence. Our border with Mozambique is and was some 1,400 km long. Was that all now to become a hostile haven? Further Beira, Nacala and Maputo were all ports willing to tolerate Rhodesian sanction busting activities, especially fuel coming in and tobacco going out. We knew the war was now going to be a lot tougher.
Another incident, more personal, was when I received a radio message to relieve the other half of our platoon which had been on duty in Victoria Falls where one of its duties was to guard the bridge to and from Zambia. That part of the platoon was under Lieutenant Garvey's leadership.
On arrival, I was met by a fairly hostile reception by the local police and other security branches as seemingly some of the troops had allowed a drunken man to cross the bridge at night arriving at immigration offices where he was apprehended. As it turned out he had just had a bit much to drink and decided to visit Victoria Falls. For our side, it was seen as a huge security breach but probably more importantly a huge face loss to our company and its leadership. I presume the guilty parties ended up in Detention Barracks (DB), I cannot remember. Earlier last month, I was reminded by Doug Southgate, when his platoon was on that duty some of his troopies met with a Zambian soldier on the middle of the bridge, stole his rifle and threw it off into the Zambezi far below. They ended up in DB having caused an international incident. I suppose that is why the army keeps you busy all the time even in peace, as soldiers when bored can do very stupid things.
Due to the previous groups failing on guarding the bridge, our orders were when on the bridge duty all those present had to stay awake throughout the night. That is all four personnel on duty, without rotation until a change of guard in the morning. Those that have tried to stay awake all night will tell you how hard it is. Especially if you have spent the day at the Victoria Falls Hotel pool eyeing the nubile guests while making a beer last for hours. Lunch would be limited to a plate of chips.
In those long nights, we had some serious discussions about our future and that of the world. Oh how much we knew in those days! One subject was, ‘how would the world be able to feed itself?’ India at that time was in constant famine importing much of its food and the ‘knowledgeable pundits’ were suggesting half the world would starve by the year 2000. As we know their fears were unfounded. Of course the spray from the Falls in April ensured we were in a soaking 'Scottish mist' all the time but warmer.
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I should mention we only had short wave radios for the news in those days. Even calls home were very rare with most operational areas far from any telephone. Every Saturday afternoon if on base we would tune into ‘Forces Requests’ presented by the forces sweetheart Sally Donaldson. Girlfriends and families would send requests to loved ones over the airwaves. Tempers would flare when a particular girl sent a message to more than one soldier.
In May 1974 our year of National Service ended, I thought my time in the army was finished. Little did I know within weeks of getting back to the farm, my call-up papers for territorial service were in the post. I had learned a whole lot more about life and human nature in that year than all I had accumulated in my previous twenty-odd years.
The Challenges of Investing in African Agriculture Part X Continued - Political Patronage
There is no doubt political patronage exists throughout the world. It comes in many forms, mainly when the political leadership sheds its morality ignoring the rules of good governance. It offers benefits to state resources by offering jobs to friends, cronyism, posts to family, nepotism, and contract access to exclusive operations such as mining rights or transport routes to those who support the ruling party or individuals financially. To sustain this favour they often fork out heavily at election time with the use of ill-gotten gains. In Zimbabwe, as in many countries in Africa, those individuals are household names. They live in mansions, seemingly with the ability to change political alliance when and if required for their personal survival. Many will even run the businesses of their political benefactors or include them openly as partners. In business, you will find it impossible to win tenders, state assets are sold to them for very low values, sometimes whole state entities are handed over at no cost. Taxes are rarely collected. They are always at the front of the queue for any privatisation programs, picking the eyes at any such opportunity. International travel may become a problem but if you do not mind not visiting London or New York, it is not really a hardship. The Russian oligarchs and the Guptas of South Africa are examples of those who have made immeasurable fortunes. In South Africa, it is known as state capture. Maybe the Guptas will end up in jail and the Russians will lose a few billion still leaving plenty to play with.
That is me finished on corruption. We always point our fingers at the benefactor of the bribes but if we are honest, all of us who pay a bribe is guilty. I have yet to find someone in business in Africa who has not paid a bribe in one way or another. Often due to being coerced with fear, punishment, time or financial survival. Of course, conversely, there is always those that also instigate the illegal transaction for benefit.
Disclaimer: Copyright Peter McSporran. The content in this blog represents my personal views and does not reflect corporate entities.
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