When our politicians turn dramatic comedians …
What you need to know:
DESPERATE MEASURES. It might seem like comedians have no moves on the political chessboard but perhaps that is in the past. Fast forward, many politicians today are borrowing a leaf from the arts to communicate their message. But exactly how viable is this strategy?
We live in strange times. Lately, comedians and artistes alike are taking on politics – and this is the strange part – the politicians are courting comedy.
The stage has been set for the 2016 elections and the actors are leaving no room to chance; from hilarious statements to dramatic actions.
Everyone is doing their best to capture the fascination of the public and hopefully, their vote too.
From the more recent episode of an MP’s suicide attempt on the floor of Parliament to earlier incidents to our ‘The 30-year-old 70-year-old’ president, politicians have not been short on humour this season.
We look back at some of the moments that left our eyes teary and also delve into how such behaviour could impact on their political careers.
The satirical
July might just as well be dubbed the ‘Amama month’. The former prime minister dominated news with his press conferences and his arrest.
Once known as the ‘super-minister’, Amama Mbabazi was considered one of the untouchables in the Museveni government, something he probably thought he would carry well into his presidential bid.
“Am I going to Mbale (on Thursday)? Of course, I am going,” he pointed out at a press conference, where he announced his intentions to hold countrywide consultative meetings
“The IGP cannot lawfully stop me. He may put a mamba (armoured vehicle) at my gate, may be. If he puts a mamba, I will jump over it.”
The image of the former premier jumping over a mamba twice his height would be quite a sight. Some found his comment satirical, an indication that he would challenge the police to ensure his political rights are honoured.
“I thought I heard it wrong the first time. I was like; Is that his strategy? Jump over a Mamba? Hahaha… this man is joking. He does not know our police,” said Irene Namayanja, a businesswoman.
Within days of this pronoucement, Mbabazi was arrested.
There were no super-human stunts to save him, no jumping mambas, except for a calm man being ushered into an old police doub
“Hon Speaker, I feel like committing suicide on this floor,” blared Tororo County MP Geoffrey Ekanya, he tagged and tightened his tie knot probably in an attempt to strangle himself at a Parliament session last month.
This followed his failed attempts to have his county accorded district status. Many legislators looked on agape as the MP continued to tag at his tie, some laughing out loud while others were concerned with this zeal.
It was not until Kitgum Woman MP, Beatrice Anywar and Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi stepped in to usher him back to his seat that the fracas ended.
“The pains expressed verbally and the matters are serious, there is no need for over-dramatising it, you may go and do it at the National Theatre,” Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah said.
But Ekanya had made his point and has gone into history books as the first legislator to make such a declaration on the floor of Parliament.
For his pains, social media and mainstream media were abuzz with the incident.
“It is one of the highlights of the month for me, probably the year. Some of these leaders are mandated to represent us the best way they can and they end up embarrassing their constituencies,” said Samson Katwesigye, a farmer.
“How is Mr Ekanya supposed to stand out as a role model for the children of this nation?” he wondered.
The ‘Dishonourable’ Honourable?
Last month, Daily Monitor in its commentary; “Empty House fails voters as MPs ‘hide in toilets” featured a couple of humorous comments uttered by MPs who were attempting to ‘cushion’ themselves from the effects of the rising lending interest rates.
During the session, Margret Kiboijana (Ibanda Woman MP) argued, “It’s very frustrating and dehumanising that MPs are living in abject poverty.” She insisted that members – who earn in the excess of Shs10m – be allowed to borrow from the Pension Fund.
“Hiding in toilets of this Parliament can be frustrating,” adding that “colleagues fall sick and cannot even access money to seek treatment abroad, and some have died because they could not be rescued,” she added.
On the other hand, Dr Medard Bitekyerezo (Mbarara Municipality) cheekily alluded to the heart when MPs were asked why they were seeking preferential treatment denoting that the heart “serves itself first”.
Some would argue that the heart of any country is its people. Katwesigye alludes to J.M. Coetzee’s Nobel literature prize winner, In the Heart of the Country to buffer this.
“The queen [government] rules the anthill, it is, however, the insects that built, run and sustain it. Without them it would die out. It must, therefore, never overestimate its importance. The people of Uganda matter more. Its representatives exist because they do,” he says
‘Mao unchained’
Last month, DP president Norbet Mao gave the nation a taste of the consequences of crossing him in the political arena when he unleashed a barrage of unsavvy words to describe Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, after the latter had formed a splinter group.
“Mr Lukwago seems to be a man who gets excited thinking that if he has many crowds, he has power. I feel pity for him because he is beginning to behave like dikuula (clown) yet he is a young man with potential,” he noted drawing those at the press conference into laughter.
That same evening, his comments were re-played on broadcast media platforms, well into the print the following day.
Sections of the public were, however, not amused by his statements, saying that it was uncharacteristic of a national leader and a person, who once vied for presidency.
“I was surprised. This is not the calm person I was used to seeing on television,” notes Fred Ochaya, a student at Makerere University.
Nevertheless, within days, Mao issued an apology for his actions and patched up things with Lukwago.
Watch that step
Fred Bwanika, a sociologist, warns that; “Many politicians risk losing their persona every time they venture into the comedy arena.”
Bwanika draws an allusion to a section from George Orwell’s Animal Farm where; Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes.
“We don’t know if Mr Jones became a drunk before or after becoming the leader of the farm, but we definitely get the idea that he’s not up to his job,” he says.
“If someone knows who you are, and you act contrary the following day, it becomes harder to trust you then.
He does, however, acknowledge that jokes are good and part and parcel of political strategy.
“It is a great way of charming over someone. That is if they are not overdone.”
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