Paying the price of letting leaders indulge in bad manners

(Photo: Courtesy)

Hardly do you get parents, especially in Africa, who use vulgar and inappropriate words within hearing distance of children. It is taboo. That is why when we have to say something about sex, we use analogies, metaphors or coded speech. Let's assume that 99 per cent of our leaders are parents, and that at least 40 per cent are grandparents. So, when they speak, bits of it may end up in the news, and the children and grandchildren are watching.

Having the privilege of being in a newsroom, I can't even begin telling you about the insults, sexual innuendos and vulgarity that we cut out from politicians' speeches. But then there is live coverage which is a bit tricky, but, you have seen that when some guys veer off to insults and potentially libellous speech, something else quickly comes on the screen. There is also a secret list of politicians whose mouths ooze violent and distressing language. At least three of them are known to take hard stuff before going to rallies where, when in delusion, they can, for example, declare themselves acting presidents or indefatigable party loyalists who can skin alive anyone standing in the way of their master or preferred candidate.