A book that said a thousand words
Sharon Mathala | Monday June 3, 2024 08:31
Less than two years, he was abruptly reassigned to the ministry of the then defence, justice, and security as the secretary for defence, justice and security and then ministry of Youth. In April 2022, Paledi faced a corruption charge and appeared before the Broadhurst Magistrate's Court, clutching a revised local version of the Tao Te Ching, titled The Way of the Quiet Master.
This week, Mmegi staffer Sharon Mathala examines this, as charges against him were withdrawn.
Having had an illustrious career with the police service, and at one point being tipped to take over from his ‘mentor’, who later became his co-accused, former Police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe, Paledi was an exemplary leader within the service. When he was appointed the 4th head of the corruption busting agency many believed he would continue with his dedication to the civil service, but in a dramatic twist that stunned the nation, Paledi found himself entangled in one of the biggest scandals that ended his years of service.
As he made his first appearance at the Broadhurst Magistrate court, he was seemingly guided by the ancient wisdom from the book Tao Te Ching which once guided his career. He was seeking to restore his honour and rediscover his path amidst the chaos, as he flashed the book at the cameras when the media attempted to engage him on the side-lines of court.
Colleagues in the media, in their relentless pursuit of headlines and deadlines, painted a picture of betrayal and deceit but some always wondered if this was a political gimmick or there was any kind of truth in it .
During his first appearance, the media had long gotten wind of his charges alongside his former boss Keabetswe Makgophe.
Whilst Makgope was dramatically arrested from his office, Paledi’s arrest was a bit more subtle. Even during his first appearance his co-accused had legal representative except for him. Whilst Makgophe presented a calmer posture, Paledi was a bit more confused and in disbelief. The two, who were once the top two brass of the police service did not even speak to each other, well at least in court on the first day.
Given the chance to address the court, in a more hushed shaky tone than the media is used to from his press conferences ,he asked the court to allow him time to find a lawyer. He was clad in a brownish suit with a white shirt.
Outside court, he cut a lonely figure as he walked to his car and left. He was alone and seemed confused, perhaps it was the first time he appeared in court, not as a friend of the court but an accused person.
The man who authored a revised version of the book, Lets Sithole told Mmegi in an interview that the meaning behind it, is letting things take their natural course. Perhaps during his first appearance Paledi was telling the world that a the time, which is now, eventually he will be exonerated.
Two years later, in a notice to the courts, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions director, Nomsa Moatswi wrote, “I Nomsa Sinki Moatswi, the Director of DPP for the Republic of Botswana do hereby stop and discontinue criminal proceedings against the accused person, Victor Bruno Paledi, in a criminal case of State vs Victor Bruno Paledi presently before the Village’s Magistrate’s Court. ”Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished' is a quote from Lao Tzu which captures the essence of patience and trust in the natural unfolding of events. One may relate it to Paledi's story as he navigated through unexpected career shifts and legal challenges, reminding him to remain calm and trust that things will unfold as they are meant to, even in the face of adversity.