The story of a drunken editor

Correspondent | Monday August 24, 2015 14:58

A prominent editor of a powerful newspaper recently caused all sorts of drama as he resisted arrest, drove under heavy influence of alcohol, and worse, without a license. I may even be understating this embarrassing case, because to say that he was resisting arrest would be an understatement, because he was even hurling insults at the police, our law enforcers as he refused to obey the traffic cops orders.

Gaborone is a very small town, this piece of news would have been a scoop in any other democratic setting, except in Botswana, because it would seem journalists and editors here would not like to rub one another the wrong way. This is a pity, for it is assumed that since the media is the watch dog of our society in a well functioning democracy, then the question of who watches the watchdog should not be hard to answer, the media is expected to be its own watch dog, rebuking their own, chastising them, and even revoking their licenses in an environment where journalists like lawyers have practicing licenses such as Australia, the UK, and USA.

Dear editor, this is my story y of a weekend where I trudged a real life drama of a local newspaper editor under heavy alcohol intoxication. This drama began early hours of the morning on the 08th August 2015. I take time to rebuke this kind of behaviour. I came across this local newspaper editor somewhere at block 6 being very crude and uncooperative with the police officers, tottering under the obvious influence of alcohol and smelling as if he was part of the brewing team.

He had recklessly hit somebody’s car at the Block 6 Gaborone grouped liquor stores at the early hours of the morning. This was after immersing himself in tons and tons of alcoholic beverages. He was literally putting people’s life in danger and refused to cooperate with police officers who meant to enforce the law to protect citizens.

This is the same editor who has recently been seen to be digging deep into the wrongs done and fault finding many public figures. It has shocked me that he then has the audacity to engage in drunken driving and driving without a driver’s license.He finds it right that he knowingly gets behind the wheels without a driver’s license.

This character who appeared more of a potentate was literally thwarting the efforts of the police officers to enforce the law.

This reclamation of law and order and self-worth after being humiliated in front of drunken lot ended at the police station. How do these very guys who are always preaching that law abiding is key then go out to not only drive without a driver’s license but worse enough even heavily intoxicated. This has really annoyed me.

The world over we always hear of how public figures are put on the spot for these crude behaviours but here in Botswana we seem to protect them. Yet the same guys, particularly in the case in point of a local newspaper editor, are themselves quick to point out the faults in other people. And this particular editor is worse at that level.

The police, who initially appeared too nice, had to change tactic and man handle the editor to the back of a police van. He had initially enjoyed a leading role in this drunken drama of fans echoing in his intoxicated state of mind that he was alpha and omega.

Little did he know that at the police station the alpha and omega title will simply vanish and be replaced with law and order? I deliberately treaded behind the police van away from a predominated drunken lot who had become his free rented cheerleaders where upon after numerous violent brawls with the police he was released.

With my curiosity increased, I went back to the police station on Monday 10th August 2015 to enquire about his matter. Though the police officer I enquired from initially refused to shed light on the matter citing some nonexistent laws, some senior police officers abruptly intervened that such matters are not confidential.

I was told that after this creditable police officers dealt with this haughty character for more than 3 hours, he was charged with failure to provide breath specimen. Apparently this is a charge that is given to drunken drivers who refuse to take breathalyser test.

I am told he was also charged for driving a vehicle without a driver’s license. Considering how the local media is always awash with finger pointing of how people do not respect the law, and taking every opportunity to castigate those alleged to have bruised the law, this is a case of a self-aggrandisement maniac.

Though reclamation of law and order was as I am told he is yet to appear before the courts, it was also disheartening to see him treated differently from other drunken drivers who are normally detained until mention.

I must point out my dismay at the kid’s glove treatment he was given by the police. They allowed him to go home after all the chaos and waste of time he afforded them. They would have been elsewhere rather than attending to a violent and drunk newspaper editor. His self-vantage of pointing wrongs is somehow not applicable to him.

I appeal to our journalists that they should ensure that they themselves are clean before attempting to show how we citizens are wrong. I will be watching the space to see if this editor ever gets to see his light in the court of law as he always reports that the law must be upheld. It is his chance and opportune moment to show the country that he too should be prosecuted for his wrongs.

 

Concerned Citizen,

Omphile Marumo