Popcorn Syndrome wins again. Or does it?

It’s like popcorn. Hot it up, it gloriously shows itself and then it’s gone before the end of the movie.

The popcorn politics of deceit, lies and broken promises are found everywhere.

Oh yes, there was back slapping over how well Africa did at the Paris Olympics. Zimbabwe’s seven athletes performed bravely. Little was said about how three of our flag bearers were  brought to France from the United States  where they were on sports scholarships.

Or what that said about the state of play at home or our “financially challenged”  tertiary education system. The state media strenuously denied our Magnificent Seven were accompanied by dozens of officials and coaches on free trips with them.

China and the US sent nearly 1,200 athletes between them and half that number of support staff.

Talking heads at last weekend’s regional summit of the Southern African Development Community was equally popcorn-like. Much to show off at first but little substance, little achievement, thereafter.

Luxury and extravagance reigned for the 16 invitees but the hosts discredited themselves by arresting scores of perceived political opponents and swarming urban areas with police and soldiers before the event.

The idea was to stop regional leaders thinking we might be an unhappy lot, not benefitting from the country’s prolific natural resources or the largesse of the progressive, elite leadership.

The facade created was obscene. Potholed roads fixed for VIP travel not on ordinary crumbling roads, shiny new limousines, palm tress planted on the central aisle of a thoroughfare to the conference hall.

In this drought year won’t the trees need water? Palms are generally found around an oasis in a desert.

After years of double-digit hours of blackouts electricity was on all day – until the last delegates had left.

The disgruntled were kept at bay and many remain in jail for allegedly holding or plotting illegal anti-government demonstrations.

There goes a crucial founding principle of the SADC bloc – democracy and freedom of expression and association for all. It was started originally to mobilise independent countries in the region against apartheid in South Africa.

A great idea at the time. It’s not hard to see how the bounties of liberation are  so easily squandered in the end.