The Dashing Foreign Stranger
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21 August 2002
The Nyamandhlovu Cleft Stick and Messenger
reports from Johannesburg on the
opening of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The event has created temporary employment for literally
thousands of
people. They are very much in evidence, standing here and
standing there.
However, those that we have spoken to don't actually seem to know
what they
are doing, other than standing here, or standing there.
They cannot
actually give anyone any useful information or directions, but at
least the
uniforms are quite eye-catching. It is comforting to know
that South Africa
has so much money to splash out on such luxuries.
The really big event, however, was the opening of the Ubuntu
Village.
Everyone turned out to see the foreign dignitary who arrived to
open it.
"Who is this chap?" people gasped in amazement, for
indeed he impressed all
with his impeccable dress and eloquence of speech.
Apparently the gentleman concerned studied economics at the
University of
Sussex, and later completed further education in Moscow.
His face is known
in all the great capitals of the world, as he jets about between
meetings of
the great heads of state. And some lesser ones.
According to reliable informants, his name is Thabo Mbeki. It is
rumoured
that, in addition to his career as an international statesman, he
also has a
part time job as President of the Republic of South Africa, and
is known to
visit that country from time to time.