A lot has happened in the month of July; the good, the bad and the ugly. Those in politics had their own fair share of drama; the protests in Sri Lanka, Boris Johnson and the UK resignations and the resignation of Italy's Prime Minister, Mario Draghi.
Apart from politics, July brought a lot of memorable surprises for the sporting community. Ireland beat the All Blacks on home soil in a thrilling rugby test series. Zimbabwe's senior men's national cricket team, the Chevrons qualified for the 2022 ICC Men's T/20 World Cup and South Africa's senior women's national football team, Banyana-Banyana won their first ever African Cup of Nations trophy.
This article highlights some of the lawbreaking events of the month of July. Protests erupted in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo sometime in April and has spread across the country. People have been struggling with daily power cuts and inflation is more than 50%. In late June, the government bannned the sale of fuel to non-essential vehicles for two weeks.
Now, in a bizarre response to the two months of severe suffering, hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankan youths invaded the presidential palace as well as the prime minister's residence. Images of young people occupying the homes went viral on social media in July and the prime minister's residence was set on fire. Sri Lanka's president Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned while in exile in Singapore.
The Sri Lankan case nevertheless provides yet another illustration that leadership positions may not be permanent but the damage caused by leaders during their reign is deeper than we realise. The lesson also teaches us that, young people have an important role to play in the political discourse of any country. Youth uprisings are effective instruments of expression in political revolutions.
Resignations did not end in Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom had more than 50 resignation letters in a space of 48hrs. Speaking outside Downing Street, Boris Johnson said it is "clearly now the will of the parliamentry Conservative Party that there should be a new leader and so a new prime minister".
Unlike Sri Lanka, the revolt against Johnson came from within his political party. His most trusted lieutenants let him down - that's democracy for you. Tbe UK people want a government that is not only stable but which acts with integrity. Boris was embroiled in a string of scandals and allegations of misleading the public. This is generally what led to his downfall.
It never rains for Italy. Mario Draghi resigned after months of political turmoil. Key political parties withdrew their support for Draghi's government. The resignation opens way for early elections in September or October according to Italian authorities. The will of the people is expressed in one way; by voting.
In less than two years, Mario is gone. Boris served the UK for less than five years and now he is gone too. Fundamental leadership and governance lessons from Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom and Italy: First, repressive power is based on fear of disobedience and the threat of violence. The people of Sri Lanka lost the fear of violence and began to disobey the repressive ruling authority.
Second, UK and Italy are countries with robust and more enduring democratic traditions hence citizens are not forced to agree to a power held by the entity of an individual. People grant consent either explicitly or implicitly so that others can lead them and they follow. Such leaders do not have to command their followers to follow them.
However, in sports, Andy Farrell's squad of 2022 achieved what no other team in green has in the 46 years since Ireland rugby set foot in New Zealand in 1976. Ireland beat the All Blacks after more than a century of trying. Kudos to the Irish. Back home in Zimbabwe, the Chevrons defeated the Netherlands by 37 runs in the final of an ICC Men's Twenty/20 World Cup cricket qualifying tournament at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The African Manner witnessed the match and enjoyed every boundary that Zimbabwe scored.
While congratulatory messages continue to pour in for Ireland and Zimbabwe cricket, Banyana-Banyana are basking in glory after clinching the Afcon trophy. The South African government has promised equal pay for Banyana-Banyana and Bafana-Bafana and for a sterling performance in Morocco, the ladies received R5.8milloin from the government. The package is good, the ladies will need some financial literacy to manage their perks, considering the fact that, such amounts of money are new to most of the players.
All told, I choose to take away key lessons from the seventh month of 2022; Nothing is impossible - Ireland Rugby. Power can be put to good use but there is always a risk that it can be abused - Sri Lanka. Do unto others as you want them to do unto you - UK.
@stajicesimmz