“NO, NOT FOR ME, JAMES NDAMBO”
Laura Miti wrote:
Watched the My Home Town Beauty contest, which I thought was as ostentatious as promised, but well organised and choreographed.
It was James Ndambo himself that I did not enjoy. He came across as being a big man whose status is entirely predicated on money, for my palate.
You see, I find that, when dealing with a powerful or very wealthy person, I always strip them, in my mind, of that money or position. I imagine who they would be without it. My kind of person would not change, fundamentally.
I am drawn to character, intellect, humour, classiness, kindness that would clearly be there, even if an individual were a lab assistant, lawyer, teacher, stay at home mom or President. The person whose friends, s/he views as equals, would remain the same in varying circumstances of life. One who does not thrive on hanger-ons.
With Ndambo, it felt like all about money, money, money. The over the top praise from his people – making the whole event about him (monga Papa,) the flippant mentioning of mind-boggling amounts of money, the splurge.
No, not for me, James Ndambo. That said, I am very happy for Choma and its economy. Good money was spent there this weekend!