Tips

1. One of the first lessons I learnt in the field when I went onto the dance-floor was that you have to be very selective about whom you tell things especially your whereabouts in times of crisis. Because if they are caught & tortured, they’ll squeal #ZimbabweanLivesMatter

2. The other was that the one person you can truly trust is yourself. The third was that persons closest to you can be the most dangerous. That’s because you trust them & you lower your guard. If they are weak they are easily bought. If they are captured, they’ll squeal.

3. The other is the honey-trap. Politicians or technocrats in corridors of power find themselves enjoying growing attention & adulation. The delusional might think they have suddenly become more handsome or beautiful. But not all such attention is innocent.

4. And if you’re having a drink, you can’t leave it unattended at the table. If you’re going to the loo, make sure it’s done. Avoid being a regular at a single spot. You can’t be predictable. But humans are creatures of habit, a weakness that’s easy to exploit.

5. When you eat, buffet is the way to go. Eat from the communal pot! Reject special treatment. It might seem special to order room service, but if you’re a PEP (politically exposed person) it’s not a smart idea. The kitchens are infested; some waiters do not only deliver food.

6. Also carry your own water. Cut out the middleman. They know your hotel room before you know it. Now, I know this sounds like paranoia but our political space is not normal. It’s had-hat area & you can’t be too careful. Always err on the side of caution #ZimbabweanLivesMatter