A Cow in the Shed Never Misses Ticks

Adeladius Makwega – Mbagala

“The incident of ‘black diamonds’ or rough diamonds involving the beautiful British supermodel Naomi Campbell is linked to the scandal of blood diamonds associated with the former President of Liberia, Charles Taylor. In 1997, Naomi Campbell attended a charity dinner in South Africa hosted by the then President of that country, Nelson Mandela. That night, it is alleged that Naomi Campbell was given rough diamonds as a gift by two men sent by Charles Taylor.

While testifying in court in 2010 in The Hague during the trial against Charles Taylor, Naomi stated that she was awakened at midnight and handed a pouch containing the stones. After receiving it, she went back to sleep, and in the morning, when she checked, she discovered that they were small, dirty, sparkling stones. Since she did not know who had given them to her, she later came to learn that they had come from Charles Taylor. She then decided to hand them over to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund for charitable purposes.”

At this point, dear reader, you might ask yourself: how did Charles Taylor manage to deliver a bag of diamonds to Naomi Campbell at midnight?

“Testimony from Naomi’s former lawyer explained that during the dinner, Charles Taylor and Naomi Campbell appeared close and were seen joking with each other. During the event, Taylor promised to give her a gift, and later that same night, two men arrived at Naomi Campbell’s room and delivered the pouch of uncut stones.”

Dear reader, understand that in matters of affection, each person gives according to their means: one offers a bicycle, another a motorcycle, another a car, another a house, and another a bag of minerals—each scratches where they can reach.

According to charges filed at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), it was stated that Taylor used those diamonds, mined through suffering, to finance civil wars. His act of giving Naomi Campbell such a gift demonstrated his wealth, his involvement in Sierra Leone affairs, and his desire to assert influence.

“Although there is no evidence of a romantic relationship between Charles Taylor and Naomi Campbell, their association also appeared to serve the purpose of building international influence. Being associated with such a global supermodel carried significant meaning for Liberia, which had just emerged from conflict and elections a few months earlier.”

An important question to ask is: what was the situation in Liberia at that time?

“1997 was a very important year in Liberia’s national politics, as it marked the transition from civil war to civilian rule.
Liberia had just emerged from a seven-year civil war (1989–1996) that caused massive loss of life and destruction. Peace agreements, especially the Abuja Accord, laid the foundation for the 1997 elections. Regional forces (ECOWAS/ECOMOG) and the United Nations supervised the ceasefire and electoral process.

Presidential and parliamentary elections were held on July 19, 1997. The main candidates were Charles Taylor (a former rebel leader) and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (his main opponent). Taylor won about 75% of the vote, and his party secured a strong parliamentary majority. He was sworn in as president in August 1997.

Although the elections were relatively free, there was widespread fear and intimidation: many citizens believed that if Taylor lost, war would return. Infrastructure had been destroyed, and literacy levels were low, making the political process difficult. Thus, 1997 marked the official end of the first civil war and the beginning of a civilian government under Taylor. However, the country still faced major challenges: economic destruction, refugees, and political and ethnic divisions.”

Indeed, Charles Taylor’s presence at the dinner in South Africa on September 26, 1997, was an important moment for him to show the world that Liberia had become a new nation. His association with Naomi Campbell was part of that strategy. The problem, however, lay in the nature of the gift and how it had been obtained, reflecting the darker side of his conduct.

 

In all this, Mwanakwetu recalls this saying:

“Livestock keepers say that even if you regularly dip a large herd, it can never be completely free of ticks.”

Why has Mwanakwetu recalled the Naomi Campbell and dirty diamonds incident?

Tanzania, in the early and mid months of 2026, has received visits from famous figures in the sports sector, including Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand, former international footballers. Among other activities, these football stars were even introduced in Parliament and took photos with national leaders.

 

This has given Mwanakwetu much to reflect on. One of the thoughts that came to mind is the Naomi Campbell diamond incident. Mwanakwetu believes that those bringing such footballers aim to build Tanzania’s international image. He has no issue with that. After all, on February 17, 1992, when he was a secondary school student at Tambaza Secondary School, Tanzania welcomed the musician Michael Jackson. He was received at Dar es Salaam International Airport by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmad Hassan Diria, and later met President Ali Hassan Mwinyi at the State House in Magogoni before returning to the United States.

 

Those who were present will remember many street remarks about Michael Jackson:

“The guy arrived at Dar es Salaam airport and said Tanzania smells. He even refused to visit Ngorongoro, choosing instead to stay briefly at the Kilimanjaro Hotel before returning to the United States.”

It was also argued that Michael Jackson wanted to visit Ngorongoro using his private jet with a crew of about 80 people, but at that time the park lacked facilities to accommodate such a large aircraft.

 

Mwanakwetu believes that if social media had existed then as it does in 2026, Michael Jackson would have faced significant criticism from Tanzanians. His visit was not meaningless, as Tanzania in 1992 was undergoing major changes, including the fall of Soviet socialism, the OIC debate, and the introduction of multiparty politics.

In truth, Mwanakwetu believes there is one core challenge: Tanzania cannot solve its internal problems by inviting foreign celebrities. Internal challenges, if they exist, must be acknowledged by leaders, who should apologize and listen to the people so that society itself can determine its future.

Otherwise, all this will resemble the case of Naomi Campbell and Charles Taylor: you take photos together to present a good image of Liberia, but at night you deliver dirty diamonds.

Mwanakwetu, Are you there,? Remember:

“A cow in the shed never misses ticks.”

Have a good day.

makwadeladius@gmail.com
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