Emotions run high on an extraordinary day

TEARS flowed, and people embraced and sobbed uncontrollably on Thursday morning as the inquiry into malpractices in roads administration turned into a truth and reconciliation process of sorts.

The moment, which drew in at least one commissioner and a parliamentarian, capped an emotional week of testimony in which father and daughter wept on Wednesday, and a manager at the Road Fund Administration (RFA) broke down while making his final statement on Thursday. A stony silence gripped the National Council’s conference room when the voice of Gunter Seydack, the RFA’s manager for engineering policy, began to crack as he delivered his final statement.Seydack’s warning that he was emotional appeared not to have prepared members of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Affairs, Management and Operations of the Roads Authority and RFA for what followed.His speech began in halting tones, his voice blurred, he sobbed, and eventually, when he could not contain himself, he broke into a wail.Seydack said that witnesses had taken the oath “to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” yet they did not seem to tell the entire truth.”I’ve been watching what was happening here and I’ve seen people playing games, and I’ve asked myself: what is the game that is being played here?” According to Seydack, many witnesses had been playing destructive, hurtful and senseless games: each was showing how well connected he or she was.He accused Roads Authority manager Sophia Tekie, who has been the leading whistleblower for the inquiry, of having tried to destroy others.On Wednesday, Seydack claimed that Tekie had waged a campaign against whites through Works, Transport and Communications Minister Moses Amweelo.He alleged further that Tekie had used her connections to have the inquiry set up.The inquiry was established following allegations of inflated road contracts and other irregularities at the Authority.Seydack said the commission of inquiry reminded him of bullies at school.He was disappointed that “as adults we still play that game”.”I played along … and it was extremely painful for me,” he said, in an almost whimpering tone.”I had to inflict pain [on Tekie], so that pain could become the redeemer.Tekie and myself would have been playing opposite ends of the game.Mrs Tekie has been playing the all-forgetting part and I have been playing the all-knowing part,” he charged, crying louder.As he spoke, Tekie herself was sobbing.Then Seydack took an unprecedented move for any witness: he got up, stumbling over the cords of the recording system and staggered gingerly towards Tekie.They exchanged emotional hugs, and exchanged apologies for wrongs they had done to one another.Tekie sobbed on Seydack’s shoulder; he moved his face close to hers.At least one commissioner fought back tears, holding his head in his hands.A senior politician put on her dark glasses and walked out, while some journalists put down their pens, stunned at the sight of adults crying.On Wednesday, Tekie’s father, Belete Worku, cried when his daughter broke down, leading to an early adjournment of that session.Worku later explained that he was hurt because Roads Authority managers had victimised his daughter.A stony silence gripped the National Council’s conference room when the voice of Gunter Seydack, the RFA’s manager for engineering policy, began to crack as he delivered his final statement. Seydack’s warning that he was emotional appeared not to have prepared members of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into the Activities, Affairs, Management and Operations of the Roads Authority and RFA for what followed. His speech began in halting tones, his voice blurred, he sobbed, and eventually, when he could not contain himself, he broke into a wail. Seydack said that witnesses had taken the oath “to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” yet they did not seem to tell the entire truth. “I’ve been watching what was happening here and I’ve seen people playing games, and I’ve asked myself: what is the game that is being played here?” According to Seydack, many witnesses had been playing destructive, hurtful and senseless games: each was showing how well connected he or she was. He accused Roads Authority manager Sophia Tekie, who has been the leading whistleblower for the inquiry, of having tried to destroy others. On Wednesday, Seydack claimed that Tekie had waged a campaign against whites through Works, Transport and Communications Minister Moses Amweelo. He alleged further that Tekie had used her connections to have the inquiry set up. The inquiry was established following allegations of inflated road contracts and other irregularities at the Authority. Seydack said the commission of inquiry reminded him of bullies at school. He was disappointed that “as adults we still play that game”. “I played along … and it was extremely painful for me,” he said, in an almost whimpering tone. “I had to inflict pain [on Tekie], so that pain could become the redeemer. Tekie and myself would have been playing opposite ends of the game. Mrs Tekie has been playing the all-forgetting part and I have been playing the all-knowing part,” he charged, crying louder. As he spoke, Tekie herself was sobbing. Then Seydack took an unprecedented move for any witness: he got up, stumbling over the cords of the recording system and staggered gingerly towards Tekie. They exchanged emotional hugs, and exchanged apologies for wrongs they had done to one another. Tekie sobbed on Seydack’s shoulder; he moved his face close to hers. At least one commissioner fought back tears, holding his head in his hands. A senior politician put on her dark glasses and walked out, while some journalists put down their pens, stunned at the sight of adults crying. On Wednesday, Tekie’s father, Belete Worku, cried when his daughter broke down, leading to an early adjournment of that session. Worku later explained that he was hurt because Roads Authority managers had victimised his daughter.