GATES Vs GATES.

The one headline that I thought that I would never write or see…

Bill and Melinda Gates via Wikimedia commons

It was broadcast several hours ago, that one of the most famous and prominent couples in the world, are about to get a divorce.

Despite the best efforts of the anti-vaxxers and conspiracy theorists to disparage and tarnish the image of the Gates’ as a duo, hellbent on destroying Africa and Africans and the renowned philanthropists’ somewhat unhelpful and irresponsible prediction of Africans dying like flies from Covid, I always did retain a degree of affection for the couple.

The impression forged through years of interviews, was of a couple, deeply in love with each other and profoundly committed to leaving the world a much better place, than they met it.

Now that the divorce has been announced, one wonders if it will be as amicable as Jeff Bezos and McKenzie Scott’s or will it be a bitterly contested court proceeding, with Mr. Gates, looking to keep as much of his wealth as possible, by digging up salacious dirt on his soon to be ex-wife, only God knows.

Questions will also be asked, about the future of their foundation, which has done sterling work throughout Africa, in eliminating polio and reached places that national governments and the profoundly selfish oligarchs can only dream of.

As selfish as this may sound, this was one that none of us saw coming. Was it infidelity on his or her part? Was he or she psychologically abusive? Was it years of non-intimacy? We can only speculate.

One hopes that they will, either as individuals or as a duo, continue to do great work, to those that need it the most.

Thanks very much for reading.