If you don’t control yourself, things might go wrong. Characters like Professor Kimani face undesirable consequences as a result of a lack of restraint.

The Ndebele tribesmen show a lack of self-control when their leader is sacked, resulting in negative effects. After independence, tribalism rears its ugly head. The Shona ruler shows preference for his tribesmen, refusing to appoint a Ndebele minister and sacking the Ndebele leader after weapons mysteriously surface at his home. He is accused of plotting a coup and sent packing. Irked by this, the Ndebele run riot and attack government supporters indiscriminately. The violent protests turn ugly when the government retaliates by unleashing the Fifth Brigade, Gukurahundi. They attack and kill the Ndebele in their hundreds. Surely, when you can’t manage your actions, you may face trouble.

Comrade Melusi’s lack of self-control also results in unfavourable outcomes. Melusi develops a deep-seated hatred for Zimbabwe’s ruler after apparent betrayal. The ruler refuses to appoint Melusi as minister as he had anticipated and later launches an attack on the Ndebele, killing many of them including Melusi’s wife, Ziliza. Instead of joining the government, Melusi faces hardship, including poverty and poor housing. Melusi decides to attack the Zimbabwean ruler. He sneaks into the summit with a needle and hurtles toward the ruler intending to attack him. He is grabbed by guards and whisked away. He then disappears without a trace and does not return to the summit. Not having self-control can lead to bad results.

Professor Kimani's lack of self-control causes him serious problems. He decides to confront and attack Newborn Walomu for “stealing” his wife. He storms Walomu’s office and begins by hurling insults at him. After a heated exchange and Walomu mocking Kimani, he becomes angry and attempts to attack the MP. He swings three times and misses each time. He ends up falling down and is arrested and jailed for six months for assaulting a Member of Parliament. He is also demoted from the rank of professor back to senior lecturer for allegedly disgracing the university. He becomes dejected, and his career is ruined beyond hope of revival. The distress causes him sleepless nights. Losing control of your behaviour can lead to serious consequences.

Rahmah’s failure to exercise self-control lands her in a regrettable situation. When Tahir asks her out and she says “No,” he vows to take revenge. He slaps her when she removes her head veil while at work. In a classic case of lack of restraint, she strikes back. She doesn’t stop to think of the consequences. In the heat of anger, she fails to think logically and only reacts by reflex. Using a letter opener, she slits Tahir’s left eye open. Tahir takes her to court, where she pleads innocence. The court returns a Hammurabic verdict – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Rahmah cries regretfully, but the court is not moved. Her erratic reaction leads to an adverse consequence when she loses her left eye through surgery. When you can’t manage your actions, you might face trouble.

Tahir’s lack of self-control causes him unwanted repercussions. He asks Rahmah out, and when she declines, he becomes angered by the rejection from a junior colleague. He storms out of the office in a fit of rage and unwisely vows to retaliate. Later, he slaps Rahmah to take revenge. He ends up in trouble when Rahmah strikes back, slitting his left eye with a letter opener. He becomes bitter and vengeful. Even after taking her to court and winning, he remains restless, gloomy, and full of self-loathing. He hates his artificial eye and later moves to Benghazi from Tripoli to live in isolation. Not having self-control can lead to tragic outcomes.

Pamela displays lack of self-control when she angrily walks out on her husband causing their marriage to break. While her husband, Dr Afolabi wanted two children of his own, Pamela wanted to adopt two. She felt Africa already had too many children so why not grab theirs from the pool? Their difference in opinion ends up in an impasse. When they return from Boston, Afolabi's cousin Femi kicks up a storm when he brings a girl, Nimbo, who he wanted Afolabi to marry as a second wife. Dr Afolabi's relatives believed Pamela was incapable of having children. Pamela acts violently when she chases Nimbo trying to assault her with a broomstick. Afolabi's efforts to show her affection fall flat. When he tries to wrap his arms around her declaring she's the only wife he wants, she wriggles away telling him to leave her alone. Pamela insists that the uninvited guests leave, never mind that it was almost midnight. She claims Afolabi was privy to Femi's scheme. He tries to put an assuring hand on her shoulders but she shrugs it off and rebuffs him. She then storms out of the house and files for a divorce a week later. Her impulsive action results in an unwanted fallout.

In conclusion, poor regulation of one’s behaviour may cause adverse effects.