Listening to Donald Trump's bombastic speech at his inauguration as US president on Friday, a thought kept nagging away: "I hope this guy has got a workable plan to ensure he can keep all these lofty promises."
We've since seen at least a bit of planning had been done as Trump sprang into action on his second day in the job, signing off edicts with a flourish - reversing policies and programmes promulgated by Barack Obama. These were actions he'd promised his supporters he'd take "on Day One!" and were low-hanging fruit.
But we'd lay odds that Trump hasn't got a well-thought-out plan for dealing with Africa.
A theme of the swearing-in speech was that foreign lands would receive consideration only once Americans had been fully catered for. On the election campaign trail, though, Trump said Africa "should be recolonised" to free its people from the slavery imposed by their political leaders.
It's little wonder we in Africa look at the braggadocio in Washington with bewilderment.
Trump is an enigma, no question, and no amount of despair or anger, or even smarmy diplomacy, is likely to get him on-side.
At one moment the new US president sounds isolationist and protectionist, the next he is sticking an oar in to put the world to rights - for example, in vowing to eradicate jihadism from the face of the earth.
No plan? Just winging it?
As Pope Francis said yesterday, we're going to have to wait to see what the man does next.
In the meantime, we Africans have plenty of awkward leaders of our own to deal with.
Which prompts the thought: If only we could see millions of people the world over marching in fury and indignation against the misogyny and horrendous abuse of women that is rampant in Africa.
South Africans, in particular, risk being diverted by the Trump circus from their patriotic task of heading off imminent state capture by a president who is the clear and present danger.
Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package. 
