By Pacharo Felix Munthali
The count down towards a political smack down has begun. Pacing down the political terrains, a wave of uncertainty is being felt. The next year’s elections are stirring a lot than an eye can see: the electorates are anticipating who to vote for. Perhaps it is the battle of running mate that is intriguing.
No party in Malawi has, so far, identified the running mate. Very few have chosen the presidential candidates. Of the giant parties, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) might have confirmed honorable John Tembo as its presidential candidate, but the more battle seems to be seething.
The party has the image, not only to protect, but to mend instantly re-invent its identity. The party that has seen its long journey moseying from Nyasaland African Congress, before being banned followed by resurrection through one Orton Chirwa, has maintained to stamp its image as the country’s biggest opposition party since creeping in of multiparty dispensation.
During the first democratic elections after the plunging one party rule, MCP managed to have Members of Parliament in the North and South. With Gwanda Chakuamba in its boat, the party managed to have votes in the Lower Shire.
However as the journey, the political journey has showed, with each passing day, the party has struggled to regain the strength it had in the 1994 election. With each election coming the party’s strength has plummeted.
With 2009 election beckoning around the corner, the battle for next year’s election is on again. Parties will have to employ all strategies that could see them having their leaders going to the state house.
All three giant parties haven’t yet identified the running mate. Bakili Muluzi and Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika are all mum. One thing is common among all the parties; they don’t want someone from the same region with the president. The reason is simple, perhaps very obvious; they want to be masked as national parties. The parties don’t want to be defined by regional lines. They want to woo as much votes as they can.
The Malawi Congress Party has been busy. In the South it has gone there, so is the north. The latest rumours had it that the party had met with Loveness Gondwe. She had denied it. But this is Malawi. People deny when they mean what they are denying.
The fact that MCP is desperately seeking for a running mate is bizarre. What went wrong to the country’s possibly biggest party? The most stable so far, though full of disgruntled voices in the background.
Kamuzu’s Legacy
Everyone, then, pretty well knew that one day Dr Kamuzu Banda would go. Even though they branded him messiah, there was time for his departure. Perhaps that is why Ecclesiastics says there is time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.
Kamuzu still the centre of the party. It seems they never thought that one day he would have to die. No one had the urge inside to hatch a proposal – a proposal that would have shaded a clearly succession plan. At times the future really looked gloomy. But as a tradition, they pretended – all is well.
This is the period when Gwanda Chakuamba was locked up behind the bars. Tembo was around. His eyes were watchful, very alert. Tembo had a dream – one day he would rule the country. From Nsanje to Chitipa the drums would burrow. Bow down to him as not only the party’s leader, but the president of the country.
But the change of winds in 1993 ushered in a period that was to determine the strength of MCP in the years to come. Dr Banda had bowed to the pressure. It had all started with the Lantern letter popularly known as Pastoral letter.
The Letter had attacked the one party rule. It left no room. It was too much, especially for the MCP faithfuls. This did not go down well with Tembo. He was angry with the Bishops who had authored the latter. It is alleged that he led the signing of a death warrant for them.
The acceptance speech by Kamuzu of the multiparty did not easily permeate down Tembo’s heart. Dr Banda had made an acceptance speech at Sanjika and it had to be sent to MBC to be aired. Tembo had followed it.
Before MBC had aired it, he told them not to go ahead. It was now very apparent that the man from Dedza didn’t want multiparty. MBC had to follow the old man at Sanjika. The MBC recorded his speech at Sanjika.
What was to follow years later was Kamuzu’s vote of no confidence in Tembo. Age was now catching up with him. It was now time to choose the successor of the party. Dr Banda bypassed Tembo. Gwanda was picked. Dr Banda had chosen a man who was seen as rebellion – a person who was a throat to Kamuzu.
But was the choosing of Gwanda Chakuamba a right move…
Gwanda Chakuamba
Immediately after ushering Gwanda Chakuamba on the pinnacle of MCP’s leadership summit a wrangle rumbled. The appointment spurred a tussle. It was a leadership battle - Gwanda versus Tembo.
With Gwanda Chakuamba as the president and Tembo as the deputy there was a problem, and there always would be a problem. The pain inflicted by the daggers of what Bright Molande calls ‘politics of imposition’ dug deeper. These people were imposed on one another. They were imposed, also on the people.
Ascending Gwanda into the pinnacle of MCP powers equates to giving someone leadership where he did not deserved to lead.
As Bright Molande, a Literary critic notes, “Unlike Nelson Mandela, Gwanda Chakuamba was serving a prison sentence not fighting for change whilst in prison.”
He barely had a dream for the country. He never harboured any meaningful vision. In fact when he was in the prison, Gwanda said he wanted to be a pastor. He never had any political direction – no vision.
Thus, “it is dangerous to be ushered into power when you have no vision,” notes Molande.
Gwanda Chakuamba way to MCP was like a visitor – a guest. He was just invited. After being released from the jail he had joined UDF. Later MCP coaxed him. He gave in. He joined the party. His past has no literature of someone with burning desire to lead the nation.
After 1999, Molande describes Gwanda as a “man without house.” He kept on changing parties. He was someone not settled. Up to date he is unsettled.
Perhaps, the last fight he fought was through Mgwirizano Coalition. An important indication of a “powerless man, and up to date he is still a man without a house.” Up to date he is talking of coalitions, if not then it’s an alliance. A man without a house.
John Tembo
The question of defining Tembo is elusive one. Molande describes him as “a man forced into the dance of democracy, and it has taken time for him to learn to dance.” Tembo is one person who was refusing multiparty.
Perhaps that spirit is what is gradually with far reaching consequences eating away MCP. Though Tembo seems to have leant some democratic steps, he doesn’t wholly abide by the principles of the game.
Sometime back in March 2006, a group of MCP members of Parliament adding up to forty-five had signed a petition to remove Tembo. They accused him of abusing his position. Tembo was striking deals without consulting the party’s MPs. Not even the national executive committee.
“We are fed up with being intimidated,” one of the MPs had said to the media. “These are days when leaders must accept diversity of opinion. How do you enrich the party if you take with those with a different opinion as rebels or confusionists?” The statement tells a lot. He has been struggling to learn step over styles that are in the political game.
He is a man whose “ultimate goal is the power itself as the end to the means.” Muluzi had forgotten this statement. Late last year Tembo kept Muluzi waiting. Muluzi had proposed to Tembo that Tembo should be the running mate. Muluzi got the share of a good dose of frustrations. Tembo kept on asking for more time. Today the move is down. Muluzi might think that Tembo was not serious. He is serious. But he wants to be a president before he bows out. In fact he is not getting any younger. With age catching up with him, he can’t give it a damn in accepting to be a running mate.
In fact he is the one busy looking for the running mate.
Now he is busy. With 2009 furiously approaching, he is trying to dance. He has always said he will leave politics when he gets hot seat. That is perhaps he is running up and down – to find a running mate.
The running mate puzzle
Then, especially the MCP needed Nicholas Dausi very much. He was a good reserve of Kamuzu, says Molande. At this crisis time MCP would have needed him most – he is from south.
There is no doubt that MCP is very powerful in the centre. It has by default become a fact that the strengths of the parties in Malawi follow the regional lines.
But now it is facing probably the most difficult tastes in the modern era. It is running up and down searching for the running mate to the president. It is very difficult, especially when you become serious during the election time.
The MCP has been dormant. It is party well known that when it has a rally its in the centre region. Much as all parties are regionalistic, MCP is somewhere up. Now it wants to heal that wound. In the 2004 it is strongly believed that much as the late Dumbo Lemani said the votes were rigged still MCP would have been in government had it that they had someone so powerful in a certain region like Gwanda Chakuamba.
The media had unearthed it all that the party’s president had approach loveness Gondwe. In the media she had said no. We don’t know what happened on the other side. Tembo is busy. He has tried in the south. In fact rumours are spreading their wings that the likes Mark Katsonga are some of the people he has earmarked as his running mate.
But it is yet to be seen how far the party will go on. Will it regain the lost vigour. It is perhaps everyone’s guess.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Only if they debate…
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
The former president, Dr Bakili Muluzi has always maintained. You can not measure good economic progress by the economic growth statistics. The best one can do to see if the economy of the country is on the right track is by making sure that the people have money. This view is a complete contrast of what the state president Dr Bingu wa Mutharika believe in. For the country’s president, the statistics really shows that economy is going on smoothly, which result in winning the hearts of the donors.
Winning the hearts of donors is good, treasured blessings in fact. The result is an increase in funds inflow from the bilateral and multilateral donors. The funds are good for country’s development. It can take long to discuss this debate. Yet there is another skirmish…
Honorable John Tembo on the issue of Fertilizer Subsidy believes in Universal fertilizer subsidy. Then man from Dedza also believes in setting up farmers clubs through with the fertilizer coupons can be administered. In so doing the leader of opposition sees the chances of some unscrupulous individuals having little or no access of coupons deceitfully. The rampant scenes where coupons ended up in wrong hands would not be there.
The first citizen thinks otherwise. The current system is the best. Only the real beneficiaries are the ones that get access to the commodity.
The debates are many, tense in fact. But there has never been the platform where these political heavyweights can sort one another – where they can convince Malawians. Where all presidential candidates could come together.
In few months, people will be queuing on the long lines through the rains or sun. Ready to vote for someone, ascending him or her into power. The battle perhaps is on now, yet signs are all over that it will get heart throbbing once the campaign window is opened.
Once the nomination process starts, it will mean signifying the blowing of the campaign whistle. It will be symbolic. The Malawi Electoral commission by then would have received the nomination papers. The nomination papers will have the faces – sad faces, angry faces, disgruntled faces – whatever they will represent, it will be amusing.
Once the nomination process starts, as if MEC is exclaiming let the games begin politicians will be all over. The presidential candidates will bring in all extremes of political gimmicks – to woo as much votes as possible.
This is the period when the presidential candidates are expected to attack one another’s policies. The presidential candidates sell themselves, why they have to be put into power. Certainly, it is the most crucial period in the Presidential candidate’s political life. It is the period that the politician can make or break whatever he wants to achieve. His dreams can be shuttered.
Over the years, the country has seen a lot. The behaviour of some presidential candidates in other instances has been a concern. There have been instances where the some presidential candidates have been awesome at being better than the devil himself in hurling insults on one anther’s backs. They had spent much of their time rattling nothing rather selling themselves why they must be voted into power.
Of course, to reveal the weakness of the other candidate is a good Jocker to gain as many points in the presidential race. Unfortunately, such a trend harbours some faults. It has the blunder of diverting from issues of national importance. They spend much time in retaliating, blabbing.
In other words the people instead of listening to crucial issues of national importance, have been treated to a raw deal – instead of having the catalogue of what the presidential candidate will bring once in the power, the electorates have been treated to a political mockery that at worst is tragic political comedy.
With such a set up, it would be good if the Malawi Electoral commission (MEC) or other organizations of relevance had done something that could bring the presidential candidates together. The political debates involving the presidential candidates would be of the enormous importance.
The presidential candidates instead of misusing their oxygen in uttering insults and slinging them on one another, they could do something justice by scaling and squaring each other on relevant matters of the national significance.
With a chunk of political parties with no clear political ideologies, which at times are the duplications of other parties, it would be an opportunity to cherish, as political parties would strive to define themselves. The parties would try to look unique against others.
Such a time would be of enormous important, as the presidential candidates would be dealing with issues in greater depth. The presidential candidates at this point would be subjected to all sorts of questions.
The panel of those firing question might involve the journalists and some well-learned individuals in specific areas like academicians like lecturers.
The debates taking into consideration with the Malawi’s size it could take place three times. One in the Southern region, then Central region before ending up with Northern region. It can really be a revelation.
During the day of actual debate, those in attendance can include the representative of the parties. The number of the party representatives can depend upon the place where the debate is taking place. But each candidate could have equal number of the representatives during the debate. If the debate is taking place in the south, then the representatives would come from such region, in centre or north the trend would be the same, except for members of the executive committee.
With debate, it could be good to air it live on the public service broadcasters like Malawi broadcasting corporation (MBC) and Television Malawi (TVM). Thus this could offer almost everyone to get a depiction of what the presidential candidates have for them.
Those attending the debate would thus be told not to clap or do anything that could show the support for one of the presidential candidates. In fact such a scenario would bring that spirit of co-existence. Members of different parties would be able to co-exist, thereby mastering political tolerance.
Perhaps the headache that is there is the number of parties. Malawi has parties close up to forty. Fortunately very few are active. And experience has showed that Malawi has never had more than six presidential candidates in a single election. After all there are small parties that are but jolly riders that are there just to confuse people.
Thus chances are high that come next year Malawi will have not more than five presidential candidates. With such a scenario, the debate could be feasible.
The former president, Dr Bakili Muluzi has always maintained. You can not measure good economic progress by the economic growth statistics. The best one can do to see if the economy of the country is on the right track is by making sure that the people have money. This view is a complete contrast of what the state president Dr Bingu wa Mutharika believe in. For the country’s president, the statistics really shows that economy is going on smoothly, which result in winning the hearts of the donors.
Winning the hearts of donors is good, treasured blessings in fact. The result is an increase in funds inflow from the bilateral and multilateral donors. The funds are good for country’s development. It can take long to discuss this debate. Yet there is another skirmish…
Honorable John Tembo on the issue of Fertilizer Subsidy believes in Universal fertilizer subsidy. Then man from Dedza also believes in setting up farmers clubs through with the fertilizer coupons can be administered. In so doing the leader of opposition sees the chances of some unscrupulous individuals having little or no access of coupons deceitfully. The rampant scenes where coupons ended up in wrong hands would not be there.
The first citizen thinks otherwise. The current system is the best. Only the real beneficiaries are the ones that get access to the commodity.
The debates are many, tense in fact. But there has never been the platform where these political heavyweights can sort one another – where they can convince Malawians. Where all presidential candidates could come together.
In few months, people will be queuing on the long lines through the rains or sun. Ready to vote for someone, ascending him or her into power. The battle perhaps is on now, yet signs are all over that it will get heart throbbing once the campaign window is opened.
Once the nomination process starts, it will mean signifying the blowing of the campaign whistle. It will be symbolic. The Malawi Electoral commission by then would have received the nomination papers. The nomination papers will have the faces – sad faces, angry faces, disgruntled faces – whatever they will represent, it will be amusing.
Once the nomination process starts, as if MEC is exclaiming let the games begin politicians will be all over. The presidential candidates will bring in all extremes of political gimmicks – to woo as much votes as possible.
This is the period when the presidential candidates are expected to attack one another’s policies. The presidential candidates sell themselves, why they have to be put into power. Certainly, it is the most crucial period in the Presidential candidate’s political life. It is the period that the politician can make or break whatever he wants to achieve. His dreams can be shuttered.
Over the years, the country has seen a lot. The behaviour of some presidential candidates in other instances has been a concern. There have been instances where the some presidential candidates have been awesome at being better than the devil himself in hurling insults on one anther’s backs. They had spent much of their time rattling nothing rather selling themselves why they must be voted into power.
Of course, to reveal the weakness of the other candidate is a good Jocker to gain as many points in the presidential race. Unfortunately, such a trend harbours some faults. It has the blunder of diverting from issues of national importance. They spend much time in retaliating, blabbing.
In other words the people instead of listening to crucial issues of national importance, have been treated to a raw deal – instead of having the catalogue of what the presidential candidate will bring once in the power, the electorates have been treated to a political mockery that at worst is tragic political comedy.
With such a set up, it would be good if the Malawi Electoral commission (MEC) or other organizations of relevance had done something that could bring the presidential candidates together. The political debates involving the presidential candidates would be of the enormous importance.
The presidential candidates instead of misusing their oxygen in uttering insults and slinging them on one another, they could do something justice by scaling and squaring each other on relevant matters of the national significance.
With a chunk of political parties with no clear political ideologies, which at times are the duplications of other parties, it would be an opportunity to cherish, as political parties would strive to define themselves. The parties would try to look unique against others.
Such a time would be of enormous important, as the presidential candidates would be dealing with issues in greater depth. The presidential candidates at this point would be subjected to all sorts of questions.
The panel of those firing question might involve the journalists and some well-learned individuals in specific areas like academicians like lecturers.
The debates taking into consideration with the Malawi’s size it could take place three times. One in the Southern region, then Central region before ending up with Northern region. It can really be a revelation.
During the day of actual debate, those in attendance can include the representative of the parties. The number of the party representatives can depend upon the place where the debate is taking place. But each candidate could have equal number of the representatives during the debate. If the debate is taking place in the south, then the representatives would come from such region, in centre or north the trend would be the same, except for members of the executive committee.
With debate, it could be good to air it live on the public service broadcasters like Malawi broadcasting corporation (MBC) and Television Malawi (TVM). Thus this could offer almost everyone to get a depiction of what the presidential candidates have for them.
Those attending the debate would thus be told not to clap or do anything that could show the support for one of the presidential candidates. In fact such a scenario would bring that spirit of co-existence. Members of different parties would be able to co-exist, thereby mastering political tolerance.
Perhaps the headache that is there is the number of parties. Malawi has parties close up to forty. Fortunately very few are active. And experience has showed that Malawi has never had more than six presidential candidates in a single election. After all there are small parties that are but jolly riders that are there just to confuse people.
Thus chances are high that come next year Malawi will have not more than five presidential candidates. With such a scenario, the debate could be feasible.
Roars of Renaissance
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
Seasons change. There are times of reaching the heights. Then there are the times of falling down, and sinking very low as if you will never rise up. But when you are down there is always hope of rising, and when that hope comes there is no turning back. This perhaps fits Chancellor College.
Sometime on Monday in March last year at about 7:30 am, all classes that were meant to take place at the time were cancelled. The Principal of Chancellor College Dr Luis Fabiano was addressing the College community of his vision after years of college down turn.
In his introduction, he had said “the mandate of universities focuses on advancement of knowledge and promotion of wisdom and understanding.” To realize this, the universities engage themselves in teaching, research, outreach programmes and provision of services as is “responsive to the needs of the nation and the world.”
This is very much in line with the vision of the University of Malawi, which Fabiano said is “to be an academic institution providing relevant world class education, research and services for sustainable development of Malawi and the world.”
The vision is a bright one. The college can thus attain unimaginable heights. This comes out of a state of ruins that the college has found itself. The infrastructure that more than three decades ago glittered with majesty of beauty was at the time of address entangled in all sorts of moulds.
“For the first time in many decades, the government has decided to provide funds for rehabilitation and infrastructure development,” the Principal had said before a jam-packed Great Hall.
The College has limped in its attempt to leap out of infrastructure mess due to lack of rehabilitation. Little by little, however, the college is trying to crawl out of the problem. That coupled with restructuring, though unfortunately for those that got retrenched, the college is striving to wear a new face.
Today, the college might still be roaring in problems of lack of chairs and other problems, but as students are carrying chairs from one class to another, from a distant noise of trucks and Lorries can be heard.
The noise today may disturb the students that are learning in the law section, but it is the roar of hope. Edge Kanyongolo, the Dean of Law, as he looks around inside his office nods, this is not nothing – it is the project that is not only a sigh of relief to law faculty, but to the whole college. Long at last, the college is expanding.
“We got the money ourselves from the donors,” he says referring to the European Union. The European Union has a programme of the Rule of Law and has been helping the faculty in various ways. The piles of the books in Machika library are the example. Some of the international competitions that the students from the faculty enter are sponsored by EU.
The faculty realized that they had nowhere to keep their books. Space was limited. The faculty through the programmes sponsored by the Rule of Law got the help. The construction of the infrastructure must be completed by late 2009 or early 2010.
The expansion is seen as the opportunity for more – not only in number of intake of students but also facilities. Currently the majority of the lecturers have no offices, but once the project is completed about fifteen offices must be ready for lectures to use. Each class will accommodate as much as sixty students. At present in each law class there are less than forty students.
The students and their lecturers will no longer have to use Little Theatre for mock trials. A mock court room with court room standards is in the offing too.
Just about 100 metres from the Little Theatre another important project is going on. The faculty of education is also electing its infrastructure. The erecting of such infrastructure is a reaction to the secondary school sector which “has been expanding with many new conventional and private secondary schools.”
As Dr Dixie Maluwa Banda, the outgoing Dean of Education thinks on the pressure that is piled on teachers training institutions, says “the current in take has been limited by space available and financial hardships due to low funding levels.” This has resulted in an increased pressure on demand for qualified teachers.
As part of increasing intake of students at the college apart from the project, the outgoing Dean says, one way of opening up education is by the introduction of parallel programme for education students.
The outgoing Dean says the project is long overdue. “Delay due to the World Bank’s IPC procedure it’s a nightmare. The construction that is starting right now, would have been done two years ago,” Maluwa Banda says.
Once the infrastructure is put in place, the outgoing dean says, a number of postgraduate programmes are supposed to increase in numbers. The programme is one part that the World Bank’ funding to the Ministry of Education called Education Sector Support project (ESSP) which is helping training institutions that are dealing with education. Other institutions are the Polytechnic and Mzuzu University.
Chancellor College might not be there, but gradually the journey is on. Kanyongolo agrees with this statement. But still he concurs with the outgoing dean of Education, “College is overdue for expansion.” Kanyongolo only hopes that the University of Malawi will help other faculties to follow suit.
A number of bright and intelligent students have qualified for selection. Unfortunately out of more than 2000 students that qualify for selection less than 1000 get selected. One of the reasons that are attributed to them not being selected is lack of enough space.
As the Principal one of these days will once again be speaking to the college community, perhaps opening the new infrastructure, the fight towards rebirthing Chancellor College as top notched institution is still going on. Chancellor College is striving to remark its lost glory that little by little has been replaced with tatters. This is the period of renaissance; a new breeze is sweeping through Chancellor College. The College is trying to redefine itself. The construction works are just a part of it.
Seasons change. There are times of reaching the heights. Then there are the times of falling down, and sinking very low as if you will never rise up. But when you are down there is always hope of rising, and when that hope comes there is no turning back. This perhaps fits Chancellor College.
Sometime on Monday in March last year at about 7:30 am, all classes that were meant to take place at the time were cancelled. The Principal of Chancellor College Dr Luis Fabiano was addressing the College community of his vision after years of college down turn.
In his introduction, he had said “the mandate of universities focuses on advancement of knowledge and promotion of wisdom and understanding.” To realize this, the universities engage themselves in teaching, research, outreach programmes and provision of services as is “responsive to the needs of the nation and the world.”
This is very much in line with the vision of the University of Malawi, which Fabiano said is “to be an academic institution providing relevant world class education, research and services for sustainable development of Malawi and the world.”
The vision is a bright one. The college can thus attain unimaginable heights. This comes out of a state of ruins that the college has found itself. The infrastructure that more than three decades ago glittered with majesty of beauty was at the time of address entangled in all sorts of moulds.
“For the first time in many decades, the government has decided to provide funds for rehabilitation and infrastructure development,” the Principal had said before a jam-packed Great Hall.
The College has limped in its attempt to leap out of infrastructure mess due to lack of rehabilitation. Little by little, however, the college is trying to crawl out of the problem. That coupled with restructuring, though unfortunately for those that got retrenched, the college is striving to wear a new face.
Today, the college might still be roaring in problems of lack of chairs and other problems, but as students are carrying chairs from one class to another, from a distant noise of trucks and Lorries can be heard.
The noise today may disturb the students that are learning in the law section, but it is the roar of hope. Edge Kanyongolo, the Dean of Law, as he looks around inside his office nods, this is not nothing – it is the project that is not only a sigh of relief to law faculty, but to the whole college. Long at last, the college is expanding.
“We got the money ourselves from the donors,” he says referring to the European Union. The European Union has a programme of the Rule of Law and has been helping the faculty in various ways. The piles of the books in Machika library are the example. Some of the international competitions that the students from the faculty enter are sponsored by EU.
The faculty realized that they had nowhere to keep their books. Space was limited. The faculty through the programmes sponsored by the Rule of Law got the help. The construction of the infrastructure must be completed by late 2009 or early 2010.
The expansion is seen as the opportunity for more – not only in number of intake of students but also facilities. Currently the majority of the lecturers have no offices, but once the project is completed about fifteen offices must be ready for lectures to use. Each class will accommodate as much as sixty students. At present in each law class there are less than forty students.
The students and their lecturers will no longer have to use Little Theatre for mock trials. A mock court room with court room standards is in the offing too.
Just about 100 metres from the Little Theatre another important project is going on. The faculty of education is also electing its infrastructure. The erecting of such infrastructure is a reaction to the secondary school sector which “has been expanding with many new conventional and private secondary schools.”
As Dr Dixie Maluwa Banda, the outgoing Dean of Education thinks on the pressure that is piled on teachers training institutions, says “the current in take has been limited by space available and financial hardships due to low funding levels.” This has resulted in an increased pressure on demand for qualified teachers.
As part of increasing intake of students at the college apart from the project, the outgoing Dean says, one way of opening up education is by the introduction of parallel programme for education students.
The outgoing Dean says the project is long overdue. “Delay due to the World Bank’s IPC procedure it’s a nightmare. The construction that is starting right now, would have been done two years ago,” Maluwa Banda says.
Once the infrastructure is put in place, the outgoing dean says, a number of postgraduate programmes are supposed to increase in numbers. The programme is one part that the World Bank’ funding to the Ministry of Education called Education Sector Support project (ESSP) which is helping training institutions that are dealing with education. Other institutions are the Polytechnic and Mzuzu University.
Chancellor College might not be there, but gradually the journey is on. Kanyongolo agrees with this statement. But still he concurs with the outgoing dean of Education, “College is overdue for expansion.” Kanyongolo only hopes that the University of Malawi will help other faculties to follow suit.
A number of bright and intelligent students have qualified for selection. Unfortunately out of more than 2000 students that qualify for selection less than 1000 get selected. One of the reasons that are attributed to them not being selected is lack of enough space.
As the Principal one of these days will once again be speaking to the college community, perhaps opening the new infrastructure, the fight towards rebirthing Chancellor College as top notched institution is still going on. Chancellor College is striving to remark its lost glory that little by little has been replaced with tatters. This is the period of renaissance; a new breeze is sweeping through Chancellor College. The College is trying to redefine itself. The construction works are just a part of it.
The Chilling Perfect Storm
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
The storm was frightening, perhaps the tempest that may not happen again. The storm may have been brewed by a rare combination of never before imagined factors, but it was the felt storm in an after cold war democracy in Malawi.
The political storm created countless stories high, and winds of stories about Malawi swaying in the foreign media. The political storm whipped the mental functioning of the people to the inconceivable levels, yet very few people saw the storm as a perfect one. Yet it was a perfect storm.
If it were an earthquake, the day that an idea popped up in Bakili Muluzi’s mind that politics of imposition is important will remain an epicentre of this perfect timeline of the perfect storm. Former president calls himself a political engineer. If the very act of influencing the whole party, however the opposing views are, then he has the point. But such an attempt contradicts a mere literal retrieving of the meaning of “United Democratic Front.” The word may as well mean a grouping having one voice that is the representative of all in it.
However, the past, disputes all this. UDF is a party that is a party of Bakili Muluzi to Bakili Muluzi and for Bakili Muluzi’s views. Ever since Bingu dumped this party, former president has used it as a tool to express his views – thus the party has been used to frustrate what Bakili Muluzi sees as Bingu yet are the Malawians that got the raw deal in the end.
The dumping coupled by John Tembo’s frustration that the victory was snatched from his nose, as per revelations by other bigwigs in the UDF, made the life for president Bingu Wa Mutharika unbearable. On top of that, a number of MPs thought it right to practice ratting – crossing the floor from UDF, MCP or other small parties to the DPP.
In the end Parliament became the field for tit-for-tat politics.
Despite all the political mangling that the nation has witnessed and perhaps continues to witness, this is good news. The nation is still in the transit, especially democratically. The country is gaining mileage little by little.
It is through this storm that the Constitution of Malawi has been tested, and continues to be tested if issue of Bakili Muluzi’s eligibility is anything to go by. During the fracas, it has been revealed that our constitution might indeed be perfect, but it does contain what other experts have called “linguistic defects.” They are defects like these that politicians with all political trickeries like the former president want to capitalize upon. This explains why the donor community is pressing Malawi Electoral commission to declare Muluzi’s eligibility quickly.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of this political storm was president Bingu Wa Mutharika’s defection from the UDF to later form his DPP. It was a never imagined before. This surely should serve as a lesson in future conducts of the parties. They will ask why such a scenario should never happen again. It is this seen that is a source of many predicament turbulence that spurred the political confusion that marred the local political scene.
It is during such a storm that the independent MPs have as well learnt their perfect lessons. Bitter though. Most independent MPs were either poached or themselves joined the ruling party. In joining the party they claimed that they did so with the consent from their people. Unfortunately when the time of primaries came some of those independent MPs have miserably failed to win at the DPP primaries.
Some of them have gone back to their independence stance. This is a lesson. If one stands as an independent MP, it is better to stand on, as an independent. But due to that spirit of making more money by associating with the government, like leafs falling from trees in the dry season, these independent MPs are feeling the heat.
Out of this storm it is the right time that the electorates will surely separate their true representatives, and gold diggers that are in the game just to appease their political party leaders. It seems in the parliament some MPs even forgot why there were there. Now such MPs are returning to the people, the people this is the right time to make right decisions.
The wrangles that are going on in primaries can be a bad thing altogether. But it is a step towards the right direction. In the last two elections, the primaries did not take place at the scale the primaries are taking place this year. Of course the irregularities are just many in most parties, DPP, MCP and UDF.
But that is not a thing to worry about excessively. Out of these problems the parties when it comes to the primaries in 2014, will have to deal with such weaknesses. The parties after the elections like DPP especially with Davis Katsonga and Nicholas Dausi case will have to sit down and agree on who votes. The mere fact that each brought his list means the structures were not in place well.
The parties might as well say who in future should oversee these elections. Is the idea of having a minister overseeing a fellow minister contesting with someone who is not a minister justifiable?
The storm was beautiful. When the MCP president was forcing his MPs to deny the budget the MPs wrote him a petition. The MPs argued amongst other reason the MCP president had dictatorial tendency. It is perhaps not surprising to see the MCP president arguing that now he is a changed man. People might ask what kind of change, but to him he says he is now more democratic, no more dictatorship.
He might say that because of next year’s election while his actions are not like that, yes it’s possible. But it seems the old man is striving to walk the change. His party is as well doing primaries, impositions are there but not as in the past two elections. Change little by little is creeping in. The tenets of democracy are coming, the nation might look at the past and the present defects with despair, but these are defects of hope.
Correcting the past mistakes is the only way the country’s democracy can flourish. Repeating the same mistakes is not helpful. Fortunately, very few are the ones that seem to resist change; the majority will be there sooner than later.
Now if the storm that threatened the nation is not to take place again, at least the presidential candidates must be elected legitimately. The act of imposition is dangerous. The Bingu Chair saga is an example. Further to this the Malawi Electoral Commission has huge work at its disposal, to execute its operations professionally.
It is next year’s elections that will mark the end of this chilling perfect storm, and bring in a mild breeze.
The storm was frightening, perhaps the tempest that may not happen again. The storm may have been brewed by a rare combination of never before imagined factors, but it was the felt storm in an after cold war democracy in Malawi.
The political storm created countless stories high, and winds of stories about Malawi swaying in the foreign media. The political storm whipped the mental functioning of the people to the inconceivable levels, yet very few people saw the storm as a perfect one. Yet it was a perfect storm.
If it were an earthquake, the day that an idea popped up in Bakili Muluzi’s mind that politics of imposition is important will remain an epicentre of this perfect timeline of the perfect storm. Former president calls himself a political engineer. If the very act of influencing the whole party, however the opposing views are, then he has the point. But such an attempt contradicts a mere literal retrieving of the meaning of “United Democratic Front.” The word may as well mean a grouping having one voice that is the representative of all in it.
However, the past, disputes all this. UDF is a party that is a party of Bakili Muluzi to Bakili Muluzi and for Bakili Muluzi’s views. Ever since Bingu dumped this party, former president has used it as a tool to express his views – thus the party has been used to frustrate what Bakili Muluzi sees as Bingu yet are the Malawians that got the raw deal in the end.
The dumping coupled by John Tembo’s frustration that the victory was snatched from his nose, as per revelations by other bigwigs in the UDF, made the life for president Bingu Wa Mutharika unbearable. On top of that, a number of MPs thought it right to practice ratting – crossing the floor from UDF, MCP or other small parties to the DPP.
In the end Parliament became the field for tit-for-tat politics.
Despite all the political mangling that the nation has witnessed and perhaps continues to witness, this is good news. The nation is still in the transit, especially democratically. The country is gaining mileage little by little.
It is through this storm that the Constitution of Malawi has been tested, and continues to be tested if issue of Bakili Muluzi’s eligibility is anything to go by. During the fracas, it has been revealed that our constitution might indeed be perfect, but it does contain what other experts have called “linguistic defects.” They are defects like these that politicians with all political trickeries like the former president want to capitalize upon. This explains why the donor community is pressing Malawi Electoral commission to declare Muluzi’s eligibility quickly.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of this political storm was president Bingu Wa Mutharika’s defection from the UDF to later form his DPP. It was a never imagined before. This surely should serve as a lesson in future conducts of the parties. They will ask why such a scenario should never happen again. It is this seen that is a source of many predicament turbulence that spurred the political confusion that marred the local political scene.
It is during such a storm that the independent MPs have as well learnt their perfect lessons. Bitter though. Most independent MPs were either poached or themselves joined the ruling party. In joining the party they claimed that they did so with the consent from their people. Unfortunately when the time of primaries came some of those independent MPs have miserably failed to win at the DPP primaries.
Some of them have gone back to their independence stance. This is a lesson. If one stands as an independent MP, it is better to stand on, as an independent. But due to that spirit of making more money by associating with the government, like leafs falling from trees in the dry season, these independent MPs are feeling the heat.
Out of this storm it is the right time that the electorates will surely separate their true representatives, and gold diggers that are in the game just to appease their political party leaders. It seems in the parliament some MPs even forgot why there were there. Now such MPs are returning to the people, the people this is the right time to make right decisions.
The wrangles that are going on in primaries can be a bad thing altogether. But it is a step towards the right direction. In the last two elections, the primaries did not take place at the scale the primaries are taking place this year. Of course the irregularities are just many in most parties, DPP, MCP and UDF.
But that is not a thing to worry about excessively. Out of these problems the parties when it comes to the primaries in 2014, will have to deal with such weaknesses. The parties after the elections like DPP especially with Davis Katsonga and Nicholas Dausi case will have to sit down and agree on who votes. The mere fact that each brought his list means the structures were not in place well.
The parties might as well say who in future should oversee these elections. Is the idea of having a minister overseeing a fellow minister contesting with someone who is not a minister justifiable?
The storm was beautiful. When the MCP president was forcing his MPs to deny the budget the MPs wrote him a petition. The MPs argued amongst other reason the MCP president had dictatorial tendency. It is perhaps not surprising to see the MCP president arguing that now he is a changed man. People might ask what kind of change, but to him he says he is now more democratic, no more dictatorship.
He might say that because of next year’s election while his actions are not like that, yes it’s possible. But it seems the old man is striving to walk the change. His party is as well doing primaries, impositions are there but not as in the past two elections. Change little by little is creeping in. The tenets of democracy are coming, the nation might look at the past and the present defects with despair, but these are defects of hope.
Correcting the past mistakes is the only way the country’s democracy can flourish. Repeating the same mistakes is not helpful. Fortunately, very few are the ones that seem to resist change; the majority will be there sooner than later.
Now if the storm that threatened the nation is not to take place again, at least the presidential candidates must be elected legitimately. The act of imposition is dangerous. The Bingu Chair saga is an example. Further to this the Malawi Electoral Commission has huge work at its disposal, to execute its operations professionally.
It is next year’s elections that will mark the end of this chilling perfect storm, and bring in a mild breeze.
Monday, July 21, 2008
UFULU WATHU NDI UMENEWU, KOMA...
Wolemba Pacharo Felix Munthali
Pa 6 July monga dziko, tidali ndi mwambo wokumbukira tsiku lomwe tidalandira ufulu wodzilamulira kuchokera m’manja mwa asamunda dzaka makumi anayi kuzanso zinayi zapitazo.
Tsikuli pokhala kuti ndi lomwe timakondwerera ufulu wozilamulira, ndi limodzi mwa matsiku ochepetsetsa kwambiri pakalendala yomwe anthu osiyanasiyana, angasiyane bwanji, amabwera pamodzi. Ndi tsiku lomwe anthu mungadane bwanji – kaya kamba kosiyana zipani, zipembezo ndi zina zotero – mumakhala pamodzi.
Kunena zoona zomwe pulezidenti Bingu wa Mutharika adanena ku Mzuzu zoti anthu tonse tiyenera kukhala pamodzi ndi zoona kwambiri. Ndi chinthu choti wina aliyense ayenera kukhuzidwa m’mtima kuti ayenera kutenga nawo mbali pa mwambo wa pamwamba, womwe pophatikizapo kuzetsa umodzi pakati pa anthu, umalemekeza anthu amene adatengapo mbali pozetsa ufulu wozilamulira womwe tikukondwa nawo lerowu.
Iyi ndi nthawi yomwe anthu poiwala mkwiyo woza munjira zosiyansiyana, amabwera pamodzi ngati anthu afuko limodzi la Malawi. Apa sizimadabwitsa kuona anthu akuvina magule osiyanasiyana. Ndipo kuonetsa umodzi anthu amabwera ndi magule osiyanasiyana kuyambira kuchokera kumpoto kukathera ku m’mwera.
Kuonjezera apo zomwe zimachitika nthawi yokondwerera tsiku lomwe tidalandiara ufulu wozilamulira zimakhala ngati kuphera mphongo zomwe nyimbo ya fuko lathu imanena zoti anthu timapempha mulungu kuti tiokhale pa mtendere. Ndipo mtendere umabwera ngati anthu nonse mukhala ngati anthu amodzi.
Komano, poona m’mene mwambowu udachitikira – pena pake udali ngati kuti udali mwambo wachipani cha Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Kuyambira azimayi a Bingu kukhathera akuluakulu a boma kunsanja onse mavalidwe awo adali osonyeza ngati kuti udali nsonkhano wa DPP. Zidali zodabwitsa kuona mwambo wa boma anthu akuvala mochititsa kaso koma mwachisoni atavala chomwecho pa mwambo waukulu wa dziko ngati umenewu.
Chomwe ndikuziwa ndi chakuti anthu amene amachokera m’madera osiyanasiyana sikuti iwowa amakhala kuti ndi amene amapangitsa mwambowu. Amakauzidwa nthawi zambiri. Ndipo mbiri yawonetsa kuti ambiri amene amavina panthawiyi sikuti ndi anthu wamba, ayi sizikhala choncho. Ambirio amene amakaviana amakhala anthu omweomwewo amene amavina nthawi ya zipani. Koma uwu pokhala mwambo waukulu chidakakhala cha nzeru kuti anthuwa adakawauza m’mene amayenera kuvalira. Kodi anthuwa akuluakulu a zipani zawozi samawauza zoti komwe amapitaku sudali nsokhano wachipani, koma ndi mwambo wa boma ndiye mavalidwe ayenera kukhala otere?
Pamwambowo pulezidenti wathu adazuzula atsogoleri azipani zotsutsa boma chifukwa chosaonekera pa mwambo wa pamwamba komanso wofunika ku mtundu wa Malawi. Inde anthu timafunika kukhala okonda dziko lathu. Ndipo kukhala nawo pa mwambo onga umenewu ndi kofunika kwambiri. Komano chovuta ndichakuti, kodi m’mene mwambowu udaliri, kodi anthu ngati a Tembo kapena a Muluzi adakakhala nawo pa mwambowu ndi mautoto a DPP ali ponseponse adakaona mwambowo ngati wa boma kapena DPP? Komanso pokhala anthu andale zidakawasangalatsa kuona zotero?
Kuonjezera apo, potengera m’mene a Tembo adawakuwira ku Dedza, kodi munthu wotero adakakhalanso ndi chilakolako choti akakhalenso pamwambo wa boma? Atsogoleri otsutsa boma adakhala ngati kuti adalakwitsadi, koma m’mene a pulezidenti athu amalankhulira, anthu ena akuti, njondazi pena pake zidachita bwino.
Inde mwina mwake tidakakhala ndi malamulo a m’mene ziyera kukhalira zidakakhala bwino. Chomwe ndikutanthawuza ndichakuti, pali njira ziwiri zomwe titha kukondwerera mwambo waukulu ngati umenewu. Yoyamba ndikukhala ndi malamulo oti nthawi yamwambo ngati umenewu, mtundu wachipani chilichonse usamapezeke. Koma ngati njiora imeneyi siingatheke, ndiye anthu ena akuona ngati anthu onse kaya ndi otsutsa kaya a boma onse azivala mtundu uliwonse akufuna.
Kunena mwachindunji, mwambuwu uyenera kukhala phunziro ku boma komanso zipani zonse, kuti iwo ayenera kusiyanitsa kuti mwambo wa boma komanso wachipani ndi zinthu ziwiri zosiyana. Kunena mosazambayitsa zomwe zimakonda kuchitika pa zochitika za boma pokhala ngati ndi nsonkhano wa chipani kamba ka mitundu yochulukitsitsa ya zipani ndi m’nyozo ku mbendera ya fuko lathu.
Ingoganizirani m’mene azimayi komanso ndoda zidatchenera, zidakakhala kuti adali ali choncho mumautoto a dziko zidakakhala zonyaditsa ndi zochititsa chidwi kwa wina aliyense? Poti akuti TVM tsopano imatha kufiikira kumayiko akutali, anthu ena akumayiko ena akamatiwona tiri thwanithwani mu mitundu ya zipani kodi akamatiwona azitiwona ngati ndani?
Iyi ndi nthawi yoti tizifunse makamaka pakakhala mwambo wa boma. Nthawi ya chipani chimodzi pamakhala mautoto a MCP wa chidali chipani chokhacho. Koma nthawi ino yomwe ndiyazipani zosiyanasiyana, tiyenera kumaganizira anthu azipani zina kuti.
Tiyenera kuzifunsa kuti kodi ndichifukwa chiani Malawi yemwe akaziwika ndika ndikugwirizana kwa anthu ndi chifukwa ninji lero akuziwika ndi mawu onyoza ndi mkangano. Chimozi mwa zinthu zomwe zapangitsa ndi kulowetsa ndale paliponse ndi pamene pomwe nkhani zandale siziyenera. Tiyeni tikonde dziko lathu.
Pa 6 July monga dziko, tidali ndi mwambo wokumbukira tsiku lomwe tidalandira ufulu wodzilamulira kuchokera m’manja mwa asamunda dzaka makumi anayi kuzanso zinayi zapitazo.
Tsikuli pokhala kuti ndi lomwe timakondwerera ufulu wozilamulira, ndi limodzi mwa matsiku ochepetsetsa kwambiri pakalendala yomwe anthu osiyanasiyana, angasiyane bwanji, amabwera pamodzi. Ndi tsiku lomwe anthu mungadane bwanji – kaya kamba kosiyana zipani, zipembezo ndi zina zotero – mumakhala pamodzi.
Kunena zoona zomwe pulezidenti Bingu wa Mutharika adanena ku Mzuzu zoti anthu tonse tiyenera kukhala pamodzi ndi zoona kwambiri. Ndi chinthu choti wina aliyense ayenera kukhuzidwa m’mtima kuti ayenera kutenga nawo mbali pa mwambo wa pamwamba, womwe pophatikizapo kuzetsa umodzi pakati pa anthu, umalemekeza anthu amene adatengapo mbali pozetsa ufulu wozilamulira womwe tikukondwa nawo lerowu.
Iyi ndi nthawi yomwe anthu poiwala mkwiyo woza munjira zosiyansiyana, amabwera pamodzi ngati anthu afuko limodzi la Malawi. Apa sizimadabwitsa kuona anthu akuvina magule osiyanasiyana. Ndipo kuonetsa umodzi anthu amabwera ndi magule osiyanasiyana kuyambira kuchokera kumpoto kukathera ku m’mwera.
Kuonjezera apo zomwe zimachitika nthawi yokondwerera tsiku lomwe tidalandiara ufulu wozilamulira zimakhala ngati kuphera mphongo zomwe nyimbo ya fuko lathu imanena zoti anthu timapempha mulungu kuti tiokhale pa mtendere. Ndipo mtendere umabwera ngati anthu nonse mukhala ngati anthu amodzi.
Komano, poona m’mene mwambowu udachitikira – pena pake udali ngati kuti udali mwambo wachipani cha Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Kuyambira azimayi a Bingu kukhathera akuluakulu a boma kunsanja onse mavalidwe awo adali osonyeza ngati kuti udali nsonkhano wa DPP. Zidali zodabwitsa kuona mwambo wa boma anthu akuvala mochititsa kaso koma mwachisoni atavala chomwecho pa mwambo waukulu wa dziko ngati umenewu.
Chomwe ndikuziwa ndi chakuti anthu amene amachokera m’madera osiyanasiyana sikuti iwowa amakhala kuti ndi amene amapangitsa mwambowu. Amakauzidwa nthawi zambiri. Ndipo mbiri yawonetsa kuti ambiri amene amavina panthawiyi sikuti ndi anthu wamba, ayi sizikhala choncho. Ambirio amene amakaviana amakhala anthu omweomwewo amene amavina nthawi ya zipani. Koma uwu pokhala mwambo waukulu chidakakhala cha nzeru kuti anthuwa adakawauza m’mene amayenera kuvalira. Kodi anthuwa akuluakulu a zipani zawozi samawauza zoti komwe amapitaku sudali nsokhano wachipani, koma ndi mwambo wa boma ndiye mavalidwe ayenera kukhala otere?
Pamwambowo pulezidenti wathu adazuzula atsogoleri azipani zotsutsa boma chifukwa chosaonekera pa mwambo wa pamwamba komanso wofunika ku mtundu wa Malawi. Inde anthu timafunika kukhala okonda dziko lathu. Ndipo kukhala nawo pa mwambo onga umenewu ndi kofunika kwambiri. Komano chovuta ndichakuti, kodi m’mene mwambowu udaliri, kodi anthu ngati a Tembo kapena a Muluzi adakakhala nawo pa mwambowu ndi mautoto a DPP ali ponseponse adakaona mwambowo ngati wa boma kapena DPP? Komanso pokhala anthu andale zidakawasangalatsa kuona zotero?
Kuonjezera apo, potengera m’mene a Tembo adawakuwira ku Dedza, kodi munthu wotero adakakhalanso ndi chilakolako choti akakhalenso pamwambo wa boma? Atsogoleri otsutsa boma adakhala ngati kuti adalakwitsadi, koma m’mene a pulezidenti athu amalankhulira, anthu ena akuti, njondazi pena pake zidachita bwino.
Inde mwina mwake tidakakhala ndi malamulo a m’mene ziyera kukhalira zidakakhala bwino. Chomwe ndikutanthawuza ndichakuti, pali njira ziwiri zomwe titha kukondwerera mwambo waukulu ngati umenewu. Yoyamba ndikukhala ndi malamulo oti nthawi yamwambo ngati umenewu, mtundu wachipani chilichonse usamapezeke. Koma ngati njiora imeneyi siingatheke, ndiye anthu ena akuona ngati anthu onse kaya ndi otsutsa kaya a boma onse azivala mtundu uliwonse akufuna.
Kunena mwachindunji, mwambuwu uyenera kukhala phunziro ku boma komanso zipani zonse, kuti iwo ayenera kusiyanitsa kuti mwambo wa boma komanso wachipani ndi zinthu ziwiri zosiyana. Kunena mosazambayitsa zomwe zimakonda kuchitika pa zochitika za boma pokhala ngati ndi nsonkhano wa chipani kamba ka mitundu yochulukitsitsa ya zipani ndi m’nyozo ku mbendera ya fuko lathu.
Ingoganizirani m’mene azimayi komanso ndoda zidatchenera, zidakakhala kuti adali ali choncho mumautoto a dziko zidakakhala zonyaditsa ndi zochititsa chidwi kwa wina aliyense? Poti akuti TVM tsopano imatha kufiikira kumayiko akutali, anthu ena akumayiko ena akamatiwona tiri thwanithwani mu mitundu ya zipani kodi akamatiwona azitiwona ngati ndani?
Iyi ndi nthawi yoti tizifunse makamaka pakakhala mwambo wa boma. Nthawi ya chipani chimodzi pamakhala mautoto a MCP wa chidali chipani chokhacho. Koma nthawi ino yomwe ndiyazipani zosiyanasiyana, tiyenera kumaganizira anthu azipani zina kuti.
Tiyenera kuzifunsa kuti kodi ndichifukwa chiani Malawi yemwe akaziwika ndika ndikugwirizana kwa anthu ndi chifukwa ninji lero akuziwika ndi mawu onyoza ndi mkangano. Chimozi mwa zinthu zomwe zapangitsa ndi kulowetsa ndale paliponse ndi pamene pomwe nkhani zandale siziyenera. Tiyeni tikonde dziko lathu.
In 2009 there will be no free and fair elections
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
As 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections are coming a lot is happening involving all stakeholders – Malawi Electoral Commission, judiciary, legislators, the cabinet, Media, Civil society , the general public, not forgetting the outside players – all are doing all they could for free and fair elections. The good working relationship exercised by this network with consensus decision is a recipe for a credible electoral process right from the preparatory stage through actual voting to the phase of evaluation.
Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) is the body central to the whole process. Whatever happens to this crucial body for the election results that will be seen as a reflection of realities on the ground, needs to be the product of general consensus of the opposition and the ruling parties.
With the wave of unprecedented political wrangle that ticks as back as the time when Dr Bingu wa Mutharika dumped the United Democratic Front (UDF) painting the party as corrupt amongst the reasons. It is even more challenging as the UDF out of the frustrations for sponsoring the candidate who later ditched it, uses every opportunity to frustrate the ruling party. The hype of the approaching election is higher than the previous elections. This amongst other reasons is in place due to soar relationship that is employing tit-for-tat approach in political maneuver. This coupled with uncensored language that they trade each other, it worries a lot as to how will the environment be during the elections time.
Whilst the opposition is giving the ruling party tough time in parliament, ruling party uses all the mechanisms and institutions at its disposal to mudsling back at the opposition. By the end of the day there is creation of political battlefield where politicians are aiming every spanner that was meant for the country’s development on one another.
However with 2009 elections beckoning around the corner, such sort of behaviour and acts need not to be entertained. The environment needs to be under peace and order in all spheres. If one sees the opposing politicians attempting to trade fists in Parliament, what message are the politicians sending to their supporters? If such politicians tell their followers to co-exist peacefully, will the message make sense?
Unfortunately as the dust is swirling, with more violence occurring in some areas like Mangochi, Mulanje, Machinga and others, at a time when elections are some months away, it is very likely that when campaign starts coupled with hate speeches from the politicians, the environment will rear an ugly face.
Over the years we have seen spates of violence involving the political groupings. The nation has seen elections ending in violence, especially 2004. Since the coming of democracy the level of hate speeches cross firing from opposing camps have kept on escalating. Exaggeration on issues of national concern is a grievous sin, however, when one looks at the current scenarios, it becomes clear that there are indicators that shows that the coming elections will have faint fairness and levels of freedom due to some factors that instantly will result in violence in some areas.
In the very first place, the opposition parties in the country contested the composition of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioners saying that they were not consulted in the actual appointment process. To this end, they fear that the commissioners might be biased towards the government.
Fortunately though unfortunate we will have to weigh MEC on scale when the campaign period starts. So far the preparation seems to be going on smoothly. If Mec managed to write a letter to Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) expressing its concern about the fairness of the programmes only to be responded by a mockingly response from Makiyolobasi – mocking the Mec officials – then one wonders if Mec will really manage to put the state controlled and other private media under control. Of course it is an open secret that state media has always tilted towards the ruling party. But there is different approach this time around – unlike before when the president could have the whole lot of time to make all sorts of political jazz on air today it’s the president having a dinner on the state media as well as the media itself becoming so creative that the professionals make programmes that castigate the opposition politicians.
Of course, the idea by Mec in conjunction with all other media outlets to frame a media code of conduct came at the right time. This is a document that among other things outlines how the media needs to conduct itself during the whole electoral period. However for this to be adhered to, there is need for a strong and impartial controlling mechanism. Mec will rely on Malawi Communication Regulatory authority.
Unfortunately, over the years MACRA has demonstrated that it is a highly biased organization that selectively controls the conduct of the media. It has showed that the ruling enjoys almost whole control of the public broadcasting houses. Although, some of the programmes are brilliant ideas from brilliant minds, their lack compliance with ethics of journalism. There is no fairness and balance. If it’s Joy Radio, it is all about tarnishing the image of the president and his DPP, and when the state radio it is all about stripping the personal and political reputation of the opposition members.
Media is such a powerful arm. The political violence that happened in Kenya is as a result of the media. In Rwanda memories are still fresh of the cockroaches’ stories where media played a destructive role. The violence can not occur the way they happened there as theirs were rooted in historical hatred. If Makiyolobasi can ridicule the commissioners, control over media is likely to be Mec’s difficult job. This will likely mean making the state media ‘blue.’
The fairness of general elections is “not only about the voting day, it is also about the period leading to the general elections.” The control over media is by the state is one such way the government is using to consolidate itself.
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MCRA) is on record to have barred private radio stations from airing live broadcasts of political rallies without government permission. The directive effectively targeted leading private broadcasters Capital Radio, Joy Radio, and Zodiak Broadcasting over coverage of former President Bakili Muluzi, considered the most likely opposition challenger in the 2009 presidential elections. If such scenarios occur, you only wonder how fair and free is information that is unbiased flows.
As the new saying goes, especially in Malawi, “everything in Malawi starts as rumours.” A month doesn’t pass without either reading or hearing of Muluzi likely going to be arrested. Such rumours are likely going to trigger violence. We are talking of a person who is the possible hope for the party to go back in government.
With 2009 elections around the corner we don’t need to always be pessimistic. However with the way the local political scene is, it suffice to conclude that 2009 due to lots of occurrences before elections, the elections even though they can be free and fair, some quarters will likely grumble. This is like that due unprecedented build up towards elections. This is especially when the ruling party wins again. – The author is a Media for Development student at Chancellor College
As 2009 presidential and parliamentary elections are coming a lot is happening involving all stakeholders – Malawi Electoral Commission, judiciary, legislators, the cabinet, Media, Civil society , the general public, not forgetting the outside players – all are doing all they could for free and fair elections. The good working relationship exercised by this network with consensus decision is a recipe for a credible electoral process right from the preparatory stage through actual voting to the phase of evaluation.
Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) is the body central to the whole process. Whatever happens to this crucial body for the election results that will be seen as a reflection of realities on the ground, needs to be the product of general consensus of the opposition and the ruling parties.
With the wave of unprecedented political wrangle that ticks as back as the time when Dr Bingu wa Mutharika dumped the United Democratic Front (UDF) painting the party as corrupt amongst the reasons. It is even more challenging as the UDF out of the frustrations for sponsoring the candidate who later ditched it, uses every opportunity to frustrate the ruling party. The hype of the approaching election is higher than the previous elections. This amongst other reasons is in place due to soar relationship that is employing tit-for-tat approach in political maneuver. This coupled with uncensored language that they trade each other, it worries a lot as to how will the environment be during the elections time.
Whilst the opposition is giving the ruling party tough time in parliament, ruling party uses all the mechanisms and institutions at its disposal to mudsling back at the opposition. By the end of the day there is creation of political battlefield where politicians are aiming every spanner that was meant for the country’s development on one another.
However with 2009 elections beckoning around the corner, such sort of behaviour and acts need not to be entertained. The environment needs to be under peace and order in all spheres. If one sees the opposing politicians attempting to trade fists in Parliament, what message are the politicians sending to their supporters? If such politicians tell their followers to co-exist peacefully, will the message make sense?
Unfortunately as the dust is swirling, with more violence occurring in some areas like Mangochi, Mulanje, Machinga and others, at a time when elections are some months away, it is very likely that when campaign starts coupled with hate speeches from the politicians, the environment will rear an ugly face.
Over the years we have seen spates of violence involving the political groupings. The nation has seen elections ending in violence, especially 2004. Since the coming of democracy the level of hate speeches cross firing from opposing camps have kept on escalating. Exaggeration on issues of national concern is a grievous sin, however, when one looks at the current scenarios, it becomes clear that there are indicators that shows that the coming elections will have faint fairness and levels of freedom due to some factors that instantly will result in violence in some areas.
In the very first place, the opposition parties in the country contested the composition of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioners saying that they were not consulted in the actual appointment process. To this end, they fear that the commissioners might be biased towards the government.
Fortunately though unfortunate we will have to weigh MEC on scale when the campaign period starts. So far the preparation seems to be going on smoothly. If Mec managed to write a letter to Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) expressing its concern about the fairness of the programmes only to be responded by a mockingly response from Makiyolobasi – mocking the Mec officials – then one wonders if Mec will really manage to put the state controlled and other private media under control. Of course it is an open secret that state media has always tilted towards the ruling party. But there is different approach this time around – unlike before when the president could have the whole lot of time to make all sorts of political jazz on air today it’s the president having a dinner on the state media as well as the media itself becoming so creative that the professionals make programmes that castigate the opposition politicians.
Of course, the idea by Mec in conjunction with all other media outlets to frame a media code of conduct came at the right time. This is a document that among other things outlines how the media needs to conduct itself during the whole electoral period. However for this to be adhered to, there is need for a strong and impartial controlling mechanism. Mec will rely on Malawi Communication Regulatory authority.
Unfortunately, over the years MACRA has demonstrated that it is a highly biased organization that selectively controls the conduct of the media. It has showed that the ruling enjoys almost whole control of the public broadcasting houses. Although, some of the programmes are brilliant ideas from brilliant minds, their lack compliance with ethics of journalism. There is no fairness and balance. If it’s Joy Radio, it is all about tarnishing the image of the president and his DPP, and when the state radio it is all about stripping the personal and political reputation of the opposition members.
Media is such a powerful arm. The political violence that happened in Kenya is as a result of the media. In Rwanda memories are still fresh of the cockroaches’ stories where media played a destructive role. The violence can not occur the way they happened there as theirs were rooted in historical hatred. If Makiyolobasi can ridicule the commissioners, control over media is likely to be Mec’s difficult job. This will likely mean making the state media ‘blue.’
The fairness of general elections is “not only about the voting day, it is also about the period leading to the general elections.” The control over media is by the state is one such way the government is using to consolidate itself.
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MCRA) is on record to have barred private radio stations from airing live broadcasts of political rallies without government permission. The directive effectively targeted leading private broadcasters Capital Radio, Joy Radio, and Zodiak Broadcasting over coverage of former President Bakili Muluzi, considered the most likely opposition challenger in the 2009 presidential elections. If such scenarios occur, you only wonder how fair and free is information that is unbiased flows.
As the new saying goes, especially in Malawi, “everything in Malawi starts as rumours.” A month doesn’t pass without either reading or hearing of Muluzi likely going to be arrested. Such rumours are likely going to trigger violence. We are talking of a person who is the possible hope for the party to go back in government.
With 2009 elections around the corner we don’t need to always be pessimistic. However with the way the local political scene is, it suffice to conclude that 2009 due to lots of occurrences before elections, the elections even though they can be free and fair, some quarters will likely grumble. This is like that due unprecedented build up towards elections. This is especially when the ruling party wins again. – The author is a Media for Development student at Chancellor College
Battling against past
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
The political gridlock that has locked the country seems too much. Perhaps it is the sort of impasse nobody thought of when accepting and embracing the democratic rule in 1994. One stalemate after another is engulfing the country. Is the democracy itself, our past, or ourselves to blame?
As professor kings Phiri, a historian of repute, ponders on, he realizes that the country is “going through a phase that is very much a transition.” The country is in the transit. This is the time when “we are trying to democratize,” yet while the country is craving to be a democratic institution, it is also a product “of the past when we used to accept only certain individuals as capable of providing leadership.”
Malawi has numerous individuals. In fact they are bright. Political fraternity is not void of such treasured breed. Surveying through all political parties there is unexploited crop. United Democratic front offers one admirable example. There are people like Friday Jumbe, an individual of sound understanding of issues. Of course, with wide spectrum of knowledge.
But over the years such individuals have remained underground players. Of course, they have in other instances endeavored to show their interest to stand during presidential nominations, but every time Muluzi has cleared his throat, like fielding his preferred candidate or himself showing interest to stand, such gems have coiled their tails and faded out – instantly their dream of standing as a presidential candidate dangled on almost flair thread.
In most political parties in Malawi, the spirit of leaving the party stewardship, especially when fielding the presidential candidate, seems to be no longer an issue merited by primaries.
As the dust starts swirling with 2009 hastily approaching, the candidates for the three major parties in Malawi are very obvious – at least in Malawi Congress Party Tembo is undisputed; in democratic Progressive Party president Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has clearly told Malawians of his intention to go on; as for the United Democratic Front the landslide victory that Bakili Muluzi chalked utters volumes. He is in for it, so are all. For Muluzi, only section 83 stands in his way. For others, it’s absolutely nothing.
With informal preparations for next year’s general elections choking some parties, a lot is ensuing. The parties will have to field running mates as well. Experience in Malawi has proved that the running mates are either very quiet or if eloquent or critical they end up crossing paths with the president. They part ways.
The wrangle that surfaced between JZU Tembo and Gwanda Chakuamba is enough. The vice wanted to be the man captaining the party. At the time the vice was Tembo. They at first held two separate conventions, both won in each convention of course. They agreed another convention. Gwanda Chakuamba absented himself. John Tembo attended and won it. Few weeks later Gwanda Chakuamba dumped the party.
Democratic progressive party had Uladi Mussa, now captain of Maravi People’s party (MPP). With the aid of state controlled media and endowed with eloquence, Uladi Mussa became very popular. In fact some say, he was popular than the president himself. There may be more reasons than the eye can see, perhaps, but he also got the chop.
There is an enigmatically unresolved puzzled of Dr Cassim Chilumpha, Dr Bingu Wa mutharika and the Constructive resignation so are the treason charges. The case is in court especially involving the latter and the former. It is not worth a comment. But one thing is clear outside the legal limitations. For those that know Chilumpha, say he is such a critical man. Be it with Muluzi or the first citizen, the man stands his ground.
In this long journey of politics, the running mates or vice presidents if very ambitious or eloquent have in one way or another gone the opposite direction to that of the president. If quiet they have remained calm. Such individuals have let the president please himself, and his wishes. Such leaders have made themselves semi-god. People praising them always. Such leaders, says Professor kings Phiri, they believe in “commanding loyalty.”
Currently, the dust of the political impasse is not settling, nor is it nearing the settling point. With each passing day it is becoming more unpredictable. Everyone pointing finger at everybody. Others are accusing Muluzi for fueling all this. To some Tembo has an absolute influence over his members of parliament in the House. The ruling DPP is not going free either. They accuse it for not going by what the rule of law stipulate in the constitution. The speaker is not spared as well. There is chaos.
“Looking at the political gridlock on the local scene closely you will find that the problem…is that the old leaders have not reconciled to the necessity of handing over power to the next generation as is usually required in democracy,” he says.
For the people like Friday Jumbe and Auspicious Dzanjalimodzi to ascend to the top of their parties, they have to wait. But for how long? Isn’t this another good laboratory for creating another set of political dinosaurs? Because the bigwigs have established themselves, the young and brightest are quieting. Possibly, waiting for their turn. Waiting for themselves to get old, sometimes very old.
To Professor this is a puzzle: “I don’t know how to reconcile that with democracy because democracy is really about giving people of choice which means you can’t have leaders who have been there for over a generation.”
Professor accepts that Malawi is experiencing some roadblocks, particularly Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika administration. But, he says, its complex. There is more, than just the president ditching the party that sponsored him. He observes that the country is “still trapped in the old way of running things…unless people accept change, [the nation] will continue having problems.”
As the country ponders ahead, with eyes forecast as back as before democracy, soul searching must take place. Malawians are Africans. A chief don’t need a deputy. May be that is why Kamuzu had nobody as a deputy. There is no tenure for the chief. May be that is why Dr Kamuzu Banda was made life president. Possibly, that is the reason why Dr Bakili Muluzi wanted a third open term. He wanted to beat thirty one years record of leadership set by Dr Banda.
Such a spirit has spilled over into the country’s political cycle. To the country this is a problem requiring not just urgent solution, but also a solution that the whole country can readily embrace. The youths must not be told that they are the leaders of tomorrow. When does tomorrow come, when the likes of Friday Jumbe, Auspicious Dzanjalimodzi and others are on the waiting list for tomorrow? All top positions are filled by old guards. Who is to blame, our past, democracy or ourselves? The nation needs not to shrug the past, but learn from the past. Possibly use it to reshape the present, to define the future.
The political gridlock that has locked the country seems too much. Perhaps it is the sort of impasse nobody thought of when accepting and embracing the democratic rule in 1994. One stalemate after another is engulfing the country. Is the democracy itself, our past, or ourselves to blame?
As professor kings Phiri, a historian of repute, ponders on, he realizes that the country is “going through a phase that is very much a transition.” The country is in the transit. This is the time when “we are trying to democratize,” yet while the country is craving to be a democratic institution, it is also a product “of the past when we used to accept only certain individuals as capable of providing leadership.”
Malawi has numerous individuals. In fact they are bright. Political fraternity is not void of such treasured breed. Surveying through all political parties there is unexploited crop. United Democratic front offers one admirable example. There are people like Friday Jumbe, an individual of sound understanding of issues. Of course, with wide spectrum of knowledge.
But over the years such individuals have remained underground players. Of course, they have in other instances endeavored to show their interest to stand during presidential nominations, but every time Muluzi has cleared his throat, like fielding his preferred candidate or himself showing interest to stand, such gems have coiled their tails and faded out – instantly their dream of standing as a presidential candidate dangled on almost flair thread.
In most political parties in Malawi, the spirit of leaving the party stewardship, especially when fielding the presidential candidate, seems to be no longer an issue merited by primaries.
As the dust starts swirling with 2009 hastily approaching, the candidates for the three major parties in Malawi are very obvious – at least in Malawi Congress Party Tembo is undisputed; in democratic Progressive Party president Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has clearly told Malawians of his intention to go on; as for the United Democratic Front the landslide victory that Bakili Muluzi chalked utters volumes. He is in for it, so are all. For Muluzi, only section 83 stands in his way. For others, it’s absolutely nothing.
With informal preparations for next year’s general elections choking some parties, a lot is ensuing. The parties will have to field running mates as well. Experience in Malawi has proved that the running mates are either very quiet or if eloquent or critical they end up crossing paths with the president. They part ways.
The wrangle that surfaced between JZU Tembo and Gwanda Chakuamba is enough. The vice wanted to be the man captaining the party. At the time the vice was Tembo. They at first held two separate conventions, both won in each convention of course. They agreed another convention. Gwanda Chakuamba absented himself. John Tembo attended and won it. Few weeks later Gwanda Chakuamba dumped the party.
Democratic progressive party had Uladi Mussa, now captain of Maravi People’s party (MPP). With the aid of state controlled media and endowed with eloquence, Uladi Mussa became very popular. In fact some say, he was popular than the president himself. There may be more reasons than the eye can see, perhaps, but he also got the chop.
There is an enigmatically unresolved puzzled of Dr Cassim Chilumpha, Dr Bingu Wa mutharika and the Constructive resignation so are the treason charges. The case is in court especially involving the latter and the former. It is not worth a comment. But one thing is clear outside the legal limitations. For those that know Chilumpha, say he is such a critical man. Be it with Muluzi or the first citizen, the man stands his ground.
In this long journey of politics, the running mates or vice presidents if very ambitious or eloquent have in one way or another gone the opposite direction to that of the president. If quiet they have remained calm. Such individuals have let the president please himself, and his wishes. Such leaders have made themselves semi-god. People praising them always. Such leaders, says Professor kings Phiri, they believe in “commanding loyalty.”
Currently, the dust of the political impasse is not settling, nor is it nearing the settling point. With each passing day it is becoming more unpredictable. Everyone pointing finger at everybody. Others are accusing Muluzi for fueling all this. To some Tembo has an absolute influence over his members of parliament in the House. The ruling DPP is not going free either. They accuse it for not going by what the rule of law stipulate in the constitution. The speaker is not spared as well. There is chaos.
“Looking at the political gridlock on the local scene closely you will find that the problem…is that the old leaders have not reconciled to the necessity of handing over power to the next generation as is usually required in democracy,” he says.
For the people like Friday Jumbe and Auspicious Dzanjalimodzi to ascend to the top of their parties, they have to wait. But for how long? Isn’t this another good laboratory for creating another set of political dinosaurs? Because the bigwigs have established themselves, the young and brightest are quieting. Possibly, waiting for their turn. Waiting for themselves to get old, sometimes very old.
To Professor this is a puzzle: “I don’t know how to reconcile that with democracy because democracy is really about giving people of choice which means you can’t have leaders who have been there for over a generation.”
Professor accepts that Malawi is experiencing some roadblocks, particularly Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika administration. But, he says, its complex. There is more, than just the president ditching the party that sponsored him. He observes that the country is “still trapped in the old way of running things…unless people accept change, [the nation] will continue having problems.”
As the country ponders ahead, with eyes forecast as back as before democracy, soul searching must take place. Malawians are Africans. A chief don’t need a deputy. May be that is why Kamuzu had nobody as a deputy. There is no tenure for the chief. May be that is why Dr Kamuzu Banda was made life president. Possibly, that is the reason why Dr Bakili Muluzi wanted a third open term. He wanted to beat thirty one years record of leadership set by Dr Banda.
Such a spirit has spilled over into the country’s political cycle. To the country this is a problem requiring not just urgent solution, but also a solution that the whole country can readily embrace. The youths must not be told that they are the leaders of tomorrow. When does tomorrow come, when the likes of Friday Jumbe, Auspicious Dzanjalimodzi and others are on the waiting list for tomorrow? All top positions are filled by old guards. Who is to blame, our past, democracy or ourselves? The nation needs not to shrug the past, but learn from the past. Possibly use it to reshape the present, to define the future.
A MUSICIAN AT TEN
Alcapone, musician at 10
By Pacharo Felix munthali
Alcapone is just less than ten years old. But when he mesmerized an assignment and test sozzled audience of Chancellor College, one could not resist but applaud the massive talent embodied in the kid.
A standard four pupil at Rose Gardens School, with a real name of Robert Chimwembe, stepped into studio in late 2007. By early 2008 a well-cooked single titled Mwana Lira chiani I was out. It is this single that forced Chancellor College audience, which patronized the Winter Slash on Sunday evening, 13th July go wild with merriment.
As the kid talked to this scribe, for him to record the song it all started because he used to sing it day in day out as a result his uncle, the owner of Dom Dash Production told him that they should go to studio.
“He wrote me the lines of my song. After that we went to studio,” says a smiling kid who aspires to be not only a musician but a lawyer as well.
Hailing from Mchinji, the young musician with all confidence and good articulation of English says he “manages both well.”
In fact his uncle known as Dominic, who is also his promoter, boasts that Chimwembe is always in top five in his class.
By Pacharo Felix munthali
Alcapone is just less than ten years old. But when he mesmerized an assignment and test sozzled audience of Chancellor College, one could not resist but applaud the massive talent embodied in the kid.
A standard four pupil at Rose Gardens School, with a real name of Robert Chimwembe, stepped into studio in late 2007. By early 2008 a well-cooked single titled Mwana Lira chiani I was out. It is this single that forced Chancellor College audience, which patronized the Winter Slash on Sunday evening, 13th July go wild with merriment.
As the kid talked to this scribe, for him to record the song it all started because he used to sing it day in day out as a result his uncle, the owner of Dom Dash Production told him that they should go to studio.
“He wrote me the lines of my song. After that we went to studio,” says a smiling kid who aspires to be not only a musician but a lawyer as well.
Hailing from Mchinji, the young musician with all confidence and good articulation of English says he “manages both well.”
In fact his uncle known as Dominic, who is also his promoter, boasts that Chimwembe is always in top five in his class.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
OUT OF NCHIMA ESTATE CAME A STORY
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
Nchima estate, situated in Thyolo, 4254 hectares, owned by UK investors called Plantation and General Investment is a quiet place. Allocated south of Blantyre, the estate within it has two villages, Lipulo and Mtamangale supplemented by greenish scenery of tea radiating a kind of beauty never illusioned before.
With seemingly caring management, the estate if you are a visitor zooms out a motion picture that all in the estate is well.
But as you board off a vehicle and put your feet on ground, treading, in the estate, the real view that is rather perplexing and sobering comes into scrutiny. The inequality in the estate is just too much; the gap between the majority who form part of the labourers and the very few who are rich is just a chasm.
Bare-footed children with no or worn out shirts, some having their shorts or skirts hosting patches upon patches glean at you. They smile as if all is well. They don't know what the future has for them in stock. They look at the estate as if was created for them to die there, possibly die as poor as their parents.
A BIT OF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Nchima Estate is very old, so much that asking the workers all they manage is scratching their heads. It has always been there before 1900, it is a very old estate. Ever since the estate has been there, there have been all sorts of land disputes. There has always been shortage of land for the ordinary people.
As such the estate in 1981/2 donated "land to the villagers" after pressure had become too much to handle, says Moses Masanje, Tea Manager.
Also in 1993 there was another encroachment by the villagers into the estate by the villagers and it was tense - as a result the villagers were again given some lands.
Such is a kind of tale that spills a background of Nchima estate. The estate came earlier than villagers. "The villagers are there to offer labour," says one worker.
IMPLICATION ON CHILDREN
The children whenever they see cars or see food in their plates may be smiling; innocently in fact. But they don't know how their parents struggle, for the work of the whole day only to pocket a mere MK108.00, probably less than one dollar per day, a threshold set by the World Bank.
The children may be proud of their fathers, but they don't know how their future is like. With MK108.00 wage per day and having a family of seven children, owning an almost one-quarter of the football pitch, half of which is not health for growing crops, the money fall short of meeting all the expenses.
"If my son can be selected to secondary school, I don't know how I can pay his school fee," laments one woman who identifies her self as Make Joji about her son who is at Nchima Primary school, a school run by the estate.
ANY HOPE
The ordeal may be tearful; the future of the children gloomy, probably to some waiting for the past to somersault to the future, but there is light illuminating at the far end of the dark and bumpy tunnel.
The programme of Kudzigulira Malo is doing wonders. For the few that have been reallocated are singing successes. Those that are to be reallocated are anxious to be allocated to new places for a song of success to be sung.
"About US$1050 is allocated to a person of which 8% is for reallocation, 30% for land acquisition and 62% is for land development," says David Chinyanya, Community based Rural Land Programme Officer in Mulanje, Thyolo, Mangochi and Machinga.
Some are having bumper yields, selling the surplus. The money is helping the children to be looked after well - at least for a better tomorrow; a kind of tomorrow where the future parents are well informed, feed their children, they don't dream of working for some but for themselves.
Nchima estate, situated in Thyolo, 4254 hectares, owned by UK investors called Plantation and General Investment is a quiet place. Allocated south of Blantyre, the estate within it has two villages, Lipulo and Mtamangale supplemented by greenish scenery of tea radiating a kind of beauty never illusioned before.
With seemingly caring management, the estate if you are a visitor zooms out a motion picture that all in the estate is well.
But as you board off a vehicle and put your feet on ground, treading, in the estate, the real view that is rather perplexing and sobering comes into scrutiny. The inequality in the estate is just too much; the gap between the majority who form part of the labourers and the very few who are rich is just a chasm.
Bare-footed children with no or worn out shirts, some having their shorts or skirts hosting patches upon patches glean at you. They smile as if all is well. They don't know what the future has for them in stock. They look at the estate as if was created for them to die there, possibly die as poor as their parents.
A BIT OF HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Nchima Estate is very old, so much that asking the workers all they manage is scratching their heads. It has always been there before 1900, it is a very old estate. Ever since the estate has been there, there have been all sorts of land disputes. There has always been shortage of land for the ordinary people.
As such the estate in 1981/2 donated "land to the villagers" after pressure had become too much to handle, says Moses Masanje, Tea Manager.
Also in 1993 there was another encroachment by the villagers into the estate by the villagers and it was tense - as a result the villagers were again given some lands.
Such is a kind of tale that spills a background of Nchima estate. The estate came earlier than villagers. "The villagers are there to offer labour," says one worker.
IMPLICATION ON CHILDREN
The children whenever they see cars or see food in their plates may be smiling; innocently in fact. But they don't know how their parents struggle, for the work of the whole day only to pocket a mere MK108.00, probably less than one dollar per day, a threshold set by the World Bank.
The children may be proud of their fathers, but they don't know how their future is like. With MK108.00 wage per day and having a family of seven children, owning an almost one-quarter of the football pitch, half of which is not health for growing crops, the money fall short of meeting all the expenses.
"If my son can be selected to secondary school, I don't know how I can pay his school fee," laments one woman who identifies her self as Make Joji about her son who is at Nchima Primary school, a school run by the estate.
ANY HOPE
The ordeal may be tearful; the future of the children gloomy, probably to some waiting for the past to somersault to the future, but there is light illuminating at the far end of the dark and bumpy tunnel.
The programme of Kudzigulira Malo is doing wonders. For the few that have been reallocated are singing successes. Those that are to be reallocated are anxious to be allocated to new places for a song of success to be sung.
"About US$1050 is allocated to a person of which 8% is for reallocation, 30% for land acquisition and 62% is for land development," says David Chinyanya, Community based Rural Land Programme Officer in Mulanje, Thyolo, Mangochi and Machinga.
Some are having bumper yields, selling the surplus. The money is helping the children to be looked after well - at least for a better tomorrow; a kind of tomorrow where the future parents are well informed, feed their children, they don't dream of working for some but for themselves.
EXPEDITION OF A FIGHTER
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
The eve of November 21, less than 5 hours before seeing the light to celebrate his birthday, the man who had seen the birth of the Federation amalgamating with Nyasaland, the break up of the marriage in which Malawi then Nyasaland found itself in, - somewhere in the US - breathed last.
"My uncle died…after complaining about depression for a long time," his nephew Gilly Nkhwazi had told The Nation.
In the days of Kamuzu, the man who at the time of his death was few hours before turning 78, who labeled "enemy number one" by Dr H. Kamuzu Banda for his openness and frankness.
The Lamp in the mid 2002 called him "the last dreamer." He was a dreamer. He kept on dreaming that even when the shadow of hopelessness was cast over him, he always had hope for tomorrow, a better one in fact.
At a time when he came back to Malawi from exile of 30 years in Tanzania in 1994 for fear of Kamuzu, he was awe-stricken with new Malawi. "The new Malawi I found, I could not understand," he was quoted in press, but he kept on hoping for better, despite fairing badly in 1994 general elections. He vowed to play a role in country's development.
The story dug out of democracy was different; perhaps it is still different from what he left when he ran away to the exile in 1964. "Politicians see politics as a vocation," one analyst once said.
Once they go to the Parliament, they can raise their salaries as much as they hearts dictate. They go to the workshop, they demand money before workshop starts, its money before work. "Who are they representing? Their pockets or ordinary Malawians," question lingers.
During one particular interview with The Lamp, he had said, "a member of parliament must not go to the parliament and ask for money for himself or more allowances and so on." The ordinary people who are the masters should be a priority.
For Kanyama Chiume, he had his own vision for Malawi, but the more he tried, the more the storm forcefully swayed him away. He himself had said, "there is a time when you become a veteran. You sit down and wonder why did I waste my youth? But God has a way of helping anybody. I have still not given up." He was a fight. He never say never, possibly till its over.
Even though the political landscape was not tilting to his advantage, he still had faith for a better tomorrow. He looked at the youths as a single hope that Malawi as a nation is having.
"There is still hope for the young boys and girls at the University and the youth," he had said. However, the question is, what kind of hope?
Abbreviated to a mere horde of juvenile thugs, snatching people's properties, or beating them up even in the day light, the youths in the name of democracy caused torment as they terrorized lives of many.
At the University level, especially University of Malawi politicians have been accusing each other for using the University students in various ways to achieve their various political agenda.
Mid this year President Bingu Wa mutharika said youths "should not take part in politics" They are the future leaders. When is their future coming? The kanyamas, the Alekes and others started it when very young.
Chiume in his twenties he was already against the imposition of the Federation of Rhodesia by including Nyasaland in the whole set up. He was instrumental in bringing back Dr Banda on 28 June, six years before independence.
Banana Grove Sandy Beach, a once upon a time, splendid place that was but a pollen for meetings in the country of a man who together with his friends confronted Kamuzu is submerging into cocoons of scaffolding.
They criticized Kamuzu.
On this particular occasion on August 26 in his book, Kanyama Chiume says, when they met Kamuzu, they said whatever was in their hearts.
"We voiced our protests against the way he treated us with contempt both in private and public; against corruption in the government and party…; and against nepotism in the civil service" writes Kanyama. The meeting that had started thirty minutes after nine in the morning lasted for seven hours.
Dr Banda, according to Kanyama, saw that people had lost confidence in him and the only honorable course was to resign. They asked him to reconsider his decision, after persuasion he agreed. They had, perhaps thought the man would change. They had thought his traits of despotism would be short-lived.
However, on September I, as 1964 was tickling towards the end, Dr Banda rubbished all their demanded. Dr Banda had talked and convinced the other members of Parliament, the group of Kanyama was labeled "rebel."
"We decided to break with Kamuzu," he writes.
How many Cabinet ministers today, even when they know the president's decision is detrimental can gather courage to confront him? The only time the entire nation hear the president's other side, is when they have been left out of the cabinet reshuffle. Some ministers vehemently defend the president's decision even when they do not agree with it.
Born a month before December at Usisya, 50 km from Nkhatabay with his mother dying ten years after his birth, he was the last-born and the only boy in the family of four.
In Tanzania under protection of Nyerere Kanyama lived as if it was his home.
Upon sniffing the winds of change blowing in the country the man came back home. He was part of the Nyasaland African Congress.
When Dr Banda chose the cabinet, Kanyama served as Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs in 1960s. The man was labeled the leader of the crisis and an enemy of Banda with a speech he presented in Cairo during a conference of OAU.
He was a pan-Africanist. Kamuzu was not. That was enough to have the enmity brew between the two. The MCP subsequently gave him a kick.
Before his death, Kanyama was complaining of depression, it might be difficult to tell the kind of depression, but Malawi as a nation is also hosting a number of depressing issues. Politically there is a catalogue of outstanding issues such as section 65, Local government elections, death of Munyenyembe shows a kind of depressing parliament the country is having, the list is long.
He might have possessed some grey areas, but he was a rider, a fighter in the long journey. The journey he started in 1964 possibly opened a door that if some in 1964 challenged him, why not us.
Few since 1994 ever talked of him, now more talk will be part of the skies. The man deserves the state funeral, some are saying. He was one of the few surviving fighters without being honoured, yet bit is possible some foreign leaders being honoured by naming at least two roads or places in their name. Does Kanyama deserve such an honour because he is dead, a man who when he was alive nobody dared to mention his name?
The eve of November 21, less than 5 hours before seeing the light to celebrate his birthday, the man who had seen the birth of the Federation amalgamating with Nyasaland, the break up of the marriage in which Malawi then Nyasaland found itself in, - somewhere in the US - breathed last.
"My uncle died…after complaining about depression for a long time," his nephew Gilly Nkhwazi had told The Nation.
In the days of Kamuzu, the man who at the time of his death was few hours before turning 78, who labeled "enemy number one" by Dr H. Kamuzu Banda for his openness and frankness.
The Lamp in the mid 2002 called him "the last dreamer." He was a dreamer. He kept on dreaming that even when the shadow of hopelessness was cast over him, he always had hope for tomorrow, a better one in fact.
At a time when he came back to Malawi from exile of 30 years in Tanzania in 1994 for fear of Kamuzu, he was awe-stricken with new Malawi. "The new Malawi I found, I could not understand," he was quoted in press, but he kept on hoping for better, despite fairing badly in 1994 general elections. He vowed to play a role in country's development.
The story dug out of democracy was different; perhaps it is still different from what he left when he ran away to the exile in 1964. "Politicians see politics as a vocation," one analyst once said.
Once they go to the Parliament, they can raise their salaries as much as they hearts dictate. They go to the workshop, they demand money before workshop starts, its money before work. "Who are they representing? Their pockets or ordinary Malawians," question lingers.
During one particular interview with The Lamp, he had said, "a member of parliament must not go to the parliament and ask for money for himself or more allowances and so on." The ordinary people who are the masters should be a priority.
For Kanyama Chiume, he had his own vision for Malawi, but the more he tried, the more the storm forcefully swayed him away. He himself had said, "there is a time when you become a veteran. You sit down and wonder why did I waste my youth? But God has a way of helping anybody. I have still not given up." He was a fight. He never say never, possibly till its over.
Even though the political landscape was not tilting to his advantage, he still had faith for a better tomorrow. He looked at the youths as a single hope that Malawi as a nation is having.
"There is still hope for the young boys and girls at the University and the youth," he had said. However, the question is, what kind of hope?
Abbreviated to a mere horde of juvenile thugs, snatching people's properties, or beating them up even in the day light, the youths in the name of democracy caused torment as they terrorized lives of many.
At the University level, especially University of Malawi politicians have been accusing each other for using the University students in various ways to achieve their various political agenda.
Mid this year President Bingu Wa mutharika said youths "should not take part in politics" They are the future leaders. When is their future coming? The kanyamas, the Alekes and others started it when very young.
Chiume in his twenties he was already against the imposition of the Federation of Rhodesia by including Nyasaland in the whole set up. He was instrumental in bringing back Dr Banda on 28 June, six years before independence.
Banana Grove Sandy Beach, a once upon a time, splendid place that was but a pollen for meetings in the country of a man who together with his friends confronted Kamuzu is submerging into cocoons of scaffolding.
They criticized Kamuzu.
On this particular occasion on August 26 in his book, Kanyama Chiume says, when they met Kamuzu, they said whatever was in their hearts.
"We voiced our protests against the way he treated us with contempt both in private and public; against corruption in the government and party…; and against nepotism in the civil service" writes Kanyama. The meeting that had started thirty minutes after nine in the morning lasted for seven hours.
Dr Banda, according to Kanyama, saw that people had lost confidence in him and the only honorable course was to resign. They asked him to reconsider his decision, after persuasion he agreed. They had, perhaps thought the man would change. They had thought his traits of despotism would be short-lived.
However, on September I, as 1964 was tickling towards the end, Dr Banda rubbished all their demanded. Dr Banda had talked and convinced the other members of Parliament, the group of Kanyama was labeled "rebel."
"We decided to break with Kamuzu," he writes.
How many Cabinet ministers today, even when they know the president's decision is detrimental can gather courage to confront him? The only time the entire nation hear the president's other side, is when they have been left out of the cabinet reshuffle. Some ministers vehemently defend the president's decision even when they do not agree with it.
Born a month before December at Usisya, 50 km from Nkhatabay with his mother dying ten years after his birth, he was the last-born and the only boy in the family of four.
In Tanzania under protection of Nyerere Kanyama lived as if it was his home.
Upon sniffing the winds of change blowing in the country the man came back home. He was part of the Nyasaland African Congress.
When Dr Banda chose the cabinet, Kanyama served as Minister of Education and Foreign Affairs in 1960s. The man was labeled the leader of the crisis and an enemy of Banda with a speech he presented in Cairo during a conference of OAU.
He was a pan-Africanist. Kamuzu was not. That was enough to have the enmity brew between the two. The MCP subsequently gave him a kick.
Before his death, Kanyama was complaining of depression, it might be difficult to tell the kind of depression, but Malawi as a nation is also hosting a number of depressing issues. Politically there is a catalogue of outstanding issues such as section 65, Local government elections, death of Munyenyembe shows a kind of depressing parliament the country is having, the list is long.
He might have possessed some grey areas, but he was a rider, a fighter in the long journey. The journey he started in 1964 possibly opened a door that if some in 1964 challenged him, why not us.
Few since 1994 ever talked of him, now more talk will be part of the skies. The man deserves the state funeral, some are saying. He was one of the few surviving fighters without being honoured, yet bit is possible some foreign leaders being honoured by naming at least two roads or places in their name. Does Kanyama deserve such an honour because he is dead, a man who when he was alive nobody dared to mention his name?
MALODZA A HALISONI
Wolemba: Pacharo F. Munthali
Halisoni adamwetulira akudzisilira pakalilore. Tindevu tonga tonde tidali njo! Pachibwano chake. Kachingwe konga chikwanje kadali ndi! Pakhosi pake. Jekete loti mbu! lidali pholipholi
“Bambo, ntenthandevu wapsya,” Adatero mkazi wandodai.
“Ndikubwera mayi,” adayankha Halisoni.
Apa malingaliro adadzala m’mutu mwa ndodai ndipo misozi idamanga ufumu mu malingaliro ake. Izi zidali chomwechi pokumbukira m’mene adavutikira kuti afike pomwe adali leropa.
Makolo a Halisoni adamwali iye ali ndi zaka zitatu pangozi ya galimoto. Izi zidapangitsa kuti adzikhala ndi agogo ake aakazi aNaphiri. Apa nkuti agogo ake aamuna atatsamilanso nkono
Koma patatha zaka zitatu, nao aNaphiri adatsikira kulichete. Ndipo mikwingwirimayi idadzetsa theng’eneng’e m’moyo wa Halisoni. Zokhomazi monga ichitira mvula ya matalala ukaukulunga mpala, zidapangitsa Halisoni kuti sukulu ayisiye mufolomu ya chiwiri.
Pang’onopang’no ngati tsokonombwe, Halisoni adapeza ntchito pakampani yowotcherera zitsulo mu tawuni ya Wakwithu.
Podziwa kuti fodya wako ndi amene ali pamphuno, Halisoni amagwira ntchito ndi mtima wake wonse. Izi zidachititsa kuti adzikwezedwa maudindo pafupipafupi.
Pokhala kuti pakampanipo azungu amakondapo kwambiri, iwo akamabwerere kwao katundu wao ankasiyira Halisoni. Chifukwa cha ichi, Halisoni adakhala munthu wopata. Adali ndi galimoto komanso nyumba yolozeka ndipo samasowa kanthu pakhomo pake.
“Bambo tiyi akuziziratu kuno.” Adamukumbutsa chomwecho mkazi wake wa Halisoni.
Atathana naye kazutsayo Halisoni adauyatsa ulendo wakuntchito monga mwachizolowezi.
Kuchoka tsiku lomwe mzungu wina wake waku Kosovo adamusiyira njinga ya moto chifukwa cha luntha lake pakagwiridwe ka ntchito anthu ambiri amamuchitira dumbo.
Koma iye sadalabade, m’malo mwake adapitiriza kugwira ntchito mothetsa makhang’a. Iye amachita izi podziwa kuti kulimbikira kulibe mlowam’malo.
Iye adali ndi ntchito yowonetsetsa kuti zinthu zonse zili bwino nthawi yotsegula kapena kutseka ikafika.
Ngakhale zinthu zimayenda mwa myaa! chomwechi, padali chipsinjo chimodzi pakampanipo chomwe chimamulondalonda ngati chithuzithunzi. Chipsinjocho ndiye Chidyangu, yemwe adali wachiwiri kwa iye.
Chidyangu adali ndi mbiri osati yongododometsa komanso yoopsya. Iye pokhala munthu woti ndi wachipembezo chimodzi ndi bwana, nthawi zambiri ndi bwanayo amakhala limodzi. Mukutero chilichonse iye anganene bwanayo ankangovomereza.
Nthawi zambiri Halisoni amada nkhawa kuti mwina mutu wake utupa akamaganiza za Chidyangu.
Halisoni alichiyendere ulendo wakuntchito, ntima wake udagunda mwadzidzi. Malingaliro atsiku lotsatiralo adamufikira. Adakumbuka kuti dzulo lakero adasiira Chidyangu makiyi akuntchito pamene anadwala mwadzidzi ndipo adaweluka mofulumira. Nthawi imeneyi nkuti bwana wankulu pakampanipo atapita ku Jubeki ndipo amayembekezeredwa kubwera tsiku limeneli. Chomwe chidamuwawa kwambiri chidali choti bwana adanenetsa kuti makiyi asamasiyire aliyense kupatula bwanayo. Chidali chachidziwikire kuti bwana akamva izi akhala wokwiya kwambiri.
Patsikuli akufika kuntchito mtima wake udadayamba kugunda modetsa nkhawa ngati utuluka m’chimake. Nalo thupi lidachita tsemwe ngati mwanapiye wogwera m’chithaphwi. Nkhawa yasasimbika idamupeza Poona anthu pantchitopo ali khumakhuma ngati abongololo onamizira kufa ndipo nkhope zawo zidavala chisoni.
Halisoni adayetsetsa kufulumira poyenda koma kungwangwangwa kwa maondo ake kudamuchitira njiru. Apa adadziwiratu kuti zinthu zasolobana
“Bambo Halisoni, tafotokozani za zomwe zachitika apazi.” Adatero bwana wankulu pakampanipo. Nthawi imeneyi nkuti atangofika kumene kuchokera ku South africa. Zitseko za maofesi a pakampanipo zidali zitathyoledwa, ndipo katundu wambiri adakwangwanulidwa. Halisoni adangoima kusowa chonena ngati waphonya penate. Sadakhulupilire zomwe maso ake ankaona.
“Ndi-ndi-ndi-ndidamusiyira Chi-chi-dyangu,” adayankha mwachibwibwi, ndipo m’maso muli gwa! bwanayo adamuuza Halisoni kuti yake yawuma. Kukhala ngati kutokosola pabala ndi kamtengo pa dzino lobooka, Halisoni adauzidwa kuti katundu wake alandidwa kuti akagulitsidwe pobwezeretsa katundu yemwe wabetsa.
Halisoni adazweta mutu, ndipo chokamba chidamusowa monga momwe achitira mwana akaona kholo lake likubuula chifukwa cholumidwa ndi mavu.Adadziwa kuti Chidyangu adamuyenda pansi ndipo sadakayike. Kwa iye dziko lidachita chipidigoli. Nacho chimdima cha nzanga ali pati chidadzinga m’maso mwake ndipo sadakhulupilire zomwe zinkachitikazo. Adaona ngati kutulo.
Mwadzidzi, adagwa pansi ngati thumba la kachewere, ndipo adakomoka nthawi yomweyo.
Halisoni adamwetulira akudzisilira pakalilore. Tindevu tonga tonde tidali njo! Pachibwano chake. Kachingwe konga chikwanje kadali ndi! Pakhosi pake. Jekete loti mbu! lidali pholipholi
“Bambo, ntenthandevu wapsya,” Adatero mkazi wandodai.
“Ndikubwera mayi,” adayankha Halisoni.
Apa malingaliro adadzala m’mutu mwa ndodai ndipo misozi idamanga ufumu mu malingaliro ake. Izi zidali chomwechi pokumbukira m’mene adavutikira kuti afike pomwe adali leropa.
Makolo a Halisoni adamwali iye ali ndi zaka zitatu pangozi ya galimoto. Izi zidapangitsa kuti adzikhala ndi agogo ake aakazi aNaphiri. Apa nkuti agogo ake aamuna atatsamilanso nkono
Koma patatha zaka zitatu, nao aNaphiri adatsikira kulichete. Ndipo mikwingwirimayi idadzetsa theng’eneng’e m’moyo wa Halisoni. Zokhomazi monga ichitira mvula ya matalala ukaukulunga mpala, zidapangitsa Halisoni kuti sukulu ayisiye mufolomu ya chiwiri.
Pang’onopang’no ngati tsokonombwe, Halisoni adapeza ntchito pakampani yowotcherera zitsulo mu tawuni ya Wakwithu.
Podziwa kuti fodya wako ndi amene ali pamphuno, Halisoni amagwira ntchito ndi mtima wake wonse. Izi zidachititsa kuti adzikwezedwa maudindo pafupipafupi.
Pokhala kuti pakampanipo azungu amakondapo kwambiri, iwo akamabwerere kwao katundu wao ankasiyira Halisoni. Chifukwa cha ichi, Halisoni adakhala munthu wopata. Adali ndi galimoto komanso nyumba yolozeka ndipo samasowa kanthu pakhomo pake.
“Bambo tiyi akuziziratu kuno.” Adamukumbutsa chomwecho mkazi wake wa Halisoni.
Atathana naye kazutsayo Halisoni adauyatsa ulendo wakuntchito monga mwachizolowezi.
Kuchoka tsiku lomwe mzungu wina wake waku Kosovo adamusiyira njinga ya moto chifukwa cha luntha lake pakagwiridwe ka ntchito anthu ambiri amamuchitira dumbo.
Koma iye sadalabade, m’malo mwake adapitiriza kugwira ntchito mothetsa makhang’a. Iye amachita izi podziwa kuti kulimbikira kulibe mlowam’malo.
Iye adali ndi ntchito yowonetsetsa kuti zinthu zonse zili bwino nthawi yotsegula kapena kutseka ikafika.
Ngakhale zinthu zimayenda mwa myaa! chomwechi, padali chipsinjo chimodzi pakampanipo chomwe chimamulondalonda ngati chithuzithunzi. Chipsinjocho ndiye Chidyangu, yemwe adali wachiwiri kwa iye.
Chidyangu adali ndi mbiri osati yongododometsa komanso yoopsya. Iye pokhala munthu woti ndi wachipembezo chimodzi ndi bwana, nthawi zambiri ndi bwanayo amakhala limodzi. Mukutero chilichonse iye anganene bwanayo ankangovomereza.
Nthawi zambiri Halisoni amada nkhawa kuti mwina mutu wake utupa akamaganiza za Chidyangu.
Halisoni alichiyendere ulendo wakuntchito, ntima wake udagunda mwadzidzi. Malingaliro atsiku lotsatiralo adamufikira. Adakumbuka kuti dzulo lakero adasiira Chidyangu makiyi akuntchito pamene anadwala mwadzidzi ndipo adaweluka mofulumira. Nthawi imeneyi nkuti bwana wankulu pakampanipo atapita ku Jubeki ndipo amayembekezeredwa kubwera tsiku limeneli. Chomwe chidamuwawa kwambiri chidali choti bwana adanenetsa kuti makiyi asamasiyire aliyense kupatula bwanayo. Chidali chachidziwikire kuti bwana akamva izi akhala wokwiya kwambiri.
Patsikuli akufika kuntchito mtima wake udadayamba kugunda modetsa nkhawa ngati utuluka m’chimake. Nalo thupi lidachita tsemwe ngati mwanapiye wogwera m’chithaphwi. Nkhawa yasasimbika idamupeza Poona anthu pantchitopo ali khumakhuma ngati abongololo onamizira kufa ndipo nkhope zawo zidavala chisoni.
Halisoni adayetsetsa kufulumira poyenda koma kungwangwangwa kwa maondo ake kudamuchitira njiru. Apa adadziwiratu kuti zinthu zasolobana
“Bambo Halisoni, tafotokozani za zomwe zachitika apazi.” Adatero bwana wankulu pakampanipo. Nthawi imeneyi nkuti atangofika kumene kuchokera ku South africa. Zitseko za maofesi a pakampanipo zidali zitathyoledwa, ndipo katundu wambiri adakwangwanulidwa. Halisoni adangoima kusowa chonena ngati waphonya penate. Sadakhulupilire zomwe maso ake ankaona.
“Ndi-ndi-ndi-ndidamusiyira Chi-chi-dyangu,” adayankha mwachibwibwi, ndipo m’maso muli gwa! bwanayo adamuuza Halisoni kuti yake yawuma. Kukhala ngati kutokosola pabala ndi kamtengo pa dzino lobooka, Halisoni adauzidwa kuti katundu wake alandidwa kuti akagulitsidwe pobwezeretsa katundu yemwe wabetsa.
Halisoni adazweta mutu, ndipo chokamba chidamusowa monga momwe achitira mwana akaona kholo lake likubuula chifukwa cholumidwa ndi mavu.Adadziwa kuti Chidyangu adamuyenda pansi ndipo sadakayike. Kwa iye dziko lidachita chipidigoli. Nacho chimdima cha nzanga ali pati chidadzinga m’maso mwake ndipo sadakhulupilire zomwe zinkachitikazo. Adaona ngati kutulo.
Mwadzidzi, adagwa pansi ngati thumba la kachewere, ndipo adakomoka nthawi yomweyo.
THE MYSTERIOUS BEAST
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
"This is impossible, why but why?" It was not an occasion for merrymaking. The morning set up was nebulous. The atmosphere wore gloomy face. Dark clouds hovering in the sky bore witness as in masses came hurrying with blustery weather. Everyone was buried in the garbage of perplexity. Even the comic Chilekwa's lips were all cemented together; failing even to utter the simplest standard one shaggy dog story. The milieu was ferocious. Everything around was restless.
Chief detective Inspector Nkwerero's face played host to the rays of the sun, which was beginning its voyage of climbing the horizon, followed by the expression of infuriation due to the piercing manner the rays tormented his slender but aged-face. He screwed his face in contours of fury and uncertainty. His compounded eyes were strangely almost popping out and seemed red with rage than any time in his profession. Thirty solid years!
"The fourth murder case two days after the previous one in the same precinct," blared Nkwerero, his archaic moustache as if they had been practicing the whole night seemingly dancing to the tune of his anger. "It's impossible! We cannot tolerate this nonsense and allow our image and integrity to be dyed with all backsliding comments. Derogatory comments for that matter!"
This was the fourth murder within two weeks. Regaining the birthright of breathing in all cases proved futile and distant reality to the victims. What made the situation to nest even more conundrum ever thought, was that those that had joined the bandwagon of being killed were all police officers. Two of them were well-trained and fully groomed cops.
As if that did not carry huge weight, there was something that made policemen tremble with fever. Fever of fear! A thing that completed the situation to be covered with air that is but a misty. Whenever the killer claimed a policeman a victim there was always a note left. It is this note that made Chief Detective Inspector to perspire profusely. "You are next!" was what the entire note said.
"You have to track down this sinister," it was the Inspector butting in, whose anger intermingled with confusion to brew an expression on his face not enough to be put into lexical depiction. He moved around the group of the police officers like a preacher giving a scary sermon to the congregation that no matter what they do, hell remains their only destiny.
Sub Inspector Matiki all along had been quiet. He was thinking; his forehead welling up with sweat instantly. He was a stern man. Being talkative to him was a signpost of weakness.
"The more you talk, the more mistakes you are prone to make," most of the time he would say. Since joining the police service, he has been more of a go-getter than a conversationalist. To him action utters volumes than words.
He knelt down. Putting on the gloves, he niggled at the inscription like a laboratory technician observing microbes under the microscope. He looked at it, but could not make a tail out of it.
A chain of over-lapping thoughts amassed his mind, but no solution could mushroom to seal lips of doubting Thomases so that the vox populi should at least be spared from constipating after stomaching whole lot of stories carried out in the country's watchful media. Only when the fog of uncertainty would be cleared, freedom in his bones or complacency appeared to be shifting far beyond horizons.
"Fourth murder!" words of Nkwerero kept on lingering in his mind; he wiped away sweat from his forehead as a way of portraying the intensity of the parable at hand. He was furious to be in such a complex, a scenario in which probability of hope kept on fainting with every tick of the clock. It was like a gamble. Chances of being promoted and demoted in both extremes were skyrocket towering.
On the day the first police officer met his fate, inspector Matiki had been patrolling the same area. The next two murder cases happened when he went to Israel for a four day Modern Investigation Seminar. Now he was on the very same spot where the fourth police officer has been found motionless. Dead!
The silence of isolation, though at millipedes' pace started to shadow his confidence. But he still managed to sum up courage and flash a beam of smile in satisfaction at his invincible record in as far as trucking down of mysterious killers was concerned.
"I deserve a noble prize," he talked to himself.
He paced around the victim. He noticed something. Every time someone's life was terminated, a number of teeth were removed as well. The gums looked to be hosting deep wells, full of solidified brown blood. He wondered why that was a trend. Again, he was at pain to realize that only the law enforcers were the only victims. A wave of heat ran through Matiki's veins.
The man, pot-bellied was glued to the ground. He visibly seemed as though he was making a salute to the state president as the fury of knife went into his stomach. The blood had soaked the police uniform; the victim wore, beyond recognition. There were few hours since the attacker had done the damage to the victim's life. The permanent damage!
The man, now lifeless rejuvenated Matiki's mind on how they had struggled together in life. Offering each other a hand, they had ploughed through all stumbling blocks that colored education in Timwengeland. Through hard work, they reached the senior level of secondary education and did extremely outstanding. They were selected to the same university, but huge burdens of responsibility beckoning on their shoulders they did not go further. They joined police service. Now his friend was gone. For numberless time he held back tears. His mind wrestled, but nothing cropped up.
The frame of the person, motionless, facing upwards on the ground, inflicted the mind of Matiki with deep cuts of wounds. A volcano of tears almost coursed down his cheeks. As he re-examined the note "You are next!" a clear idea on how to track down the killer sprouted. The killer had made a gravel mistake; a stupid mistake for that matter. It was a blunder that even an amateur couldn't give a damn. During the last operation, the killer had written the inscription on the card baring his hotel room number.
"He is at Mchinchi Hotel, but how will I know him?" He asked himself.
Constable Chisi, who had been in the police for over 10 years, approached Matiki trudging tiringly.
"Sir Sub Inspector mat… the Chief Detective…says you should interrogate that frail looking man over there," Constable Chisi showing all signs of tiredness and lack of sleep in stammer conveyed the message. "The man witnessed the events as they unfolded."
"Coming!"
The man matched the description. Weak, scraggy but talkative was the simplified way the man could be described. At times, the man looked more of a lunatic rather than a person who can provide information that can lead to the apprehension of the suspect.
That evening, Matiki was on his way to Mchinchi Hotel. Tall and thin is the how the killer was described. The killer had shot the witness and thought he had been shot and died indeed. The witness had pretended that he had died, hence leaving him. The witness at the time was on duty as a guard. Four civilian police officers will be at various points. Two inside the hotel especially in bar and the other two outside at the car pack near the car that matches the description.
As they sat inside the bar, a young man, matching the description emerged and was going out. He was in black suit and putting on sunglasses yet it was at night.
They followed him out.
"Hands up!" the police officer outside called.
Then it was the exchange of fire. Two police officers were badly injured. Matiki jumped out and aimed at the killer, he was gunned down. Silence took over. Inside the bar women screamed and men trembled.
When Matiki came near the killer, his facial expression changed. It was Kuzonga. Almost his brother. Matiki because he was an orphan, who had lost both his parents when he was two was raised up by Kuzonga's parents.
"Kuzonga what is this?" Matiki asked his half-brother tears running down his cheeks for the first time in his profession.
"It's not your fault Matiki, I have to blame myself," with laboured breath Kuzonga, the mysterious killer said.
Silence reigned. The two police officers that were inside kept a distance from where Matiki and Kuzonga were. Blood was oozing from where Kuzonga had been shot. The two brothers were looking at each other like cocks that had been fight the whole day.
Within a blink guns rattled. Matiki was down. He had killed himself. Kuzonga had no option but to get his half brother's gun and killed himself as well.
"This is impossible, why but why?" It was not an occasion for merrymaking. The morning set up was nebulous. The atmosphere wore gloomy face. Dark clouds hovering in the sky bore witness as in masses came hurrying with blustery weather. Everyone was buried in the garbage of perplexity. Even the comic Chilekwa's lips were all cemented together; failing even to utter the simplest standard one shaggy dog story. The milieu was ferocious. Everything around was restless.
Chief detective Inspector Nkwerero's face played host to the rays of the sun, which was beginning its voyage of climbing the horizon, followed by the expression of infuriation due to the piercing manner the rays tormented his slender but aged-face. He screwed his face in contours of fury and uncertainty. His compounded eyes were strangely almost popping out and seemed red with rage than any time in his profession. Thirty solid years!
"The fourth murder case two days after the previous one in the same precinct," blared Nkwerero, his archaic moustache as if they had been practicing the whole night seemingly dancing to the tune of his anger. "It's impossible! We cannot tolerate this nonsense and allow our image and integrity to be dyed with all backsliding comments. Derogatory comments for that matter!"
This was the fourth murder within two weeks. Regaining the birthright of breathing in all cases proved futile and distant reality to the victims. What made the situation to nest even more conundrum ever thought, was that those that had joined the bandwagon of being killed were all police officers. Two of them were well-trained and fully groomed cops.
As if that did not carry huge weight, there was something that made policemen tremble with fever. Fever of fear! A thing that completed the situation to be covered with air that is but a misty. Whenever the killer claimed a policeman a victim there was always a note left. It is this note that made Chief Detective Inspector to perspire profusely. "You are next!" was what the entire note said.
"You have to track down this sinister," it was the Inspector butting in, whose anger intermingled with confusion to brew an expression on his face not enough to be put into lexical depiction. He moved around the group of the police officers like a preacher giving a scary sermon to the congregation that no matter what they do, hell remains their only destiny.
Sub Inspector Matiki all along had been quiet. He was thinking; his forehead welling up with sweat instantly. He was a stern man. Being talkative to him was a signpost of weakness.
"The more you talk, the more mistakes you are prone to make," most of the time he would say. Since joining the police service, he has been more of a go-getter than a conversationalist. To him action utters volumes than words.
He knelt down. Putting on the gloves, he niggled at the inscription like a laboratory technician observing microbes under the microscope. He looked at it, but could not make a tail out of it.
A chain of over-lapping thoughts amassed his mind, but no solution could mushroom to seal lips of doubting Thomases so that the vox populi should at least be spared from constipating after stomaching whole lot of stories carried out in the country's watchful media. Only when the fog of uncertainty would be cleared, freedom in his bones or complacency appeared to be shifting far beyond horizons.
"Fourth murder!" words of Nkwerero kept on lingering in his mind; he wiped away sweat from his forehead as a way of portraying the intensity of the parable at hand. He was furious to be in such a complex, a scenario in which probability of hope kept on fainting with every tick of the clock. It was like a gamble. Chances of being promoted and demoted in both extremes were skyrocket towering.
On the day the first police officer met his fate, inspector Matiki had been patrolling the same area. The next two murder cases happened when he went to Israel for a four day Modern Investigation Seminar. Now he was on the very same spot where the fourth police officer has been found motionless. Dead!
The silence of isolation, though at millipedes' pace started to shadow his confidence. But he still managed to sum up courage and flash a beam of smile in satisfaction at his invincible record in as far as trucking down of mysterious killers was concerned.
"I deserve a noble prize," he talked to himself.
He paced around the victim. He noticed something. Every time someone's life was terminated, a number of teeth were removed as well. The gums looked to be hosting deep wells, full of solidified brown blood. He wondered why that was a trend. Again, he was at pain to realize that only the law enforcers were the only victims. A wave of heat ran through Matiki's veins.
The man, pot-bellied was glued to the ground. He visibly seemed as though he was making a salute to the state president as the fury of knife went into his stomach. The blood had soaked the police uniform; the victim wore, beyond recognition. There were few hours since the attacker had done the damage to the victim's life. The permanent damage!
The man, now lifeless rejuvenated Matiki's mind on how they had struggled together in life. Offering each other a hand, they had ploughed through all stumbling blocks that colored education in Timwengeland. Through hard work, they reached the senior level of secondary education and did extremely outstanding. They were selected to the same university, but huge burdens of responsibility beckoning on their shoulders they did not go further. They joined police service. Now his friend was gone. For numberless time he held back tears. His mind wrestled, but nothing cropped up.
The frame of the person, motionless, facing upwards on the ground, inflicted the mind of Matiki with deep cuts of wounds. A volcano of tears almost coursed down his cheeks. As he re-examined the note "You are next!" a clear idea on how to track down the killer sprouted. The killer had made a gravel mistake; a stupid mistake for that matter. It was a blunder that even an amateur couldn't give a damn. During the last operation, the killer had written the inscription on the card baring his hotel room number.
"He is at Mchinchi Hotel, but how will I know him?" He asked himself.
Constable Chisi, who had been in the police for over 10 years, approached Matiki trudging tiringly.
"Sir Sub Inspector mat… the Chief Detective…says you should interrogate that frail looking man over there," Constable Chisi showing all signs of tiredness and lack of sleep in stammer conveyed the message. "The man witnessed the events as they unfolded."
"Coming!"
The man matched the description. Weak, scraggy but talkative was the simplified way the man could be described. At times, the man looked more of a lunatic rather than a person who can provide information that can lead to the apprehension of the suspect.
That evening, Matiki was on his way to Mchinchi Hotel. Tall and thin is the how the killer was described. The killer had shot the witness and thought he had been shot and died indeed. The witness had pretended that he had died, hence leaving him. The witness at the time was on duty as a guard. Four civilian police officers will be at various points. Two inside the hotel especially in bar and the other two outside at the car pack near the car that matches the description.
As they sat inside the bar, a young man, matching the description emerged and was going out. He was in black suit and putting on sunglasses yet it was at night.
They followed him out.
"Hands up!" the police officer outside called.
Then it was the exchange of fire. Two police officers were badly injured. Matiki jumped out and aimed at the killer, he was gunned down. Silence took over. Inside the bar women screamed and men trembled.
When Matiki came near the killer, his facial expression changed. It was Kuzonga. Almost his brother. Matiki because he was an orphan, who had lost both his parents when he was two was raised up by Kuzonga's parents.
"Kuzonga what is this?" Matiki asked his half-brother tears running down his cheeks for the first time in his profession.
"It's not your fault Matiki, I have to blame myself," with laboured breath Kuzonga, the mysterious killer said.
Silence reigned. The two police officers that were inside kept a distance from where Matiki and Kuzonga were. Blood was oozing from where Kuzonga had been shot. The two brothers were looking at each other like cocks that had been fight the whole day.
Within a blink guns rattled. Matiki was down. He had killed himself. Kuzonga had no option but to get his half brother's gun and killed himself as well.
IF MALAWI CAN CAPITALISAING ON OPPORTUNITIES
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
By the 2007 Africa was in its fourth year of strong economic growth. With higher oil revenues, strong commodity prices, and increased debt relief, Africa has continued to enjoy economic growth above five percent. Africa's GDP in the past six years, has outpaced global average. IMF says Africa is enjoying "its best period of sustained growth and lowest inflation since independence."
The outlook looks rosy. The forecast for the year 2008 is encouraging. During the world Economic Forum in South Africa, Trevor Manuel, South African Finance Minister said the forecast by the African Development Bank that Africa's economy will expand by 5.9% this year can be an underestimation. "The outlook in Africa is exceedingly bright," he said.
This is a clear picture that is in the offing. Just like Malawi, which has recently experienced tremendous economic growth in the democratic period, Africa's economic growth will be exceeding five per cent for the fifth consecutive year.
Amongst SADC countries Malawi came second to Angola, a country that relies mostly on huge oil reserves, in terms of economic growth last year. "For three successive years, Malawi has attained growth rate of over seven percent," Goodall Gondwe, the finance Minister had told parliament during the presentation of 2008/09 budget session.
Despite the country finding itself in political mudslinging and pull downs, the economy of the country has kept on growing. Between 1980s and 2004, said the Finance Minister, the country's exports "stagnated at between US$400 and US$500 million. But in 2007 a record of US$ 700 was reached. This entails that more than be done to achieve even more.
At a time when the world is facing all economic ills, the landscape for Malawi looks promising. Perhaps apart from oil crisis and soaring food prices, there is one impediment in Malawi's path – 2009 general elections. This is a time for economic make or break. As President Thabo Mbeki pointed out during the World Economic Forum political instability is one of the major risks that impacts Africa negatively. Kenya is most recent example. Malawi needs to tread meticulously.
The just ended 18th World Economic Forum which attracted more than 800 participants was aimed at looking at the challenges that Africa has to deal with if "it is to be seen as a reliable and competitive partner in global economy." Thus Africa believes that for it to capitalize on opportunities on the global market, its "globally-attuned agenda" has to be built on five core pillars namely, re-engineering growth, unfinished business, innovate or perish, partnership without borders, and licence to lead.
According to experts, with all these pillars, and put into good approach, a boom of buzzing economic activities is likely to accelerate economic growth.
"Building on the tremendous progress Africa has made over recent years, opportunities abound despite existing obstacles," BØrge Brende, Managing Director of World Economic Forum, said.
President John Kufuor of Ghana said that the opportunity for Africa was immense, with President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza saying Africa is a rich continent and it has no right to be poor.
These are sentiments Malawi leader has now and again said. The president has always said Malawi is not poor but it is the people who are poor.
The outlook of Malawi is very clear. "The international experts," according to Goodall Gondwe, "forecast that the figure [exports] could exceed US$ 800 million this year and when Kayelekera becomes fully operational, total exports could pass the US$ one billion mark by 2010."
Malawi has for long been perceived as having no minerals. Today the story is different – there are more minerals. In a decade to come, subject to power availability and political will in relevant issues, mining activities will be buzzing. In recent years Malawi's economy growth has managed to outpace those countries having abundant minerals.
Malawi needs to capitalize on opportunities as they are coming. Agriculture is that good area that Malawi is trying. For long time the country despite having abundant water and land resources, hunger has always hit her. At times the country has been importing more than the exports.
This year the Ministry of agriculture has a lion's share. But it is unique as well. The irrigation sector tops the allocation within the ministry. A fully-fledged irrigation needs to be undertaken. There are many opportunities. The minimum tobacco and cotton prices have been encouraging. In his return from Japan, the president challenged Malawians: "every grain of rice produced will be sold."
Diversification to counter all sorts of risks is important. With the coming of China, another door has opened for Malawian products. Japan is interested in Malawi, of course, like never before. The market for Malawian products looks to be widening.
Japan currently is helping Malawi in her quest for road network expansion. A good road network and vibrant agriculture sector, coupled with government's good relationship with donors, especially in a country where minerals are promising, is a good march towards the land of Canaan.
The opportunities are enormous. As president Kufuor said during the just ended World economic forum, good coordination is vital for Africa to realize its potential to the opportunities available.
Local business players must emulate Mulli Brothers. Some few months ago, the brothers were in the Middle East, where they took part in a trade fair. There, they exhibited their products from Malawi. When they came back to Malawi, they were afraid. Malawian products are on high demand. They capacity is limited. In Japan the same story emerged – more products are needed. More local investors need to be encouraged to take part. More needs to be empowered. Government and other relevant players can help these local business men, especially those that have the will to expand like the Mulli brothers. These are opportunities the nation needs not to miss.
As African countries are pondering on the next step – how to maintain its economic growth, more work is expected. There is the challenge of translating the economic growth to the welfare improvement of the people. This probably one of the hurdles the fast growing economies are facing.
Relying on raw commodities is another hurdle that exposes Africa's economy to the harm of world commodity prices fluctuations and haphazard and hazard climatic unpredictables. In the report dubbed Africa@risk released before the forum, the experts of Global Risk Networks, said Africa was facing twenty-six interconnected global risks, out of them four are said to be critical for Africa's future. These include food insecurity, political instability, external economic shocks and climate change.
By the 2007 Africa was in its fourth year of strong economic growth. With higher oil revenues, strong commodity prices, and increased debt relief, Africa has continued to enjoy economic growth above five percent. Africa's GDP in the past six years, has outpaced global average. IMF says Africa is enjoying "its best period of sustained growth and lowest inflation since independence."
The outlook looks rosy. The forecast for the year 2008 is encouraging. During the world Economic Forum in South Africa, Trevor Manuel, South African Finance Minister said the forecast by the African Development Bank that Africa's economy will expand by 5.9% this year can be an underestimation. "The outlook in Africa is exceedingly bright," he said.
This is a clear picture that is in the offing. Just like Malawi, which has recently experienced tremendous economic growth in the democratic period, Africa's economic growth will be exceeding five per cent for the fifth consecutive year.
Amongst SADC countries Malawi came second to Angola, a country that relies mostly on huge oil reserves, in terms of economic growth last year. "For three successive years, Malawi has attained growth rate of over seven percent," Goodall Gondwe, the finance Minister had told parliament during the presentation of 2008/09 budget session.
Despite the country finding itself in political mudslinging and pull downs, the economy of the country has kept on growing. Between 1980s and 2004, said the Finance Minister, the country's exports "stagnated at between US$400 and US$500 million. But in 2007 a record of US$ 700 was reached. This entails that more than be done to achieve even more.
At a time when the world is facing all economic ills, the landscape for Malawi looks promising. Perhaps apart from oil crisis and soaring food prices, there is one impediment in Malawi's path – 2009 general elections. This is a time for economic make or break. As President Thabo Mbeki pointed out during the World Economic Forum political instability is one of the major risks that impacts Africa negatively. Kenya is most recent example. Malawi needs to tread meticulously.
The just ended 18th World Economic Forum which attracted more than 800 participants was aimed at looking at the challenges that Africa has to deal with if "it is to be seen as a reliable and competitive partner in global economy." Thus Africa believes that for it to capitalize on opportunities on the global market, its "globally-attuned agenda" has to be built on five core pillars namely, re-engineering growth, unfinished business, innovate or perish, partnership without borders, and licence to lead.
According to experts, with all these pillars, and put into good approach, a boom of buzzing economic activities is likely to accelerate economic growth.
"Building on the tremendous progress Africa has made over recent years, opportunities abound despite existing obstacles," BØrge Brende, Managing Director of World Economic Forum, said.
President John Kufuor of Ghana said that the opportunity for Africa was immense, with President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza saying Africa is a rich continent and it has no right to be poor.
These are sentiments Malawi leader has now and again said. The president has always said Malawi is not poor but it is the people who are poor.
The outlook of Malawi is very clear. "The international experts," according to Goodall Gondwe, "forecast that the figure [exports] could exceed US$ 800 million this year and when Kayelekera becomes fully operational, total exports could pass the US$ one billion mark by 2010."
Malawi has for long been perceived as having no minerals. Today the story is different – there are more minerals. In a decade to come, subject to power availability and political will in relevant issues, mining activities will be buzzing. In recent years Malawi's economy growth has managed to outpace those countries having abundant minerals.
Malawi needs to capitalize on opportunities as they are coming. Agriculture is that good area that Malawi is trying. For long time the country despite having abundant water and land resources, hunger has always hit her. At times the country has been importing more than the exports.
This year the Ministry of agriculture has a lion's share. But it is unique as well. The irrigation sector tops the allocation within the ministry. A fully-fledged irrigation needs to be undertaken. There are many opportunities. The minimum tobacco and cotton prices have been encouraging. In his return from Japan, the president challenged Malawians: "every grain of rice produced will be sold."
Diversification to counter all sorts of risks is important. With the coming of China, another door has opened for Malawian products. Japan is interested in Malawi, of course, like never before. The market for Malawian products looks to be widening.
Japan currently is helping Malawi in her quest for road network expansion. A good road network and vibrant agriculture sector, coupled with government's good relationship with donors, especially in a country where minerals are promising, is a good march towards the land of Canaan.
The opportunities are enormous. As president Kufuor said during the just ended World economic forum, good coordination is vital for Africa to realize its potential to the opportunities available.
Local business players must emulate Mulli Brothers. Some few months ago, the brothers were in the Middle East, where they took part in a trade fair. There, they exhibited their products from Malawi. When they came back to Malawi, they were afraid. Malawian products are on high demand. They capacity is limited. In Japan the same story emerged – more products are needed. More local investors need to be encouraged to take part. More needs to be empowered. Government and other relevant players can help these local business men, especially those that have the will to expand like the Mulli brothers. These are opportunities the nation needs not to miss.
As African countries are pondering on the next step – how to maintain its economic growth, more work is expected. There is the challenge of translating the economic growth to the welfare improvement of the people. This probably one of the hurdles the fast growing economies are facing.
Relying on raw commodities is another hurdle that exposes Africa's economy to the harm of world commodity prices fluctuations and haphazard and hazard climatic unpredictables. In the report dubbed Africa@risk released before the forum, the experts of Global Risk Networks, said Africa was facing twenty-six interconnected global risks, out of them four are said to be critical for Africa's future. These include food insecurity, political instability, external economic shocks and climate change.
OF VENDORS AND FLEA MARKET
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
It is an undisputable fact that the many times of life that the vendors clung to the streets, without any epitome nor lavish expression, made our once modest cities and, of course, our only municipality unhygienic to the degree that you could hardly walk more than 200 metres before you got entangled in a terrible malodorous.
The few toilets that are there are impaired to the extent that going into these toilets means ‘constructively’ putting your life at risk. As a remedy, after being architects of their own fate, the vendors and helpless citizens resorted to urinating on the walls of most buildings in our cities as if they were urinary drains.
Also, the ugly face that the benches brought to our cities cannot entirely be overemphasized either, hence the government needs to be pated on the back for the job well done. For removing hundreds upon fifties of vendors, which involved armed soldiers with millions of Kwachas being blown in the process, who can resist the temptations of joining the government on the dancing floor in jubilation?
Furthermore, the introduction of identity cards will surely help to discard the multitudinous population of illegal immigrants, who in the name of vendors are making a more decent living than their local counterparts.
Much as government is commended on the job not goofed, by successfully flashing out the vendors, I, for one, feels the whole episode of problems and expenses that were order of the day in our press before 15th April, 2006 could have been prevented long time back. Honestly speaking, until 15th April the question that kept on tommernting my brain had been: “who owns the flea markets?” I don’t mean that it was good to have the vendors on the streets nor that their should not occupy the flea markets, but the process that was involved in building the markets.
Unscrewing the whole mayhem blow by blow, from the word go, the whole issue, to some extent, was mauled by lack of thorough consultation between the vendors, on one hand, and the government on the other. Although we understand that it is the duty of the City Assemblies to ensure that our cities have better amenities, which in this context are flea markets, I feel the vendors being the direct beneficiaries were supposed to be in one way or the other.
It is a no longer a secret that every time government said they consulted the vendors, the latter would accused the government for giving false information in media. Gerald Chimutu, one of the vendors who went to Zimbabwe to learn from their counterparts, lamented in the Weekend Nation of 15-16 July, 2000 that the-then responsible minister told the press that construction of the markets was underway whilst the beneficiaries (vendors) were ignorant of the take off. Mind you, this was project planning period, yet disagreements had already overshadowed the whole process. Also, in the Daily times of 10th February 2006, Grant Phiri, chairman of Lilongwe vendors complained that the city Assemblies did not understand their problems at the same time, he said the problems were not forwarded to the right authorities. This translates that there was lack of direct communication between the beneficiaries (the vendors) and officials of Assemblies responsible.
These lamentations by the vendors cannot arise from the blues, hence sum up the depth of lack of consultation on the part of the government in as far as establishing of flea markets was concerned.
Whether it was negligence on part of planners or not it is not the bone of my contention in this article. Rather, the bottom line is that the assemblies forgot that issues of development that involve the whole range of people with different levels of thinking, reasoning, perception to the problems at hand are very sensitive.
As already stated, the whole higgledy-piggledy which was there before 18th April was preventable had it been that the vendors were involved from the beginning.
Sad to say, the vendors’ perception of their problems and their perceived solutions were either overlooked or intentionally neglected from the start. Even if there was any consultation, I feel it was a kind of Top-Down approach where the government just imposed solution on the vendor’s problem .As a result, it is not surprising that these magnificent markets, sooner than later, would have transmuted into national monuments. Why? This would have been like that as the vendors tried to ignore government’ directives since their perception of the problem was considered not worthy.
Back to issue of involving the vendors. This involvement would have empowered the vendors to share their opinions and identify their needs and problems, both among themselves and the city assemblies. Consequently, this would have enabled the vendors to have influence in decision-making, resulting in establishing of a general consensus between the vendors and the government. In the same regard, once both parties (the vendors and government) made a joint decision on the flea markets, it is unquestionable that such decision would have resulted into a more effective and readily acceptable solution.
The participation of the vendors in the project planning and implementation would have instilled the spirit of ownership, since the solution suggested would have been seen as more as more relevant to their needs.
In the same vein, the current issue of inadequate space would have been easily dealt with as the vendors would feel the ownership of the market. Unlike the current wrangles between the vendors and the government, where the latter was forcing the former to get into the market, which forced the press Trust to bring to halt the project. But if the participatory approach was used, it would have attracted more donors so as to the market being enlarged to accommodate the growing number of the vendors.
Last but not least, even though the vendors have been reallocated to their respective designated places there is still room for consultations. The government should call for constant meetings with the vendors. These strings of meetings might centre on issues like sanitation, security, inadequate space as well as other simmering issues that the vendors deem as problems.
Finally, the government through its assemblies should be aware that much as we are under the rule where people’s inputs are highly appreciated, the same tradition should follow suit in development projects where direct beneficiaries should be heard. In other words, people must be involved in their development projects if the realization of development for people not on people is to materialize.
It is an undisputable fact that the many times of life that the vendors clung to the streets, without any epitome nor lavish expression, made our once modest cities and, of course, our only municipality unhygienic to the degree that you could hardly walk more than 200 metres before you got entangled in a terrible malodorous.
The few toilets that are there are impaired to the extent that going into these toilets means ‘constructively’ putting your life at risk. As a remedy, after being architects of their own fate, the vendors and helpless citizens resorted to urinating on the walls of most buildings in our cities as if they were urinary drains.
Also, the ugly face that the benches brought to our cities cannot entirely be overemphasized either, hence the government needs to be pated on the back for the job well done. For removing hundreds upon fifties of vendors, which involved armed soldiers with millions of Kwachas being blown in the process, who can resist the temptations of joining the government on the dancing floor in jubilation?
Furthermore, the introduction of identity cards will surely help to discard the multitudinous population of illegal immigrants, who in the name of vendors are making a more decent living than their local counterparts.
Much as government is commended on the job not goofed, by successfully flashing out the vendors, I, for one, feels the whole episode of problems and expenses that were order of the day in our press before 15th April, 2006 could have been prevented long time back. Honestly speaking, until 15th April the question that kept on tommernting my brain had been: “who owns the flea markets?” I don’t mean that it was good to have the vendors on the streets nor that their should not occupy the flea markets, but the process that was involved in building the markets.
Unscrewing the whole mayhem blow by blow, from the word go, the whole issue, to some extent, was mauled by lack of thorough consultation between the vendors, on one hand, and the government on the other. Although we understand that it is the duty of the City Assemblies to ensure that our cities have better amenities, which in this context are flea markets, I feel the vendors being the direct beneficiaries were supposed to be in one way or the other.
It is a no longer a secret that every time government said they consulted the vendors, the latter would accused the government for giving false information in media. Gerald Chimutu, one of the vendors who went to Zimbabwe to learn from their counterparts, lamented in the Weekend Nation of 15-16 July, 2000 that the-then responsible minister told the press that construction of the markets was underway whilst the beneficiaries (vendors) were ignorant of the take off. Mind you, this was project planning period, yet disagreements had already overshadowed the whole process. Also, in the Daily times of 10th February 2006, Grant Phiri, chairman of Lilongwe vendors complained that the city Assemblies did not understand their problems at the same time, he said the problems were not forwarded to the right authorities. This translates that there was lack of direct communication between the beneficiaries (the vendors) and officials of Assemblies responsible.
These lamentations by the vendors cannot arise from the blues, hence sum up the depth of lack of consultation on the part of the government in as far as establishing of flea markets was concerned.
Whether it was negligence on part of planners or not it is not the bone of my contention in this article. Rather, the bottom line is that the assemblies forgot that issues of development that involve the whole range of people with different levels of thinking, reasoning, perception to the problems at hand are very sensitive.
As already stated, the whole higgledy-piggledy which was there before 18th April was preventable had it been that the vendors were involved from the beginning.
Sad to say, the vendors’ perception of their problems and their perceived solutions were either overlooked or intentionally neglected from the start. Even if there was any consultation, I feel it was a kind of Top-Down approach where the government just imposed solution on the vendor’s problem .As a result, it is not surprising that these magnificent markets, sooner than later, would have transmuted into national monuments. Why? This would have been like that as the vendors tried to ignore government’ directives since their perception of the problem was considered not worthy.
Back to issue of involving the vendors. This involvement would have empowered the vendors to share their opinions and identify their needs and problems, both among themselves and the city assemblies. Consequently, this would have enabled the vendors to have influence in decision-making, resulting in establishing of a general consensus between the vendors and the government. In the same regard, once both parties (the vendors and government) made a joint decision on the flea markets, it is unquestionable that such decision would have resulted into a more effective and readily acceptable solution.
The participation of the vendors in the project planning and implementation would have instilled the spirit of ownership, since the solution suggested would have been seen as more as more relevant to their needs.
In the same vein, the current issue of inadequate space would have been easily dealt with as the vendors would feel the ownership of the market. Unlike the current wrangles between the vendors and the government, where the latter was forcing the former to get into the market, which forced the press Trust to bring to halt the project. But if the participatory approach was used, it would have attracted more donors so as to the market being enlarged to accommodate the growing number of the vendors.
Last but not least, even though the vendors have been reallocated to their respective designated places there is still room for consultations. The government should call for constant meetings with the vendors. These strings of meetings might centre on issues like sanitation, security, inadequate space as well as other simmering issues that the vendors deem as problems.
Finally, the government through its assemblies should be aware that much as we are under the rule where people’s inputs are highly appreciated, the same tradition should follow suit in development projects where direct beneficiaries should be heard. In other words, people must be involved in their development projects if the realization of development for people not on people is to materialize.
Zomba CCAPSO students meet
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
Last Saturday, May 31 CCAPSO students from the whole of Zomba city had a get together function at the Zomba Catholic Secondary School aimed at "strengthening their spiritual life.
Speaking in an interview the organizing chairperson for the Zomba Zone, Gills Msiska said: "the function served two functions; bringing interaction amongst the secondary and college students, and as a way of reaching out to the students."
The event attracted students from Chancellor College, Malawi College of Health Sciences, St Luke's Nursing and Midwifery, Chinamwali Private Secondary school, Likwenu Community Day Secondary School, St. Mary's girls Secondary school and the host.
During the event, activities like poems, singing, drama and others were staged. Such gatherings take place every term of secondary school where students of Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAPSO) from colleges and secondary schools come together and share their experiences in spiritual life.
Last Saturday, May 31 CCAPSO students from the whole of Zomba city had a get together function at the Zomba Catholic Secondary School aimed at "strengthening their spiritual life.
Speaking in an interview the organizing chairperson for the Zomba Zone, Gills Msiska said: "the function served two functions; bringing interaction amongst the secondary and college students, and as a way of reaching out to the students."
The event attracted students from Chancellor College, Malawi College of Health Sciences, St Luke's Nursing and Midwifery, Chinamwali Private Secondary school, Likwenu Community Day Secondary School, St. Mary's girls Secondary school and the host.
During the event, activities like poems, singing, drama and others were staged. Such gatherings take place every term of secondary school where students of Church of Central African Presbyterian (CCAPSO) from colleges and secondary schools come together and share their experiences in spiritual life.
Who should cut the emissions?
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
Standing on top of Zomba Mountain and focusing down the mountain, patches of baldness are evident. The once green mountain is haphazardly in hazard situation. The rate at which trees are cut down is appalling.
Every time one moves up and down the mountain, one meets people. They have loads of firewood be it on their heads or bicycle. Approaching one of them one of them, identifying himself as Amini Amidu he smiles.
"It's not that we want to be carrying firewood legally or illegally like this," he wipes sweat from his face as he is staggering. "Poverty should be blamed." The firewood helps them have some money, apart from cooking. The money generated helps them at least deal with household problems.
"Almost prices of everything are surging up, young man," he says as he points out that almost everything now needs money, apart from the air that we breathe for free.
The tale of Amidu is one of numerous tales that have been told and re-told. He is one of many people that knowingly or unknowing are ravaging forests. These are the very same forest that helps in reducing green house gases from the skies. Cutting down trees means more carbon dioxide and other green house gases are still in the air.
"An estimated 20 percent of emissions contributing to the climate change globally," says a government Press Release on World Environment Day 2008, "are as a result of deforestation."
The issue of global warming has more twists than an eye can see. As others are concentrating on industrial countries as largely responsible, others are pushing for the developing countries to play a leading role in the same.
For quite a long time, there have been more wrangles rather than the efforts in dealing with global warming. Last year in Germany the G8 leaders reached a consensus. They seriously considered on having a goal to half green house emissions by 2050. The European Union, Canada, and Japan agreed. But the emerging superpowers like China and India have vehemently refused by saying USA should promise to do more in cutting emissions.
This is the paradox that has always locked the world in its drive towards making the world green gas free arena. Up to 190 countries have reached a consensus that by the of 2009 a successor treaty to the Tokyo Pact, which binds thirty-seven advanced nations to cut emissions by the average of five percent below the 1990 levels by 2012.
The developed countries that are largely responsible for the better part of the problem are dilly-dallying. The developed countries some of them based on problems they are facing are committed towards solving the problem. But they lack capacity. They don't have the coping mechanism as the effects of the global warming are proving too much for them.
As the main international celebrations of the world Environment Day is going to be held in the city of Wellington in New Zealand, and in Mulanje in Malawi, it is high time the agenda was looked at. With grappling poverty how can we "give a human face to environmental issues and empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development?"
People like Amidu have no choice, they say. Their only means of survival is through cutting down of trees and selling them, and make money not even enough to come above one dollar per day threshold.
Unfortunately the concept of empowerment is a contested one. It is not as simple as imposing ideas on the poor, who are wreaking havoc on the forests, by calling a meeting. It's about understanding their perception, problems, and how their feel the problems in the realm of deforestation can be dealt with. It's about making the poor owners of the projects and "support activities that are environmental friendly."
This coupled by what South African Environment Minister, Marthius Van Schalkwyk told the Reuters, in response to the three day meeting of the G8 and rapidly growing economies such as China and India comes as pressure piles for both developed and developing countries to tackle climate change, the poor are likely to be empowered.
He said: "In Kobe, we expect our partners in the G8 to champion the developing countries' cause by explicitly addressing the means of implementation (technology transfer and financing) that will enable and support mitigation and adaptation in developing countries at the scale required."
But it's not only about the poor. It is also about every one giving a hand. It's about the rich who offers readily available market. It is about making the rural electrification programme becoming a reality not at snails' pace, but making it a swift project. It is about making electricity affordable. The issue of renewable energy with little negative impact on the environment is what Malawians need.
If the problem of poverty, as Amidu feels it, is not addressed, little will happen. How can a hungry person be empowered? It is a question that needs critical weighing. With more than have of Malawi population living below poverty line, and a good number having limited access to land, more damage on forest is in the offing. More are encroaching these protected areas. More damage is being inflicted.
With Amidu poverty forcing him staggers down Zomba Mountain with firewood, countries like USA refusing to cut the emissions, more damage is being inflicted to the environment. The nation and the world must change the perception. It's everyone's responsibility to deal with the problem.
As the world is commemorating the environment day the question still lingers who should play a role in making the world a better place to live?
Standing on top of Zomba Mountain and focusing down the mountain, patches of baldness are evident. The once green mountain is haphazardly in hazard situation. The rate at which trees are cut down is appalling.
Every time one moves up and down the mountain, one meets people. They have loads of firewood be it on their heads or bicycle. Approaching one of them one of them, identifying himself as Amini Amidu he smiles.
"It's not that we want to be carrying firewood legally or illegally like this," he wipes sweat from his face as he is staggering. "Poverty should be blamed." The firewood helps them have some money, apart from cooking. The money generated helps them at least deal with household problems.
"Almost prices of everything are surging up, young man," he says as he points out that almost everything now needs money, apart from the air that we breathe for free.
The tale of Amidu is one of numerous tales that have been told and re-told. He is one of many people that knowingly or unknowing are ravaging forests. These are the very same forest that helps in reducing green house gases from the skies. Cutting down trees means more carbon dioxide and other green house gases are still in the air.
"An estimated 20 percent of emissions contributing to the climate change globally," says a government Press Release on World Environment Day 2008, "are as a result of deforestation."
The issue of global warming has more twists than an eye can see. As others are concentrating on industrial countries as largely responsible, others are pushing for the developing countries to play a leading role in the same.
For quite a long time, there have been more wrangles rather than the efforts in dealing with global warming. Last year in Germany the G8 leaders reached a consensus. They seriously considered on having a goal to half green house emissions by 2050. The European Union, Canada, and Japan agreed. But the emerging superpowers like China and India have vehemently refused by saying USA should promise to do more in cutting emissions.
This is the paradox that has always locked the world in its drive towards making the world green gas free arena. Up to 190 countries have reached a consensus that by the of 2009 a successor treaty to the Tokyo Pact, which binds thirty-seven advanced nations to cut emissions by the average of five percent below the 1990 levels by 2012.
The developed countries that are largely responsible for the better part of the problem are dilly-dallying. The developed countries some of them based on problems they are facing are committed towards solving the problem. But they lack capacity. They don't have the coping mechanism as the effects of the global warming are proving too much for them.
As the main international celebrations of the world Environment Day is going to be held in the city of Wellington in New Zealand, and in Mulanje in Malawi, it is high time the agenda was looked at. With grappling poverty how can we "give a human face to environmental issues and empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development?"
People like Amidu have no choice, they say. Their only means of survival is through cutting down of trees and selling them, and make money not even enough to come above one dollar per day threshold.
Unfortunately the concept of empowerment is a contested one. It is not as simple as imposing ideas on the poor, who are wreaking havoc on the forests, by calling a meeting. It's about understanding their perception, problems, and how their feel the problems in the realm of deforestation can be dealt with. It's about making the poor owners of the projects and "support activities that are environmental friendly."
This coupled by what South African Environment Minister, Marthius Van Schalkwyk told the Reuters, in response to the three day meeting of the G8 and rapidly growing economies such as China and India comes as pressure piles for both developed and developing countries to tackle climate change, the poor are likely to be empowered.
He said: "In Kobe, we expect our partners in the G8 to champion the developing countries' cause by explicitly addressing the means of implementation (technology transfer and financing) that will enable and support mitigation and adaptation in developing countries at the scale required."
But it's not only about the poor. It is also about every one giving a hand. It's about the rich who offers readily available market. It is about making the rural electrification programme becoming a reality not at snails' pace, but making it a swift project. It is about making electricity affordable. The issue of renewable energy with little negative impact on the environment is what Malawians need.
If the problem of poverty, as Amidu feels it, is not addressed, little will happen. How can a hungry person be empowered? It is a question that needs critical weighing. With more than have of Malawi population living below poverty line, and a good number having limited access to land, more damage on forest is in the offing. More are encroaching these protected areas. More damage is being inflicted.
With Amidu poverty forcing him staggers down Zomba Mountain with firewood, countries like USA refusing to cut the emissions, more damage is being inflicted to the environment. The nation and the world must change the perception. It's everyone's responsibility to deal with the problem.
As the world is commemorating the environment day the question still lingers who should play a role in making the world a better place to live?
SAM, THE WONDERSOME CARTOONIST
By Pacharo Felix Munthali
Sam Manda: a pin-sized Youngman who seems as one of those young men who nothing unique to do in their life. But when he takes his instruments and brews a stunning artistic product it's when you realize that the young man is not just quiet, but quiet with quite skills that are rare.
He describes himself as a naturalist, but likely to jump into a pool of abstract art experts.
Born in 1985, Sam is a gifted cartoonist and illustrator with a rare talent in painting, who is slowly but surely climbing up in the artistic world.
Hailing from Malumbazika village, T/A Kapelula in Kasungu district, he is a third year Bachelor of Arts student who only realized his dream that he can use his talents to earn money recently.
"In 2005 Claim Mabuku wanted illustrators as such I decided to submit my samples for NAC-sponsored Tiwerenge Series," says a giggling Sam, adding that he was picked and drew cartoons for the book, Tithane ndi Edzi.
At his age, he has also helped in drawing illustrations for a form 3 Mathematics book at St. Andrews High School.
Last year he came out second in poster design competition that was organized campus with the financial assistance from National Aids Commission (NAC).
He is also the young man behind the illustrations that are appearing in the recent edition of Wasi Magazine. In fact he relishes working with a critic Chimombo.
"It's wonderful to work with Dr Steve Chimombo. Dr. Chimombo being a man with enormous critic eye makes me to prepare my work thoroughly. He has helped me a lot in nurturing my skills to another level," says Sam, adding that he is currently engaged in offering some social services to Umodzi Orphanage where he is equipping kids with various artistic skills.
As he continues soldiering on in the artistic world with determination to propel to the highest possible levels, Sam has many plans, but all are tied on his rare talent.
"I want one day to be the country's prominent artist, the way Brian Hara was. I want to start my own Artistic Company so that I should be helping uplifting the welfare of upcoming artists," reveals it all Sam, who is a staunch fan of Haswell Kunyenje.
Sam Manda: a pin-sized Youngman who seems as one of those young men who nothing unique to do in their life. But when he takes his instruments and brews a stunning artistic product it's when you realize that the young man is not just quiet, but quiet with quite skills that are rare.
He describes himself as a naturalist, but likely to jump into a pool of abstract art experts.
Born in 1985, Sam is a gifted cartoonist and illustrator with a rare talent in painting, who is slowly but surely climbing up in the artistic world.
Hailing from Malumbazika village, T/A Kapelula in Kasungu district, he is a third year Bachelor of Arts student who only realized his dream that he can use his talents to earn money recently.
"In 2005 Claim Mabuku wanted illustrators as such I decided to submit my samples for NAC-sponsored Tiwerenge Series," says a giggling Sam, adding that he was picked and drew cartoons for the book, Tithane ndi Edzi.
At his age, he has also helped in drawing illustrations for a form 3 Mathematics book at St. Andrews High School.
Last year he came out second in poster design competition that was organized campus with the financial assistance from National Aids Commission (NAC).
He is also the young man behind the illustrations that are appearing in the recent edition of Wasi Magazine. In fact he relishes working with a critic Chimombo.
"It's wonderful to work with Dr Steve Chimombo. Dr. Chimombo being a man with enormous critic eye makes me to prepare my work thoroughly. He has helped me a lot in nurturing my skills to another level," says Sam, adding that he is currently engaged in offering some social services to Umodzi Orphanage where he is equipping kids with various artistic skills.
As he continues soldiering on in the artistic world with determination to propel to the highest possible levels, Sam has many plans, but all are tied on his rare talent.
"I want one day to be the country's prominent artist, the way Brian Hara was. I want to start my own Artistic Company so that I should be helping uplifting the welfare of upcoming artists," reveals it all Sam, who is a staunch fan of Haswell Kunyenje.
ZANGA NZOWAWA
Wolemba Pacharo Felix Munthali
Ooo! ndikusowa poyambira ee!
Ndiri ku sekondale ndi anzanga timakonda kukambirana zambiri zokhuza tsogolo lathu. Nthawi zambiri podziwa kuti nkhanga zidapangana atambala asanakokolike, timakambirana zomwe tidzachite mtsogolo. Chimodzi mwa chinthu chomwe timakambirana chidali chokhuza ana angati omwe timafuana kuti tizakhale nawo mu banja. Pagulu lathu lonse ine ndi amene ndidali ndi masomphenya angaanga popeza ndimafuna ana osaponsera awiri pamene anzanga ambiri amafuna ana monga asanu nkumapita uko.
"Ha! inu ndiye ayi, wina akazagundidwa ndi maminibasi othamanga ngati akambukuwa, komanso winayo nkupenga ndi chamba chomwe anyamata amasiku ano akukwemba za inu ndiye zizathera pomwepo basi," Chidzete, m'modzi mwa anzanga amandinyogodola chomwecho nthawi zambiri.
Koma zomwe ndikuona lero, ha! ngati kuti khoswe wa moyo akuchokera mkamwa mwa m'busa ulariki uli mkati – zododometsa inu. Ndikuona ngati kuti dziko landida. Ndipo wanga ndikuona ngati ndi wakung'anjo yamoto basi poti ndingowaganizira zoipa anzanga makamaka anamageyaanyezi, inde anamamina yogati, ee!
Kukamacha kwa anthu ena odala tsiku lawo limakhala loti aphe makwacha kuonjezera upwepwete paukhumutcha wawo. Kukhala kwa ine, ntchito ikumakhala yoika ubongo wanga kukhalira m'mphanthi makamaka poganizira m'mene ndingapondere lamphawi, inde kupha matambala oti mwina nkudyako matemba m'malo mwantoliro.
Za ine oo! ndizovuta kufotokoza. Ine ndimati maloza, koma mkazi wanga akumazitcha mbonaona. Koma abale...
M'mawa tikamatuluka m'nyumba – ine, mkazi wanga komanso ana anga timakhala ngati kuti timu ya mpira wamiyendo kuphatikizapo anthu okhala pa benchi, kuli kukula kwa banja. Ndipo tikamatuluka mapoto kunzanso masupuni zimakhala zikusokosa ngati masapota ampira wa miyendo.
Abale! nditayamba bizinesi yokhoza njinga zoonongeka zakapalasa, zinthu kunena mwachindunji sizimandiyendera ingakhale pang'ono. Amayi anga adali okhuzidwa kwambiri. Pachifukwa ichi adayamba kuyetsayetsa njira zoti ine zinthu zindiyendere.
Apa ndi pamene tsiku lina munthu wangongole atandilanda zipangizo zopangira bizinesi yanga amayi adandiwuza za sing'anga ogona pamoto dzuwa likuswa mtengo osatuluka thukuta ingakhale pang'ono, eee! Adandiwuza kuti wachokera ku Tanzania. Adandisina khutu pondimemeza kuti iwo adapita kwa sing'angayo kuti akaombeze ndikuona ngati nane ndizakhalepo munthu woyenda tang'atang'a tayi atasanduka lamba.
Pamayambiriro ndimakana, koma ntibu wamavuto utandionetsa chomwe chidaletsa nkhuku kuseka ndidalola ndikupita kwa sing'angayo.
"Koma mterawu, ukagwiretse ntchito tsiku lomwe m'banja lako muzabadwe mwana wamkazi. Ukamwere pa mphambano, utapolamira chakumpoto," adatero sing'anga wakuArushayo.
Nkakumbuka zonsezi nyanja ya chisoni imapanga mafunde m'mtima mwanga. Lero ndine munthu woti ndiri ndi ana khumi komanso awiri. Kuonjezera apo, mkazi wanga ndiwoyembekezera. Kudikira chuma...
Ndayetsayetsa kumwa mtera uwu komanso uwo, koma tsoka iro palibe kusintha kwa ntundu wina kulikonse. Mwana wamkazi akusowa, ee! Komanso pamene mkazi wanga wafika zoti akhoza kuberekanso ndizoyikitsa moyo wake pachiswe cholusa.
Kumayadi konse ndikutamidwa osati ndikukhala ndi ana amphongo omwe angokhalira kumenyana, komanso mavuto omwe amadza kamba kakuchulukana kwa anawa.
Popeza kuti bizinesi siyimayenda ndidachiona kuti ndi chanzeru kuyamba kaye ntchito pamene ndikudikirira mwana wa mkazi. Apa ndipamene ndidapeza ntchito kwa Ahindirira, mwenye waku India.
Pokhala pamapeto pa mwezi, ndikantchito komwe ndimagwira kwa Ahindirira ana anayi adali akudikirira ndalama zoti akalipire ku sukulu zawo za sekondale. Naye amene ndidali ndingongole yake ya chimanga adali ataopsyeza kuti ngati sindimpatsa ndalama mwezi uno azanditenthera nyumba pamodzi ndi ana anga. Nawo ana apulayimale amafuna kundipomboneza kuti akuti ndiwapatse ndalama zoti aziripirira alonda. Awa ndidangowauza kuti akaone sitayiro kusulu konko, ee! Azikathawathawa, uku akumwa phala laurere, ee!
Pamene ndikuyandikira nyumba yanga, panthawiyi nkuti nthawi iri chamumanayini koloko ya usiku, ndikumva kulira konga ngati kuti munthu ali mu ululu wazaoneni, ee! Kodi ndi chiani? Ndiwachimanga? Ndidayiwalira amene timapanga nawo lendi nyumba adandiuza kuti ngati sindimupatsa ndalama lero andichotsa.
Koma ndisanakhote, anyamata azitho ngati kuti amakakha ndege, akundikanyanga pakhosi. Kenako ndalama zonse zapita. Ndikumva kulira kwa mkazi wanga, koma ndikulephera kuzuka. Andibaya ndi mpeni. Kuli phokoso loopsya.
Ooo! ndikusowa poyambira ee!
Ndiri ku sekondale ndi anzanga timakonda kukambirana zambiri zokhuza tsogolo lathu. Nthawi zambiri podziwa kuti nkhanga zidapangana atambala asanakokolike, timakambirana zomwe tidzachite mtsogolo. Chimodzi mwa chinthu chomwe timakambirana chidali chokhuza ana angati omwe timafuana kuti tizakhale nawo mu banja. Pagulu lathu lonse ine ndi amene ndidali ndi masomphenya angaanga popeza ndimafuna ana osaponsera awiri pamene anzanga ambiri amafuna ana monga asanu nkumapita uko.
"Ha! inu ndiye ayi, wina akazagundidwa ndi maminibasi othamanga ngati akambukuwa, komanso winayo nkupenga ndi chamba chomwe anyamata amasiku ano akukwemba za inu ndiye zizathera pomwepo basi," Chidzete, m'modzi mwa anzanga amandinyogodola chomwecho nthawi zambiri.
Koma zomwe ndikuona lero, ha! ngati kuti khoswe wa moyo akuchokera mkamwa mwa m'busa ulariki uli mkati – zododometsa inu. Ndikuona ngati kuti dziko landida. Ndipo wanga ndikuona ngati ndi wakung'anjo yamoto basi poti ndingowaganizira zoipa anzanga makamaka anamageyaanyezi, inde anamamina yogati, ee!
Kukamacha kwa anthu ena odala tsiku lawo limakhala loti aphe makwacha kuonjezera upwepwete paukhumutcha wawo. Kukhala kwa ine, ntchito ikumakhala yoika ubongo wanga kukhalira m'mphanthi makamaka poganizira m'mene ndingapondere lamphawi, inde kupha matambala oti mwina nkudyako matemba m'malo mwantoliro.
Za ine oo! ndizovuta kufotokoza. Ine ndimati maloza, koma mkazi wanga akumazitcha mbonaona. Koma abale...
M'mawa tikamatuluka m'nyumba – ine, mkazi wanga komanso ana anga timakhala ngati kuti timu ya mpira wamiyendo kuphatikizapo anthu okhala pa benchi, kuli kukula kwa banja. Ndipo tikamatuluka mapoto kunzanso masupuni zimakhala zikusokosa ngati masapota ampira wa miyendo.
Abale! nditayamba bizinesi yokhoza njinga zoonongeka zakapalasa, zinthu kunena mwachindunji sizimandiyendera ingakhale pang'ono. Amayi anga adali okhuzidwa kwambiri. Pachifukwa ichi adayamba kuyetsayetsa njira zoti ine zinthu zindiyendere.
Apa ndi pamene tsiku lina munthu wangongole atandilanda zipangizo zopangira bizinesi yanga amayi adandiwuza za sing'anga ogona pamoto dzuwa likuswa mtengo osatuluka thukuta ingakhale pang'ono, eee! Adandiwuza kuti wachokera ku Tanzania. Adandisina khutu pondimemeza kuti iwo adapita kwa sing'angayo kuti akaombeze ndikuona ngati nane ndizakhalepo munthu woyenda tang'atang'a tayi atasanduka lamba.
Pamayambiriro ndimakana, koma ntibu wamavuto utandionetsa chomwe chidaletsa nkhuku kuseka ndidalola ndikupita kwa sing'angayo.
"Koma mterawu, ukagwiretse ntchito tsiku lomwe m'banja lako muzabadwe mwana wamkazi. Ukamwere pa mphambano, utapolamira chakumpoto," adatero sing'anga wakuArushayo.
Nkakumbuka zonsezi nyanja ya chisoni imapanga mafunde m'mtima mwanga. Lero ndine munthu woti ndiri ndi ana khumi komanso awiri. Kuonjezera apo, mkazi wanga ndiwoyembekezera. Kudikira chuma...
Ndayetsayetsa kumwa mtera uwu komanso uwo, koma tsoka iro palibe kusintha kwa ntundu wina kulikonse. Mwana wamkazi akusowa, ee! Komanso pamene mkazi wanga wafika zoti akhoza kuberekanso ndizoyikitsa moyo wake pachiswe cholusa.
Kumayadi konse ndikutamidwa osati ndikukhala ndi ana amphongo omwe angokhalira kumenyana, komanso mavuto omwe amadza kamba kakuchulukana kwa anawa.
Popeza kuti bizinesi siyimayenda ndidachiona kuti ndi chanzeru kuyamba kaye ntchito pamene ndikudikirira mwana wa mkazi. Apa ndipamene ndidapeza ntchito kwa Ahindirira, mwenye waku India.
Pokhala pamapeto pa mwezi, ndikantchito komwe ndimagwira kwa Ahindirira ana anayi adali akudikirira ndalama zoti akalipire ku sukulu zawo za sekondale. Naye amene ndidali ndingongole yake ya chimanga adali ataopsyeza kuti ngati sindimpatsa ndalama mwezi uno azanditenthera nyumba pamodzi ndi ana anga. Nawo ana apulayimale amafuna kundipomboneza kuti akuti ndiwapatse ndalama zoti aziripirira alonda. Awa ndidangowauza kuti akaone sitayiro kusulu konko, ee! Azikathawathawa, uku akumwa phala laurere, ee!
Pamene ndikuyandikira nyumba yanga, panthawiyi nkuti nthawi iri chamumanayini koloko ya usiku, ndikumva kulira konga ngati kuti munthu ali mu ululu wazaoneni, ee! Kodi ndi chiani? Ndiwachimanga? Ndidayiwalira amene timapanga nawo lendi nyumba adandiuza kuti ngati sindimupatsa ndalama lero andichotsa.
Koma ndisanakhote, anyamata azitho ngati kuti amakakha ndege, akundikanyanga pakhosi. Kenako ndalama zonse zapita. Ndikumva kulira kwa mkazi wanga, koma ndikulephera kuzuka. Andibaya ndi mpeni. Kuli phokoso loopsya.
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