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.
Monday, July 21, 2008
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.
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