Elections can cause anxiety back home. The anxiety is usually least about what sort of policies will emerge triumphant through the party that cherishes them. Usually peace and stability are the issue of concern. Will the results be mutually accepted by the concerned contestants? This is the multi-billion Krona question (being in Sweden I will do her good justice to speak in her currency). Then, when you look at what you make out to be the ultimate motivations driving some of the major candidates you are scarcely at ease when you imagine what the future of the nation you love most will be like with such motives’ hands on the reigns of power. The anxiety multiplies when you see those you think do not represent interests that are to the advantage of the nation emerging to be popular by the day. Not that you hate them. Not that you despise and undermine the rationality of those that follow them in growing multitudes. It is just that you feel that popularity aside their ambitions are not compatible with the national good. Sight of this national good can only be captured by the lens of foresight. Using the lens of foresight requires that you remove your dark glasses of ethnic, petty party, and religious fanaticism and consider Malawi, and Malawi only, the nation loved most.
When elements you think are not as representative of the national interest seem to be gaining numbers you become worried. You then wonder whether the other side seeing such pressure is not contemplating rigging. You realize and know that it is an option that can never be sidelined and left un-pursued , whether successfully or not. Then you wonder whether all this does not give the ideal recipe for rejection of the results, which is the light match to the tinderbox of chaos. Though in Sweden, you can somehow sense the tension on the beautiful dusty streets of Malawi. It is a mood of suppressed tense and floating un-expectation. It is worrying.
But I have just discovered the worth of reflection. Sometimes reflection is good. Looking back sometimes re-arms and re-assures you today. You get unknown but effective strength that lets you carry on in hope. You have a flicker of hope in pitch darkness when despair ceaselessly wages attacks on your expectations and reasonable wishes. I have just reflected on and remembered the past. It is full of surprises. Pleasant surprises. It is not a long past, but a past though. It is a short past of long lists of moments of tension. Interestingly the tension has always revolved around the current three major political players of Malawi in this election, Muluzi, Tembo, and Bingu. Tense days they were. More often than not justice was cornered somewhere, enough reason to let go of hope. Yet somehow what prevailed was not that which was unjust. Despite its fierce rage evil never ever managed to stand on the champion podium.
The year 2003. Muluzi through his legislators were fighting for an open term bid in parliament. There was no fierce and muscular opposition then that would force its way, or the people’s way in parliament. But John Tembo was there in parliament, leading his MCP. He supported and voted for the bill. Chakufwa Chihana the onetime fear-proof legend who risked his precious life to tell Dr Banda the dictator that there was no more room for life presidency in Malawi to the shock of us all supported the bill. There was every reason to give up hope. Yet justice could not be murdered. A one Peter Kaleso, Muluzi’s own MP and Kate Kainja of Tembo’s MCP perhaps under the influence beyond their personal convictions rose to the occasion and did not disappoint. They heeded justice’s SOS. Through them and another legislator I have forgotten the bill did not pass by 3 votes.
I was in the library of Chanco on that day. Nobody could concentrate on studies that day. The tension was notable. This was during a period when any publicly expressed dissent to Muluzi’s comeback would be rewarded with machete hits on the head containing the ‘uncooperative and misleading’ brain of yours. How dare you resist Muluzi’s life presidency? The next day after the defeat in parliament The Dailytimes’ front page cried with the headline ‘SAYIMANSO!’. Even though a sometimes illiterate newspaper vendor is always far from being responsible for the publishing the contents of the paper on whose sales he earns a living, Muluzi’s Young Democrats were in town assaulting the vendors on the streets just because of the front page news story. A tense Malawi that was. Somehow we made it through.
2004-05. There was a plot to impeach Bingu right in the tender morning of his term. Muluzi was engineered it all. He had Tembo’s blessing. Not that Bingu is a saint, no not even by politicians’ heavily compromised standards. But when one looked at his political devilishness and compared with that of Muluzi he emerged a necessary evil that you could live with. So tense was the debate of the impeachment. Signs were that this alliance of Tembo and Muluzi was going to have its way. Apparently it seems it is easy for despair to colonise our hearts when justice is under siege. Despair reigned yet again in 2005. So rife was the tension that the speaker of parliament collapsed in shock in attempting to restore order in an august house that was turning wild. But later the tension passed. Remember it was about the same personalities, Muluzi, Tembo, on one side and Bingu on the other. It is not the first time a Muluzi-Tembo alliance has rallied against Bingu. Where justice or injustice has been laying is up for prediction.
2006-08. The national budget was used as tool for blackmail by the opposition. Let me be clear here. I agree with the spirit of Section 65. Not that parties should hold their MP hostage forever, but that when the legislator seeks to cross the floor she should seek a fresh mandate from the constituents. It is a necessary good for our country. However basic and freely given common sense tells me and everybody that existence and use of this section presupposes some other background. It presupposes a background where to begin with the constituents who are to give or deny this rebellious MP of theirs a fresh mandate are in good health, have proper shelter, and their children can afford an education. Access to an education implies that teachers receive their salaries from government etc. Now in the context of a conflict of priority it is sheer neglect to hold the greater good at ransom just for the sake of a good whose meaning depends on the very great good. I do not agree with the tactics the government employed to shun Section 65 implementation. But they were legal though. Actually it is the legal aspect of the case that made implementation of the section ‘impossible’ besides being ethically wrong. The opposition led by Tembo and Muluzi could not take anything of this. Perhaps we think that, “I can demonstrate my leadership abilities when given full charge of responsibility.” Little does it ever occur to us that how we respond to crooked or straight actions by those in authority is the greatest test that betrays our true leadership abilities and motivation.
For five years impasses have characterised every of our budget sessions. I was a new recruit of the most loved ministry, the Ministry of Education, teaching at Mulunguzi Secondary in the beautiful Zomba city beloved Malawi’s education capital. I was greatly involved in the running of the school’s boarding. There were strong empirical fears of there being no funding months due to the section 65-budget impasse once the three months of provisional expenditure allowed in the absence of a national budget expired. Expiring they did before the budget was deliberated. What it meant was that there would be no money to pay for the electricity bills for the school of 800 students’. No money to pay water bills. No money for the purchase of cleaning utensils in students’ hostels. The rational and inevitable thing would be for the school to close. Not only this school, but possibly about 50 or so in the whole Malawi in a similar predicament; all because of the artificial section 65-budget stalemate. But somehow the nation has kept moving. Somehow we survived. It was never easy. It is even more painful to the many Malawians that do not subscribe to any political party. Imagine you are such a one. Imagine you fail to get your salary. Imagine that the sole reason is that party conflicts in parliament have stagnated the national budget. Again I am not undermining the worth of section 65. All I think to be reasonable is that given different interest value and alternative options for approaching a problem approaches which cause more harm than good are not worth the trouble. If we talk of Malawi, we should also consider that there were more than 30 or so independent legislators. Why should those that voted for these independents be held hostage over an issue about someone jumping ship and joining another party? It is just not in their interest! The poor approach taken on section 65 was a problem of strategy on the part of the opposition. Matters of poor strategy are not only costly but make reflections about leadership quality.
As I said interestingly these elections are again characterised by the same three personalities, Muluzi, and Tembo on the one hand and Bingu on the other. We are at a crossroads. A key and historical decision must be made. Previous history about how these three (or is it these two sides?) relate adds more fuel to the anxiety. I personally think that we all know by now what each of these camps represents to the Malawi dream. Let us choose on the19th.
Today there is tension of course in the air. But upon reflection we know that we have been here before. When all hope was lost, and despair and fear attempted to impose themselves in us, somehow they did not succeed. Somehow we survived. This time around we will not survive somehow. We will survive by GOD’s grace, ever present with us. So, may May 20 come as soon as possible, because we have ever been there!
When elements you think are not as representative of the national interest seem to be gaining numbers you become worried. You then wonder whether the other side seeing such pressure is not contemplating rigging. You realize and know that it is an option that can never be sidelined and left un-pursued , whether successfully or not. Then you wonder whether all this does not give the ideal recipe for rejection of the results, which is the light match to the tinderbox of chaos. Though in Sweden, you can somehow sense the tension on the beautiful dusty streets of Malawi. It is a mood of suppressed tense and floating un-expectation. It is worrying.
But I have just discovered the worth of reflection. Sometimes reflection is good. Looking back sometimes re-arms and re-assures you today. You get unknown but effective strength that lets you carry on in hope. You have a flicker of hope in pitch darkness when despair ceaselessly wages attacks on your expectations and reasonable wishes. I have just reflected on and remembered the past. It is full of surprises. Pleasant surprises. It is not a long past, but a past though. It is a short past of long lists of moments of tension. Interestingly the tension has always revolved around the current three major political players of Malawi in this election, Muluzi, Tembo, and Bingu. Tense days they were. More often than not justice was cornered somewhere, enough reason to let go of hope. Yet somehow what prevailed was not that which was unjust. Despite its fierce rage evil never ever managed to stand on the champion podium.
The year 2003. Muluzi through his legislators were fighting for an open term bid in parliament. There was no fierce and muscular opposition then that would force its way, or the people’s way in parliament. But John Tembo was there in parliament, leading his MCP. He supported and voted for the bill. Chakufwa Chihana the onetime fear-proof legend who risked his precious life to tell Dr Banda the dictator that there was no more room for life presidency in Malawi to the shock of us all supported the bill. There was every reason to give up hope. Yet justice could not be murdered. A one Peter Kaleso, Muluzi’s own MP and Kate Kainja of Tembo’s MCP perhaps under the influence beyond their personal convictions rose to the occasion and did not disappoint. They heeded justice’s SOS. Through them and another legislator I have forgotten the bill did not pass by 3 votes.
I was in the library of Chanco on that day. Nobody could concentrate on studies that day. The tension was notable. This was during a period when any publicly expressed dissent to Muluzi’s comeback would be rewarded with machete hits on the head containing the ‘uncooperative and misleading’ brain of yours. How dare you resist Muluzi’s life presidency? The next day after the defeat in parliament The Dailytimes’ front page cried with the headline ‘SAYIMANSO!’. Even though a sometimes illiterate newspaper vendor is always far from being responsible for the publishing the contents of the paper on whose sales he earns a living, Muluzi’s Young Democrats were in town assaulting the vendors on the streets just because of the front page news story. A tense Malawi that was. Somehow we made it through.
2004-05. There was a plot to impeach Bingu right in the tender morning of his term. Muluzi was engineered it all. He had Tembo’s blessing. Not that Bingu is a saint, no not even by politicians’ heavily compromised standards. But when one looked at his political devilishness and compared with that of Muluzi he emerged a necessary evil that you could live with. So tense was the debate of the impeachment. Signs were that this alliance of Tembo and Muluzi was going to have its way. Apparently it seems it is easy for despair to colonise our hearts when justice is under siege. Despair reigned yet again in 2005. So rife was the tension that the speaker of parliament collapsed in shock in attempting to restore order in an august house that was turning wild. But later the tension passed. Remember it was about the same personalities, Muluzi, Tembo, on one side and Bingu on the other. It is not the first time a Muluzi-Tembo alliance has rallied against Bingu. Where justice or injustice has been laying is up for prediction.
2006-08. The national budget was used as tool for blackmail by the opposition. Let me be clear here. I agree with the spirit of Section 65. Not that parties should hold their MP hostage forever, but that when the legislator seeks to cross the floor she should seek a fresh mandate from the constituents. It is a necessary good for our country. However basic and freely given common sense tells me and everybody that existence and use of this section presupposes some other background. It presupposes a background where to begin with the constituents who are to give or deny this rebellious MP of theirs a fresh mandate are in good health, have proper shelter, and their children can afford an education. Access to an education implies that teachers receive their salaries from government etc. Now in the context of a conflict of priority it is sheer neglect to hold the greater good at ransom just for the sake of a good whose meaning depends on the very great good. I do not agree with the tactics the government employed to shun Section 65 implementation. But they were legal though. Actually it is the legal aspect of the case that made implementation of the section ‘impossible’ besides being ethically wrong. The opposition led by Tembo and Muluzi could not take anything of this. Perhaps we think that, “I can demonstrate my leadership abilities when given full charge of responsibility.” Little does it ever occur to us that how we respond to crooked or straight actions by those in authority is the greatest test that betrays our true leadership abilities and motivation.
For five years impasses have characterised every of our budget sessions. I was a new recruit of the most loved ministry, the Ministry of Education, teaching at Mulunguzi Secondary in the beautiful Zomba city beloved Malawi’s education capital. I was greatly involved in the running of the school’s boarding. There were strong empirical fears of there being no funding months due to the section 65-budget impasse once the three months of provisional expenditure allowed in the absence of a national budget expired. Expiring they did before the budget was deliberated. What it meant was that there would be no money to pay for the electricity bills for the school of 800 students’. No money to pay water bills. No money for the purchase of cleaning utensils in students’ hostels. The rational and inevitable thing would be for the school to close. Not only this school, but possibly about 50 or so in the whole Malawi in a similar predicament; all because of the artificial section 65-budget stalemate. But somehow the nation has kept moving. Somehow we survived. It was never easy. It is even more painful to the many Malawians that do not subscribe to any political party. Imagine you are such a one. Imagine you fail to get your salary. Imagine that the sole reason is that party conflicts in parliament have stagnated the national budget. Again I am not undermining the worth of section 65. All I think to be reasonable is that given different interest value and alternative options for approaching a problem approaches which cause more harm than good are not worth the trouble. If we talk of Malawi, we should also consider that there were more than 30 or so independent legislators. Why should those that voted for these independents be held hostage over an issue about someone jumping ship and joining another party? It is just not in their interest! The poor approach taken on section 65 was a problem of strategy on the part of the opposition. Matters of poor strategy are not only costly but make reflections about leadership quality.
As I said interestingly these elections are again characterised by the same three personalities, Muluzi, and Tembo on the one hand and Bingu on the other. We are at a crossroads. A key and historical decision must be made. Previous history about how these three (or is it these two sides?) relate adds more fuel to the anxiety. I personally think that we all know by now what each of these camps represents to the Malawi dream. Let us choose on the19th.
Today there is tension of course in the air. But upon reflection we know that we have been here before. When all hope was lost, and despair and fear attempted to impose themselves in us, somehow they did not succeed. Somehow we survived. This time around we will not survive somehow. We will survive by GOD’s grace, ever present with us. So, may May 20 come as soon as possible, because we have ever been there!
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