Kwasfrim is my African buddy in these distant lands far from the continent. Usually I am with him in the computer labs doing our assignments. He is the guy who introduced me to Linköpings’ Baptist Church. He is typical of what I like in those that are my close friends - talking and never in want of fun and laughing stuff. The boy also has a liking for African politics and keenly follows the happenings on the political landscape of the land of his fathers, Ghana. Hardly a day passes before we laugh at some political madness that is never short of display on this our continent we both so much love. Whenever Kwasfrim finds me in one of the university computer labs working on my computer the first and usual question he raises after extending his greeting is “Is there any news from Malawi?” He knows we are having elections in May. Due to his inquisitiveness I have often times narrated to him almost the legacy and record of every of Malawi’s politicians. In the same manner I have learnt a lot about Ghana’s politics, politicians, and history from Kwasfrim of course even though it might be biased but who said there is unbiased information?
So with Muluzi making news in Malawi I have always shared with him that the former president is seeking a comeback. But instead of letting the due process of the law take its course Kwasfrim immediately started lambasting me and Malawians as to how we can allow a man to come back into office. I told him that it is not our fault but that we are all waiting either for Malawi Electoral Commission or the courts to interpret the constitution for us. I told him that Muluzi is counting on the linguistic ambiguity of one of the constitution’s sections about term limits which other than just stating that no president shall rule the country for more than two terms the writers complicated things by stating that “no president shall be allowed to run for office after serving a maximum of two consecutive terms.” Now, Kwasfrim never delays in lambasting African politicians. That day when I explained to him this linguistic source of the controversy he immediately took to lambasting the framers of the constitution. “Why do Africans make things sound complicated? Why didn’t they just put it in simple and straightforward words? Look, now they are giving loopholes to Maluzi to come back”.
“Muluzi.” I said to correct him. He didn’t give a damn.
“No one should rule for more than two terms. That is unacceptable.” He lambasted. His passion and conviction were unmistakable.
“Now that man will come again. He will rule you again because of your unnecessary piling of words in the constitution”. He was firm. That for him was the cost we should pay for trying to impress with our language. But I told him the man would fail at one stage or the other.
Since then it became a norm for him whenever he finds me in the computer lab to ask “What is Mazzulini saying today?”
“Oh Muluzi?” I would correct him the African way of not boldly telling him that that was not his name. “No news from Muluzi” I would respond.
This week though when he asked the routine question I had a different answer.
“What is Maluzu saying today?” At least now he was gradually zeroing in on the correct pronunciation of the man’s name.
“Oh Muluzi? He is hiring some 2 British QC lawyers and also another prominent South African lawyer together with dozens of other local Malawi lawyers to make his case in court about his eligibility upon being rejected by the electoral commission to contest”
“Eh!” He went into his usual screams of immense suprise. “That man won’t win. If he is hiring all those powerful and expensive lawyers then it means he is in doubt himself. But still the ambiguity of the constitution gives him some room” He betrayed some hesitance.
Now, recently I have been reading that Muluzi is being called Obama by his supporters. I followed Obama’s campaign. He was named Obama throughout. But whether Muluzi can rightly fit in Obama’s unprecedented garments is one question. The fact however is that the people have seen something greater in Obama that at least is not in Muluzi or at least to which he is aspiring to achieve and has still some way to go. In short for them Obama is greater than Muluzi. In other words Muluzi is not as great as Obama. In other words Obama is an inspiration to Muluzi. In other words Muluzi is not as inspirational on the international scene as is Obama.
But if you believe this may you please prepare to change your outlook. Muluzi is inspiring people out there in the international world. As long as Kwasfrim is Ghanaian and not Malawian and therefore international then there is a story you must hear, a story I will tell.
Kwasfrim has just been among the un-noted whom the Muluzi inspiration is catching out there in the world beyond the Malawi borders. You see, Kwasfrim had an assignment for his coursework to do. Three days ago he told me it was due today Friday 27th March 2009. So today he was so tied up and very quiet on his computer working on his assignment which yesterday he told me was due at 12pm today. There he was. Working. But he had confessed more than thrice that the assignment was quite difficult and that yesterday he had lost much time as he had to do his round of work at the place he works. The pressure was on him. He finally confessed that given the context he had resigned to submitting it after the stipulated time. He said he would risk having some marks deducted as a penalty.
I was also quietly working on my thesis when suddenly I heard him shout at me asking, “What is the date today?”
“27th ” I responded without looking at him.
“Oh!?” He was puzzled.
“What’s up?” I took my eyes off the computer and looked at him.
He was looking at me with a brighter face.
“Look at this! In class the lecturer told us that this assignment is due on Friday. But on the assignment question that he sent us it is written that the assignment is due for submission on Friday, 28th March 2009!” He screamed pointing to the page bearing the said information on his computer monitor, inviting me to read it. Now today Friday the date is 27th March 2009 and not 28th March which will be the Saturday, tomorrow.
I then saw Kwasfrim’s face brighten up and the pressure he bore before vanished. He sprung out of his chair in relief and started pacing around triumphantly as he who has just solved an age-long bothering puzzle. I laughed out loud and was puzzled by what he said next as he walked around in relief.
“Yeah now I will be like Muluzi. I will submit it tomorrow [Saturday] by 12 mid day. If they ask me I will say that the written instruction on the assignment states that it must be submitted on 28th March [which is a Saturday]”. He said counting on the mistake ignorantly committed by their lecturer.
“Muluzi needs three QCs to defend his case. My case won’t need any QCs. I will say it myself.”
However he stated that he was sure that the lecturer had intended to write Friday 27th 2009 which is the only correct day-date match unlike the wrong and incongruent Friday 28th March 2009.
“I will be like Muluzi! I will capitalize on that mistake” He repeated with smiles.
Such is the legacy of Muluzi. You must never undermine his influence henceforth. Shall you?
So with Muluzi making news in Malawi I have always shared with him that the former president is seeking a comeback. But instead of letting the due process of the law take its course Kwasfrim immediately started lambasting me and Malawians as to how we can allow a man to come back into office. I told him that it is not our fault but that we are all waiting either for Malawi Electoral Commission or the courts to interpret the constitution for us. I told him that Muluzi is counting on the linguistic ambiguity of one of the constitution’s sections about term limits which other than just stating that no president shall rule the country for more than two terms the writers complicated things by stating that “no president shall be allowed to run for office after serving a maximum of two consecutive terms.” Now, Kwasfrim never delays in lambasting African politicians. That day when I explained to him this linguistic source of the controversy he immediately took to lambasting the framers of the constitution. “Why do Africans make things sound complicated? Why didn’t they just put it in simple and straightforward words? Look, now they are giving loopholes to Maluzi to come back”.
“Muluzi.” I said to correct him. He didn’t give a damn.
“No one should rule for more than two terms. That is unacceptable.” He lambasted. His passion and conviction were unmistakable.
“Now that man will come again. He will rule you again because of your unnecessary piling of words in the constitution”. He was firm. That for him was the cost we should pay for trying to impress with our language. But I told him the man would fail at one stage or the other.
Since then it became a norm for him whenever he finds me in the computer lab to ask “What is Mazzulini saying today?”
“Oh Muluzi?” I would correct him the African way of not boldly telling him that that was not his name. “No news from Muluzi” I would respond.
This week though when he asked the routine question I had a different answer.
“What is Maluzu saying today?” At least now he was gradually zeroing in on the correct pronunciation of the man’s name.
“Oh Muluzi? He is hiring some 2 British QC lawyers and also another prominent South African lawyer together with dozens of other local Malawi lawyers to make his case in court about his eligibility upon being rejected by the electoral commission to contest”
“Eh!” He went into his usual screams of immense suprise. “That man won’t win. If he is hiring all those powerful and expensive lawyers then it means he is in doubt himself. But still the ambiguity of the constitution gives him some room” He betrayed some hesitance.
Now, recently I have been reading that Muluzi is being called Obama by his supporters. I followed Obama’s campaign. He was named Obama throughout. But whether Muluzi can rightly fit in Obama’s unprecedented garments is one question. The fact however is that the people have seen something greater in Obama that at least is not in Muluzi or at least to which he is aspiring to achieve and has still some way to go. In short for them Obama is greater than Muluzi. In other words Muluzi is not as great as Obama. In other words Obama is an inspiration to Muluzi. In other words Muluzi is not as inspirational on the international scene as is Obama.
But if you believe this may you please prepare to change your outlook. Muluzi is inspiring people out there in the international world. As long as Kwasfrim is Ghanaian and not Malawian and therefore international then there is a story you must hear, a story I will tell.
Kwasfrim has just been among the un-noted whom the Muluzi inspiration is catching out there in the world beyond the Malawi borders. You see, Kwasfrim had an assignment for his coursework to do. Three days ago he told me it was due today Friday 27th March 2009. So today he was so tied up and very quiet on his computer working on his assignment which yesterday he told me was due at 12pm today. There he was. Working. But he had confessed more than thrice that the assignment was quite difficult and that yesterday he had lost much time as he had to do his round of work at the place he works. The pressure was on him. He finally confessed that given the context he had resigned to submitting it after the stipulated time. He said he would risk having some marks deducted as a penalty.
I was also quietly working on my thesis when suddenly I heard him shout at me asking, “What is the date today?”
“27th ” I responded without looking at him.
“Oh!?” He was puzzled.
“What’s up?” I took my eyes off the computer and looked at him.
He was looking at me with a brighter face.
“Look at this! In class the lecturer told us that this assignment is due on Friday. But on the assignment question that he sent us it is written that the assignment is due for submission on Friday, 28th March 2009!” He screamed pointing to the page bearing the said information on his computer monitor, inviting me to read it. Now today Friday the date is 27th March 2009 and not 28th March which will be the Saturday, tomorrow.
I then saw Kwasfrim’s face brighten up and the pressure he bore before vanished. He sprung out of his chair in relief and started pacing around triumphantly as he who has just solved an age-long bothering puzzle. I laughed out loud and was puzzled by what he said next as he walked around in relief.
“Yeah now I will be like Muluzi. I will submit it tomorrow [Saturday] by 12 mid day. If they ask me I will say that the written instruction on the assignment states that it must be submitted on 28th March [which is a Saturday]”. He said counting on the mistake ignorantly committed by their lecturer.
“Muluzi needs three QCs to defend his case. My case won’t need any QCs. I will say it myself.”
However he stated that he was sure that the lecturer had intended to write Friday 27th 2009 which is the only correct day-date match unlike the wrong and incongruent Friday 28th March 2009.
“I will be like Muluzi! I will capitalize on that mistake” He repeated with smiles.
Such is the legacy of Muluzi. You must never undermine his influence henceforth. Shall you?
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