Haven't We been Here before?

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!

Kasungu Town Assembly Sets the Trend!

It is always difficult to make sense of politics on my dear continent and my Malawi. Most people are disinterested in politics because of the face it is given in Malawi. Politics is portrayed as for the elites and as lying beyond the comprehension of the masses who are generally poor and illiterate. Their role is merely endorsing what the elites think is the way to do things. But things ought not to be so. Politics is for everyone. It is for everybody. 

Local governance is what I think is the bedrock for democracy and politics. It is rarely active in Africa. Yet we need it. This is why I was so glad today when I heard a story carried on Malawi’s local radio station Zodiak the only Malawi radio station streaming live online. In Kasungu one of Malawi’s districts where I grew up there is an interesting story similar to those cases which  I have more than thrice read in my studies’ literature as representing the conflict between the state’s principles and cultural or ethnic interests. In Kasungu the town assembly has dragged to court and is asking the court to ban from the district the Seventh Day Adventist Pentecost church because of the religious group’s values. Apparently the group forbids its pregnant women members from seeking conventional medical attention during and after the pregnancy. Young children are prevented from accessing immunization from fatal diseases in the name of religion. A good number of maternal deaths have been reported as well as high infant deaths linked with membership to this religious group so argues the Town Assembly. So there they were, the members of this group, at the court chanting songs of inspiration claiming that they ought to be strong as it is inevitable for them to face such ‘persecution’. The magistrate is yet to deliver his verdict over the case.

In the western world this is no news and there is nothing significant about such news. I am uninterested in evaluating as to what ought to be done, that is, which interests should be prioritized. Instead I am so delighted that Kasungu Town Assembly has set the trend of how politics should be conceived. Politics is about matters involving everybody especially the illiterate and poor. Definitely I know that a debate has ensued among the residents of Kasungu town. Reasons, arguments and counter-arguments are being given as to why which view is ideal. Public deliberation is at work now. The issues under debate are not far removed from the people. They are issues that concern not every Malawian. They are matters restricted only to Kasungu, their town. The issues demand the attention and decision of the residents of the town. You do not need a better presentation of how local governace and local democracy should be shaped. We only hope that the local assembly’s involvement and commitment to local issues should extend beyond these issues, to issues about local health, crime, town by-laws etc. 

The chief executive of Kasungu Town assembly ought to be commended. S/he has set a trend un-parelled. It is something all local assemblies should emulate. Then democracy and politics shall cease being elitist and exclusionary, a club of the elites. It will no longer be a no-go zone field for the ordinary locals. May the lessons be learnt please!

Moving in Circles

If the days of the calendar were licensed and that usage should follow a fee, then in Malawi who ever would own the copyrights of the calendar, the date 19th May 2009 would have attracted the highest returns. Malawians go to the polls on this date. The anticipation has increasingly been built up. Those seeking power are all over the place, moving, pleading, promising, lying, and worse still cursing. They that have the power of voting are also occupied, wondering, asking, deciding, and some only watching. It is elections time. Things happen. They are happening.

Like it or not, believe it or not, Bingu and Muluzi are at the centre of the happenings. Tembo comes in the picture because of the bad blood between Muluzi and Bingu. Personally I have no problems seeing politicians make manoeuvres of whatever sort as long as they are not only legal but ethical as well. Nevertheless when I see that in the pursuit of political office what is unethical is regularised and thrown into the sack of the normal I fail to be indifferent. This is what has been troubling me of late.

For one thing, I do not like dwelling on the mud some politician slung on their opponent. Decency and ethics are virtues that cannot be compromised at the expediency of political convenience. There are things we can wash down; things we can let pass unexamined. Nevertheless this does not include elements that threaten and undermine social decency and social morality.

Some things are not in themselves worth re-bringing into the present. The recent happenings in Malawi are very surprising to me. Muluzi and Tembo have joined hands to face their common political enemy, Bingu. Tembo believes an election victory was snatched away from him (it is unclear who specifically engineered this ‘theft’ whether it is by Muluzi or Bingu). At least he has fixed his finger of blame on Bingu. He (Tembo) alone can account for the motivation behind this settlement for Bingu and not Tembo. Muluzi claims Bingu is ungrateful for snatching away the victory he (Muluzi) gave him. Now, this is where Tembo’s choosing of Bingu (only) to be the 'thief' of his victory requires more than logic to be accounted for. This is beside the story I am looking at though.

Muluzi whatever his intentions were, thought of being with Bingu for a much longer if not all the way of his presidency. Whatever his motivations were he felt that the intentions were betrayed and crushed underfoot by Bingu's quitting of the party. It is clear bitterness had been generated in Muluzi. He attempted to contest himself despite the constitution barring him. Upon being turned down by the Electoral Commission, Muluzi has spared no possible (not necessarily un-contradictory or unethical) alternatives to dislodge Bingu. He had done everything to have Bingu elected. It is no secret that Bingu has no public speaking appeal to woo the masses as Muluzi is renowned for. Political commentators and all have hailed Muluzi's skill in persuasion of the masses. I have a different outlook. I agree Muluzi has tonnes of jokes and knows how to come down on the ground and connect with the unknown nobody on the ground. It is the content of Muluzi's persuasion that throws a fly into the ointment.

In his selling of Bingu, Muluzi went to lengths describing how unsuitable one of Bingu's major contenders John Tembo. Tembo has now become Muluzi's friend. Yet in 2004 Muluzi described an image of a Tembo to be like that of a one immunised from mercy and all humanity, one who personally executed gruesome atrocities against the then one party regime’s dissidents. More times than can be remembered he told all those who cared for Malawi and the characteristics of her political leaders that even though they did not like his promoted candidate (Bingu) they had no moral basis to have the preference of Tembo as their main reason. The man told us that Tembo's hands were dripping with not water or hope but ........... shed by the murdered victims. Actually he had a tape he used to play about how cruel Tembo had been. Those that thought that this was an anomaly and unethical put it to the president that he had to desist from making such slanderous remarks seeing that the courts had acquitted Tembo and that if he had new evidence the ethical duty he had was to make a fresh case in court. Could Muluzi have any of that? So concerned was he about the welfare of Malawi that he retorted later that the fact that the courts have acquitted you is no sign that you are innocent. So said Muluzi and so believed him the people.

Five years later in his bitterness with Bingu Muluzi has afforded the rare audacity of rebranding Tembo as the only appropriate leader to replace Bingu. It should be clear that as far as I am concerned, John Tembo is an innocent man since he was acquitted. My citing of these graphic and crude matters which are to my discomfort too is to reveal what we are perceived to be by other people. I should not be vague here, I find those that follow Muluzi, and they are many, very surprising and acting strange to me. Not that I have a problem with their supporting or following Muluzi. Not at all. What I cannot understand is the failure of them in the course of their following Muluzi to demand and obtain a reconciliation of facts and truths, and ultimately the motives driving their party. For one thing when you compare the reasons Muluzi is against Bingu and those he levelled against Tembo, common sense and intuitions tell us that Bingu should be a lesser evil than the other. Bingu has chiefly among others been accused of being ungrateful by the Muluzi side. Ungratefulness is something you can cope with than terminating people's lives. I wonder that those that follow Muluzi are not demanding an account for this sudden turn of events that shocks reality. Well, may be I am the one who is out of step with common sense and logic. The simple question I am asking is what has happened to the virtue of truth which seems to either be sidelined or trampled as though this has no moral cost?

Some quarters have responded by claiming that in politics this is the norm. You have no permanent friends or enemies. Wait a minute. Is this an absolute principle like the laws of nature? Why should we submit ourselves to this notion when all it is brooding over are malice, bitterness, and selfish motives? This tells me how politicians perceive us. We do not deserve truth and honesty. They can cheat us and not only go away with it but also with our blind and non-inquisitive loyalty. We applaud them. We are not that ethical enough to jealously guard against some cherished values we would not want even our dearest kith and kin trample underfoot. Then suddenly we wonder and complain at the institutionalization of corruption and fraud in public institutions. Somehow so it seems we miraculously convince ourselves that there is no link between honesty, truth, (or their absence) and corruption. We somehow believe that one can publicly and systematically contradict the truth and in private prudently manage public resources when there is a weak or just no mechanism that would hold him accountable.

Personalities matter a lot to our society than some lasting principles that hold a decent and noble society together. A society or community that condones such ethical contradiction as demonstrated by Muluzi makes me sad. I sympathize with all those who follow Bingu because he is Bingu. Those that go wherever Tembo will go. Those that are ready to live by Muluzi's whims albeit ethically contradictory. I of course do not want them to have an ethical outlook as mine. They have theirs and I respect them for their outlook. Yet I sympathise with them with what I understand to be against common sense morality. I am not too sure whether this is common between us. But the fault could be with me I also suppose. Perhaps ethics has zero relevance in the legitimacy of our institutions in today's society. May be we all should obey the artificial but conventional law that in politics you have no permanent enemy or friend. In other words we should also accept whatever it is that the law brings along with it. May be I am the odd one out. If it so be, still changing my outlook I will not. I will rather proudly remain the odd one out in the modern Malawi of no permanent political friends or foes.

Don't Dare undermine Muluzi's Legacy!

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?

African Puzzles

The African puzzle is one which is very mutative. Recent mutations seem to be competing with the HIV virus as far as tracking and pinning down are concerned. I have been shocked at how on this continent of ours we cannot prioritise on core issues. I must confess that the happenings on this our dear continent are increasingly escaping the reach of comprehension.
I hold two countries responsible for my increased failure in understanding the happenings on the continent - Malawi and Madagascar.

It is no other date other than 10th March 2009. This is the day the International Monetary Fund was not at its seat in Washington but in Tanzania making scary forecasts about the African economy, that the world is facing its 'greatest recession' and that Africa will feel its full force. Gloomy pictures. Leaders of the world's economies which always determine Africa's economies are up and down trying to make sense of or put sense into this economic crisis. Gordon Brown has just been meeting Obama over the economy. The EU has been in countless meetings over the economy. These are the economies which when they sneeze Africa's catch a serious cold.

While a few African countries and citizens are concerned about how to sail through the economic turmoil's water, at least the people in Malawi and Madagascar have some other things more urgent and that demand priority over the economy.

Today the army chief in Madagascar has issued an ultimatum to the struggling sides to either concentrate on holding the nation together or risk a military take-over. The capital's mayor has had his supporters staging bloody protests demanding an exist of the president. About 100 people have been killed in such protests in the past two months. Some sections of the army have vowed to side with the renegade mayor. They think the future for whatever the ills they can see about the present government can only be cured and good governance secured not by reformation of systems and structures but only through the installation of the mayor as the next president. This is looking not into the future, looking not beyond now, not beyond the capabilities of the individuals in the present, but just what is subjectively convenient now. This is a big problem in Africa. Even if the president might be the problem, his removal at least by following the due process of the law is a first step towards the right solution. Even if everybody wants him gone by yesterday, still the future is not insured by just swapping responsibilities to another 'nice' man. It lies in the reformation of systems and institutions. The people of Madagascar should by now know that the current president is facing his fall in the same fashion he rose up. They should have learnt by now that their style of change of leadership which always costs human lives is not among even the least efficient ways of changing government and making progress. May be they know better. May be they should be left alone.

Now to the Warm Heart of Africa. Elections are around the corner, 20th May2009 to be exact. Instead of focusing on how they will handle the economy in light of the global economic crisis my dear Malawi politicians with the current state of the economy are conducting themselves as though this were the period the world economy registered an unprecedented growth. John Tembo was out on Monday at a rally. His theme of the rally: the numbered days of the tenant of the state house. His message is one of the party forming government this year. That there will be universal fertiliser subsidies. But when thousands of tax-paying citizens of the donor countries are losing jobs, the tax which finances Malawi's (40%) budgetary support is it prudent to continue with making promises as usual when things are not that promising? When the citizens of the donor countries are being given of coming days of perseverance and collective effort in overcoming the economic difficulty is it not surprising to see Tembo promising free fertilizers as his friend Muluzi promises free secondary school education without any tuition fees? So you have leaders in donor countries urging their citizens to tighten their belts even harder in order to sail through, whereas on the receiving end the cunning Malawian politician is promising his citizens and counting on the money the squeezed citizens of donor countries will give that they should expect relaxation of contribution to the state coffers and that this is not a moment that demands extra commitment in our whatever enterprises. Instead as they put it this is the moment of receiving for free.

This is how it goes on my dear continent I love so much. I love it the more irrespective of such paradoxes that she is never short of.

Herbert of Batumeyo Village

365 days ago the world lost one of those that it had hosted for 58 yrs. This is not to say the man himself was lost. He only departed. He departed because this was not his destination. He was only passing through. He was a sojourner. 365days ago he left. Usually pomp and trumpets and a gathering of society's important people characterize the death of those that ere famous, powerful, re-known and sometimes even the wise and great. Human nature being frail and undiscerning as it is, easily removes the barriers that lie between the famous, powerful, rich, and influential on the one hand and the great or wise on the other.

I have had the privilege of at least once escaping from this common trap. I did when 365days ago on a Thursday like today 12th March 2009 one the great men and wise men of my lifetime left this life for the other. There was no pomp and publicity to mark his departure which nobody wanted it took place so soon. His name did not even grace the pages of the cheapest newspaper in Malawi on that 13th of March 2008. Yet I remain convinced that one the greatest men in my lifetime fell that day.

I am writing this piece in a room which has been my abode for the past six months whose address Bjornkarrsgatan 8A23, Linkoping 584 36, Sweden. Exactly at this time last year I was approaching Salima from Zomba to mourn and 48hrs later bury this great man Herbert Manthalu in Batumeyo Village, T/ A Mavwere, Mchinji. For most people getting where I have is one of those things that happen. For me it is the grace of God. Yet this man called Herbert who was my father ensured that the tender lives under his custody as his children manage to get the opportunities of life. What amazes me is the great wisdom this man had. For this reason I have called him a great man. The man was wise. The man saw for his children of which I am the second born among the six. Not only did he see ahead of the moment but he managed to see beyond what some men of letters cannot see for their kids.

The man had no greater education qualification than a Malawi School Leaving Certificate and some other Human resource management certificate or diploma which he got almost twenty years in public service. In simple terms his education was not any attractive. It was not great. This inevitably affected the shape and quality of life we led in the family. We were just kids of a government clerk whose wife was a mere primary school teacher. That is how it was, that simple and real. We spent a lot of time in Kasungu and were staying in by then a medium density location. Most of the neighbours were men of relatively big positions at their respective places of work. Generally, with an exception of a household or two, we were the most unenviable household as regards economic status in the neighbourhood. The man however did not submit to fate. He had failed to get a diploma in his life. His wife is only a primary school teacher with a Junior Certificate qualification. He had every justification to source hope for us from other things, elsewhere except in education. How could he prioritise this realm of education as though he or his wife were an inspiration and models to us? This is where traces of his greatness start to emerge.

Growing up in our home of four boys and two girls in that order of birth was interesting. We might have been poor but were rich in laughter. The home was always noisy. Noise of laughter and happiness of course. But this happiness would suddenly disappear once we had our dinner. The man would command everybody to get his books and be on the dinner table for studies. Were it to end there then it would be a very pale reason not enough to dismiss happiness in the home. It was thicker than this. A sizeable rod would always stand in the corner waiting for use. It could be called to duty once one of us was caught dozing. Mercilessly (but now I know hopefully and lovingly) the whippings would awaken you into reality. Sometimes powerful slaps would follow. Or if there is persistence in dozing, cupfuls of water even during the coldest month of June would do the trick. They would be poured out on your head till your clothes got drenched. No chance to go and change clothes. They should dry while on the body. I do not remember anybody who ever dozed over his book when it reached this far. This was when we were in primary school. Once you got o standard four you always knew moments of happiness were being shortened.

The moment you got to standard 8 where you sit for national Primary school leaving certificate examinations and get selected to secondary school it was much hotter and demanding. No more going out to play even on weekends. There was a timetable for studies not drafted by us but by him. It had breaks of no more than one hour. There was just no freedom but study. To make sure you are not just staying idle in the bedroom, he would administer a test may be fortnightly. Your grades in that test would tell whether you had been studying or not. Not only would the grades tell but a very strong whipping would follow to testify that you were not studying as seen by your failure in the test he gave us. There was as such no choice. You just had to get the good grades if you love living in peace. You just had to study. The results were overwhelming as I now see in retrospect. I can safely say that almost throughout our primary school the average position for each of the six children of us was position three. On very rare occasions was a child of Hebert Manthalu below position five. You knew the reward for such poor positions. I remember that when about three of us were in primary school attending the same school people would envy us. During the pupils' assembly on the closing day there was a public announcement of each class' results and the positions for everyone. Manthalus in their respective class would almost always be on position 1 or 2 or 3. That was it. Then the other folks would admire us and claim that we were an intelligent family. May be they were right. But I do not think that had they ever peeped into the routine of the rigorous study life in our home they would still firmly hold their claims. End of school terms were usually the best times for we could at last get praises from our father. Soon we would sleep and the happiness return unrestrained. But it would not stay long. Few weeks before opening gradually the 'normal' order would return.

Failing an exam or scoring an average grade was always a frightening thing. You always knew that there would be no peace at home. There were no other choices except to study and pass. Not just pass with average grades. But passing with brilliance.

When we got to secondary school the demands were the same. Aim high. Whenever the man met or had some new young graduate bosses whom he had to respect at his work place he would take it wisely. He respected them all. This is usually a problem in a culture where the young must always look up to and respect elders. But he did not let it end there. He would come home and motivate and counsel us to aim at going to university, whose only door was to have nice grades in the national examinations. He always said hard work is the key even for the most poorest of the poor. He emphasized hard work and personal commitment (uyikilako mtima – in his exact vernacular). About 80,000 post-secondary school students then fought for the only 3,000 university places. Your grades had to be good and better. The elder brother did it. Then I did it. My immediate younger brother did it. His younger brother did it too. He had barely finished a semester in his freshman year when the man who had sighted the success for him and forced him to walk in its way slept.

I had thought that now that I had had a bachelor’s degree then I should be contented and much more so should be my dad who had not even a diploma anyway be contented. I was amazed. He called us when my elder brother was about to start work. We needn’t be contented so he said. We should aim at getting a Masters degree. “The world is competitive these days." He would say. Such words? From one who has no tertiary education? I am amazed every time I look back at this. Soon my elder brother went to do a masters degree in the UK. He was always encouraging me to get the opportunity when I find it and that I should continuously be searching. I was searching. There was a time I was shortlisted for an MA in political science in our national university in 2007. I was not successful. My younger brother later told me that the man was very concerned that I had not been picked. He was always raising the issue when they were at home. I had been working though at the time, teaching at Mulunguzi Secondary School. The next year the same opportunity availed itself again to me. I did all I could in preparation. Again I was not successful. This time what made me bitter was not just that I had failed again. But even importantly that I had made the man my dad be even more worried and concerned. I had once told him the previous year that I was in the process of applying for MA studies in Sweden. I had talked about it with him only once. My mother later told me he had been earnestly praying for me to succeed on this one. When I received the news that I had been offered the scholarship I called my mother and broke it to her. After talking with her I hung up the phone. But this was not normal. I would not hang up after talking with her only. I had to talk with her husband, my dad as had been the norm. Not on this day though. Not over this news that I am too sure would have pleased him more than it did please me. I could not talk with him. I wished I had told him the news. But no! How could I? Do you talk with one whose body you have just buried a month before on a 15th of March 2008?

Today I have about two months to finish my MA studies. How I wish that man was there to see it all! But his absence does not make me bitter and bad. It makes me celebrate. It challenges on how to focus and live life. Seriously considering others. Today I am not engaged. Not even do I have a girlfriend. I have no wife and as such I am not a head of a family. Yet this does not prevent me from knowing what it takes to be a great father. I know though a distance away from the institution of marriage of how to be a great father. I have learnt it. I have seen it all in Herbert. Herbert Manthalu of Batumeyo Village, T/A Mavwere Mchinji.

No More Pleas Please!

I am constantly being puzzled by the politics of Africa. It seems to me that contrary to all expectation we are regressing away from maturity and stability by the day. The political analyst struggling to pose in un-matching optimism would respond that what we are going through is part of maturity that our democracy is being tested and we are making progress. How I wish I had such hope and optimism for Africa and Malawi.

Why I am desperate for such optimism which I nevertheless cannot afford to have is the fact that we are failing tests whose skills ought to have mastered. I am so concerned with elections in Africa. One of the urgent things I would seek to understand than how a NASA space shuttle docks at the international space station is why is conducting an election in Africa is so troubling a problem that there is always the threat of or indeed the actual loss of human life as the ultimate cost?

But part of the reason as I have discovered this week is that the African society is still stuck in the unrewarding tendencies of not asserting itself. Leadership in our society is given unnecessary power. In the end we do not entrust the leaders with our power but we transfer and give them power over us. In the end these leaders become our deities. We adore them. We always hear from them. We cannot make them listen to us. We are at their mercy. One would think that in a democracy such tendencies would diminish but alas!

There will be presidential and parliamentary elections in Malawi on the 20th of May this year. The centre of attention, for usually the wrong reasons, is on Bakili Muluzi and Bingu Wa Muthalika. This is not to suggest that these are the only favourites. Actually when you factor in J.Z.U. Tembo of MCP, the question of a favourite becomes more indeterminate. It is the relationship of the two aforementioned men that is part of news everyday. Muluzi a former head of state ruled Malawi for 10 years until 5years ago. To the disappointment of the inner circle of the party he picked Mutharika who was a complete outsider of the party for the presidency after (Muluzi’s) failing to secure amendment of the constitution to cater for at first an open term and then later on a third term limit for the presidency. However upon assuming power the two became enemies and Muthalika finally ditched the party and formed his own. Muluzi became furious and vowed to wrestle back the presidency from Muthalika. His candidature though counts on a linguistic ambiguity of a constitutional phrase that semantically would also accommodate a former president to come back yet morally and as per intention of the section according to the constitution conference that arrived at it there was an unequivocal spirit of putting a sealed limit on the number of years one can rule in one’s lifetime.

The contest between Muluzi and Muthalika has led into a sour relationship between the two that defies the monumental natural hatred cats and mice passionately love to have against each other. They have castigated each other. They have accused and counter-accused each other. They have abused the media to bedevil each other. There has been debate as to whether the country is currently under some political tension or not. Some say there is none. Others claim there is clearly more than it.

As for the clergy this is not a contentious matter. They are very clear: There is tension in the country. Political commentators and the civil society organizations too have repeated the same tune of possible violence. The electoral violence alarm has been sounded and resounded. On 25th and 26th February 2009leadership of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC), the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) , the Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM), the Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM), and the Hindu Council, came together to deliberate about the pending election. Whatever they deliberated they communicated the cream of their deliberations through a press statement. The theme of their statement was worry about the electoral process. They in the end urged the major leaders to avoid violence.

Now, in Malawi the influence of religious leaders is not like it is in America or Sweden. Actually each of the candidates belongs to some church or religion and the influence of one’s religion is no small matter. This is where I find everything wrong with Malawian leaders (the clergy, the media, Civil Society organizations, and political commentators). The best these people have done (assuming there is tension) in Malawi is issue statements of appeal and press the violence scare. So too have the media, Civil society organizations and political commentators. Sounding the alarm for whom?

It is high time we realized that the least we can do to these politicians is plead with them. It is very clear that almost the major contenders in this race have personal scores against each other. This is no secret to everyone. Malawi however is more than Muluzi, Bingu, and Tembo. Malawi is greater than MCP, than UDF. She is greater than DPP. There are more Malawians than there are DPP members. Surely we have more Malawians than MCP members. Malawians outnumber UDF members. Malawi is greater than any individualistic ambitions embodied in whosoever’s personage. This plain reality seems to have eluded our civil society, the media, political commentators, as well as the clergy leadership. On the fundamental background of Malawi’s greatness over strife-breeding personal egos these contestants should be told by the clergy, the media, civil organizations, and political commentators of what to do and how not to conduct themselves pertaining to the elections and stability of the country. We should not engage in the shallow waters of pleading for what rightfully belongs to us. What I am saying is that there are 13 millions. Less than 500,000 of us are party radicals who have nothing to lose and are eager to unleash violence (don’t question my intuition basis for this figure). Why should the 12 or 10 million of the rest of the others kneel down to a mistaken few and plead for an election that is fair and violence free? Why should we press the panic button? For whom? Surely it is not for these leaders who are deliberately piling up the tension.

If there is tension in our country, we are its creators. We are to bear its blunt. We should pay with some of our women’s dignity and children’s blood. Still it will be us who will be responsible to finding a solution later on. In every respect the whole spectacle is all ours. We should therefore not hesitate to highlight each of the contenders’ specific contribution and what they are obliged to do to in order to leave the country’s stability intact. No pleas please. As long as we agree Malawi is greater than these people we should not mince words to them. How on earth can we afford such passivity? It is in this that we find the current violence scares unnecessary and a default of our responsibility for the moment.