THREE YEARS AGO, I wrote this opinion in defence of Soldier Lucious Banda following what transpired in a WhatsApp group called BALAKA CONNECTIONS where some members argued that the music maestro had stopped composing attacking songs because he was siding with the ruling party. After reading the post, he said he was grateful that there were still people who saw and appreciated the other side of him. I post it again to honour this great son of the soil.  

Soldier's music lives on (Photo Credit: Internet)

FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: IN SUPPORT OF ‘SOLDIER' AND OTHERS 

By Joseph Kayira | 1 July 2024

Soldier Lucious Banda, one of Malawi’s foremost musicians came into the limelight when he was very young. His role in ‘activism’ to bring about social and political change has largely been through music. For those who believe in telling the truth, Soldier’s contribution to Malawi’s political and social change has been worthwhile. This analysis was inspired by a discussion in a WhatsApp group I belong to.

Lucious Banda was soldier of the poor (Photo Credit: Internet)

My first face to face interview with Soldier was at the Lilongwe Community Centre Ground back in 1997. I was corresponding for Janet Karim’s The Independent newspaper. Lilongwe Community Centre Ground was a hot venue in those years for live gigs. At the time Alleluya Band was a force to reckon with. Whenever Alleluya Band was in town, Lilongwe Community Centre Ground would teem with fans who wanted to have a feel of Alleluya tunes. Soldier was already a big household name. Everyone wanted to see “mng’ono wake wa Paul Banda uja amaimba ngati Lucky Dube”. 

Lilongwe is a dusty city. On this day it was so dusty. After his act I saw Soldier headed for a tap clean his face. I plucked courage and followed him. As he wiped his face, I greeted him, introduced myself and why I was there. It was a brief interview; it could have been longer if I had wanted more information. Talking to a musician of Soldier’s caliber was not easy in those years. I went back to the ghetto of Kawale II a happy man. Filing the story, the following day, my fellow journalists could not hide but wonder how I managed to corner Soldier to grant me the interview. The next interview with this son of the soil would come much later when I was at Moni magazine between 2006 and 2007.

From that moment on, I have interacted with Soldier on many occasions. At length we have discussed the arts, politics, evils of tribalism, corruption and different socio-economic issues. 

So, when members of a WhatsApp group I belong to, started attacking each other, as to why certain people – perhaps including Soldier – are not forthcoming to condemn the leadership on its failure to root out corruption and improve welfare of Malawians, it only confirmed how angry and frustrated people are under the new administration. But it also reminded us how we fail to acknowledge the fact that after the war is over soldiers have to go back to the barracks. 

His contribution to music cannot be over-emphasized 

(Photo Credit: Internet)

It is true that cost of living is too high. Only those who are myopic will have problems to acknowledge that most Malawians are living hard. The long queues at filling stations are there for all to see. You really have to be nice to gas station owners to be on their priority list and avoid the long and winding queues. We all know that food prices – especially of the staple maize – are unreasonably high. Forex is in short supply. Public hospitals are struggling. 

In short, the situation in the country is growing worse. Would you blame it on Soldier that he has stopped composing hard-hitting songs? Would you blame Undule Mwakasungura that he is no longer going to the streets to protest as was the case during Bingu’s time? Would you be heaping blame on Billy Mayaya, Reverend Sembereka and Timothy Mtambo for their silence? Is it because of their silence that Malawians are facing acute shortages of fuel, electricity and foreign currency? 

Here is my piece of mind. These people have done their part. They sacrificed their lives – whether for personal gain or public interest – that is a story for another day. For instance, Undule and others were almost shot dead when Bingu ordered the police to shoot to kill demonstrators. They ended killing 20 protestors. Bingu accused protestors of committing treason. His government announced an independent commission of enquiry into what really happened. The question is, have the families of the dead been compensated? 

Soldier has had a share of Bingu’s vengeance. Those who remained in the United Democratic Front (UDF) – including Soldier – became a target for the newly formed DPP. Soldier did not relent. He took Bingu and the DPP head on. He had his songs banned on the national broadcaster. He was thrown in jail. He suffered while some of the people who are blaming him now for not composing hard-hitting songs were enjoying their freedom. They were not even there for his family.

The point is, Soldier and others were never baptized to fight for our rights forever. They are also people with limitations, feelings, needs and wants. These activists we very much want to keep fighting for us have families and siblings; they are fathers and have children to take care of. Their families are affected when they get arrested. When they are in pain, their families are in pain too. When they are jailed, not many of us pay them a visit. When their families need support many of us who are busy condemning these activists today are not ready to share the little that we have with these families. So, when Bon Kalindo sarcastically says M’malawi siwomufera would you blame him?

How many of us who are condemning these activists have ever thought of joining these protests to face teargas and trigger-happy men in uniform? Many of us here would not have behaved differently if we were offered positions that have been filled by our activist colleagues. Who would refuse to be a presidential adviser here? Who would say no to a position in the foreign mission? The truth of the matter is that some Malawians don’t want to sacrifice anything but want all the good things to come their way at the expense of the perceived activists. 

May I repeat that it is very true that at the moment things are bad in Malawi. But out of the 18-plus million Malawians should it be Soldier and a few courageous activists from the Civil Society that should always be speaking on our behalf? What’s your role as a Malawian? Are you not empowered by the republican constitution to protest as well? Where then is the fairness in the accusations. We do not vote for one to be an activist as is the case with Members of Parliament, Councillors and President. We should be taking to task the people who are ‘eating’ our taxes as to what they have done so far on checks and balances.

Soldier was once Member of Parliament for Balaka North 

(Photo Credit: Internet) 

The other time Billy Mayaya was a lone protester and we poked fun at him. We thought he was crazy. Today, he is in Brussels and we ask why. He was contributing to the fight for change. And he has been accordingly recognized for his role. 

So, when we point fingers at activists for not doing enough to force government to change things, we should be extending that blame to ourselves for doing nothing at a time our services are needed. We find ourselves in situation where people who did not vote at all complaining about Malawi’s bad leadership. Truth is, if you did not vote, somehow you helped to elect the bad leadership you are complaining about.

For Soldier and others, it is time to reflect and move on. It is time to concentrate on your new roles. They are equally important roles. To be a special presidential adviser on youth and arts is no mean achievement. Some of these accusations are a calculated distraction from your mandated responsibilities in your new position. 

Malawians should be commending Soldier Lucious Banda for his courageous contribution towards democracy, the arts, social justice and peace. He has left an indelible mark on the music scene. It is only fair and proper to give the numerous accolades to this son of the soil while he is still with us. 

REMEMBERING VICE PRESIDENT SAULOS KLAUS CHILIMA

By Joseph Kayira | 1 July 2024

On June 10 2024, death robbed the Malawi nation of a man who so loved his country, so much that he left a lucrative job in the private sector to serve in the public service. Saulos Klaus Chilima or SKC, stunned many when he resigned from the position of managing director at Airtel Malawi Limited to join politics. His courage to join Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to pair with Peter Mutharika in the 2014 presidential election was viewed by many as a risk too high to even consider taking – bearing in mind that at the time, the DPP was an opposition party. 

SKC turned out to be the leader this country should have had at the dawn of multiparty politics. His call for Malawi to embrace transformation, public reforms, creation of one million jobs for the youth in a year, and that families should be able to afford three meals a day; that the elderly should get K15,000 per month and that the Malawi passport should cost K15,000 – all point to a leader who was progressive and meant well for his nation. But he happens to be ‘the best president Malawi never had.’

Chilima during on of his officials duties (Photo Credit: Mana)

When everyone thought SKC was the last hope for Malawians and that he would probably win the 2025 presidential election, something unusual happened. The plane that carried him and eight others, who included former first lady Shanil Muluzi crashed in Chikangawa forest in Mzimba. 

In a national address on June 11, President Lazarus Chakwera said: “And I am deeply saddened and sorry to inform you all that it has turned out to be a terrible tragedy. The search and rescue team has found the aircraft near a hill in the Chikangawa forest, and they found it completely destroyed, with no survivors, as all passengers on board were killed on impact.”

It was news that Malawians did not want to hear. Here was a man who had gone through a lot between 2020 and 2024. SKC’s political journey was not easy. He was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in November 2022 for allegedly receiving ana advantage from British businessman Zuneth Sattar for facilitating awarding of government contracts to Mr Sattar’s companies. He denied any wrong doing. In May this year, the case was discontinued.

Ironically, Chilima campaigned on a ticket to root out corruption. His supporters believed that the corruption allegations were politically motivated meant to demoralize him. Political commentators believed 2025 was going to be his turning point in politics. His detractors and political opponents too knew that he would give them a good run for their money in the presidential race. It was expected that he would tell it all; SKC would leave no stone unturned. That is why he coined the saying ‘Osaopa, osatopa, osafooka’. 

FEARLESS POLITICIAN

Those who had the opportunity to closely work with SKC will attest his fearless nature. While vice president in DPP government, he openly expressed his views on how government of which he was part, had backtracked on the anti-corruption fight. SKC deplored the tendency of shielding the corrupt, the connected and plunderers of public resources.

The corrupt did not like him. Plunderers feared him. The connected trembled at his sight – fearing he would at some point cut off political umbilical cord that put a blind eye on such mediocrity. When his efforts to bring sanity in the system were frustrated, he decided to leave the DPP. In fact, it was widely rumoured that there was a group of people in the party that worked underground to fight and frustrate SKC agenda. When he realized that the differences were irreparable, he moved on to form UTM Party. 

Yet, not all people in DPP fought SKC. Those who were progressive just like Chilima wanted the party to inject new blood in its leadership. They wanted SKC to be the torchbearer in the 2019 general elections. One of them was former first lady, Callista Mutharika, who said DPP president, Peter Mutharika was old and should have paved way for SKC. She revealed of how some people in DPP were taking advantage of Mutharika’s advanced age to accomplish their dirty missions. That fell on death ears.

Chilima formed and led UTM Party (Photo Credit: Internet)

Malawians know how he performed as vice president from 2014 to 2019. They also bear witness to his performance when he deputized President Lazarus Chakwera from 2020 till his death on June 10 this year. Those that believe in honesty speak highly of SKC as a man of principles, integrity and someone who led by example.

President Chakwera described SKC as “a good man, a devoted father and husband, a patriotic citizen who served his country with distinction, and a formidable Vice President. I consider it one of the greatest honours of my life to have had him as my deputy and counsellor for the past four years, and his passing is a terrible loss to his wife Mary, his family, his friends, his colleagues in Cabinet, and to all of us as a nation that found his leadership and courage a source of inspiration.” 

A colleague who was at Chancellor College [now University of Malawi] with the fallen vice president said “SKC will not ask of you that which he is not ready to do or give.”

“If he asked you to keep time, he would be the first to respect time. If he asked you to work hard, he would begin by rolling his sleeves and getting dirty. He would not abhor corruption in public while engaging in shady deals privately. He demanded integrity because he smells integrity. That is a very important quality in a leader who wants to transform the ethos of a public service immersed in systemic lethargy and the mindset of a nation beset by a spirit of defeatism and resignation to fate,” said veteran journalist Gracian Tukula.

Pallbearers arrive with Chilima's remains at Bingu 

National Stadium for state funeral service (Photo Credit: Mana)

Tukula added that SKC was frank and would never leave you in any doubt as to what he was thinking about you or something. He did not brook gossip. “If he said anything negative about you in your absence, you would be sure that he would repeat it in your face once he got the opportunity.”

To sum it all, SKC was so many good things. He inspired hope in the youth. His contributions towards reforms in government and his zeal to fight the corrupt, are a true reflection of a leader who wished Malawi well. Rest well SKC.

REPRESSIVE REGIMES HATE INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS 

By Joseph Kayira | 8 February 2024

In 2022, veteran journalist Gregory Gondwe was invited to South West Region Police Headquarters in Blantyre for what the police said was an interview on the ongoing investigations police were conducting regarding an online news story published by Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) and other related issues. It was not an interview; it turned out to be an interrogation. He was at the police for hours and only gained his freedom around 5:00 pm. Police impounded his equipment such as a laptop and mobile phone.

Someone senior in government apologized for Gregory Gondwe’s arrest when it became clear that he was behind the journalist’s arrest. Malawi’s development partners, the United States and the United Kingdom issued a statement condemning the arrest, further expressing concern over the conduct of police to raid the offices of PIJ, where Gondwe works.

“We note that he now has been released but call for the immediate return of the confiscated equipment and respect for privacy of any information contained therein. A free media is one of the pillars of democracy,” read the statement in part.

The belief is that good journalism unearths the dirt, corruption and fights for good governance the world over. In Malawi good journalism is the reason the Cashgate scandal was unearthed, it is the reason constitutionalism is still on course. But there are people, especially those who hold public positions, who think journalism is a curse; they think the world is a better place without scribes. Without mincing words those who believe in this line of thinking are daft. They should never hold positions in the public sector. As long as they survive on tax payers’ money they are answerable to the public. That is why corruption is a subject of interest in journalism. It is the reason those who believe in good governance will always fight it to the end. 

That is why people like Gregory Gondwe and those who believe in good governance must be protected. They must be supported so that investigative journalism can thrive. From 1994 to date, there have been people in authority who connive with corrupt businesspersons to defraud government of billions of taxpayers’ money. Civil servants, politicians and businesspersons have been arrested for stealing public funds. These are the people who hate investigative journalism. These are few individuals who dent the good image of patriotic citizens who mean well for this country. They care about the condition of our bad roads. They also care about children who are still learning under trees almost 60 years after independence. They also feel bad about women who deliver on road sides on their way to hospitals which are miles away. These are Malawians who know that there is no other country they can call home other than Malawi. So, stealing from public coffers means shooting oneself in the foot. It's foolish. 

Yet we have people who have no conscience. All they think about is money. Well, it’s not wrong to think about money when the thinking is legitimate. It is very wrong to think about money when it borders on stealing from government. That is why when Gregory Gondwe started publishing stories about one businessman who is suspected to have accumulated his wealth from dubious deals with the state, some individuals in government felt uncomfortable. They are the people who are baying for Gondwe’s blood. It is so sad that people from the army and the police should be threatening journalists in this day and era. Are we degenerating into a dictatorship once again where the police would wake up and make arbitrary arrests in the name of state security?

Why do we glorify evil so much in this country? Why are some people in the army, the police and civil service so much afraid of Gregory Gondwe and the stories he is publishing if their hands are clean? Should the country’s security organs threaten, intimidate and silence journalists for doing their work? Should journalists sit back and watch as the country degenerate into lawlessness because some hot heads in the army and police will come by and lock them up? Journalism is a noble profession. Journalism is not a crime. It should never be seen or regarded as a crime. Those with evil minds hate journalism because they want to hide their evil deeds. But come rain come shine, journalism will strive; investigate journalism will unearth the dirt and help to bring to book the corrupt. 

Stop the harassment

The last time Gregory Gondwe was summoned to police, former minister of information Gospel Kazako said: “This is not the personality and character of this administration to intimidate or create uncomfortable environment for journalists. We are a known beneficiary of free press. So, I have engaged my colleague the Minister of Homeland Security to ensure a common platform that will reflect the DNA of this government, which is respecting the set freedoms and laws governing provided spaces which different disciplines and citizens enjoy.”

They were words of encouragement. They inspired hope. But that hope was shattered and disappeared as soon as it came. Arrests have been made in a manner that reminds us of days of death darkness. The other day, the director general of the Anti-Corruption Bureau was arrested under circumstances that reeked of a police state. That should not be happening in a democracy. You surely would pardon those who think this administration seems to be backsliding on its policies, including media freedoms. Journalists have been arrested and harassed for doing their job. It reflects bad governance. It also reflects failure to uphold rule of law.   

That is why institutions such as the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) must be applauded for condemning threats to press freedom. In a press statement the Commission condemned any threats directed towards journalists. It said international conventions to fight corruption, both in the United Nations system and regional systems, include rules that encourage States to adopt laws that facilitate the reporting of corruption when public officials become aware of them in the scope of their work. MHRC said media provides information on public sector corruption where governmental activity is opaque by design or by default. The media, and in particular investigative journalism, plays a crucial role in exposing corruption to public scrutiny and fighting against impunity.

Gondwe: In hiding (Photo Credit: Internet)

“Press freedom is a fundamental right that allows journalists and media organizations to report and communicate information without censorship or interference from the government or other entities. Needless to say, the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi which is the supreme law of the land provides under section 36 that: the press shall have the right to report and publish freely, within Malawi and abroad and to be accorded the fullest possible facilities for access to public information. 

“The freedom accorded to journalists and other people in the media, allows for a space where public functionaries are held accountable and this helps to facilitate public disclosure and safeguard democracy in the long run. Freedom of the press is a prerequisite for good governance because it serves as a check on potential abuses of power and helps to uncover wrongdoing. Malawi subscribes to international human rights instruments that promote media freedom. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: everyone has a right to freedom of opinion and expression, this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and to seek, receive and impact information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers,” the MHRC statement said.

MISA Malawi said it is deeply concerned with threats on Gondwe. It said Gondwe is currently in hiding, on advice from military sources, following his expose’ on the payments that Malawi Defence Force (MDF) made to businessman Zuneth Sattar, a fraud suspect under the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe.  

Earlier Gondwe wrote on his Facebook page that: “This isn't just about legal threats, which I was prepared to face head-on. Yesterday, top government officials confirmed that the MDF intended to ‘arrest’ me for allegedly ‘endangering state security’—a vague and ominous accusation. Given the potential for my situation to be 'accidentalised' with a seemingly plausible explanation posthumously, I've heeded the advice to protect myself. In this line of work, death can be disguised as an accident, and no hospital can revive a life once lost.”

MISA Malawi said it engaged the Army Commander General, Paul Velentino Phiri and the Attorney General, Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda on the matter who have assured it that there are no plans to arrest Gondwe or intimidate him for writing the story. 

“We hope and trust that these assurances are true and sincere. We would like to remind government bodies and all citizens that threats on journalists are retrogressive and a threat to democracy. We believe that if MDF or any other concerned parties have an issue with the media, they should use proper channels to raise such issues, but military interrogations and threats are not among those channels,” MISA Malawi said in a statement.

It added that “The threats on Gondwe’s life have a chilling effect on journalists and the media fraternity. As a democracy, Malawi should not slide back to the era of heavy-handedness on media and critical voices. We will continue engaging the leadership at MDF and the office of the Attorney General to ensure the safety of Gondwe and a free and conducive media operating environment.”  

We believe in democracy

In 1993, we chose multiparty politics. We chose democracy over autocracy. We were oppressed for 30 years. We do not want to gown that path again. Those who want to smuggle autocracy into democracy will not succeed. Media freedoms are not negotiable. Obviously, those who hate journalism do not believe in democracy. Those who are fighting Gregory Gondwe believe in death and darkness. They are oppressors. They should not be trusted with handling operations of the state.

Equally, the police should carry out thorough investigations into threats on journalists and bring to book people who blight our democracy. Nobody has the mandate to silence the media. Those issuing threats to journalists in the name of state security are living in the past. They should not get away with impunity. They should face the long arm of the law. In fact, they should be told that this country thrives on constitutionalism. Malawi is not governed by statutes that trample upon people’s rights. Is there a law that gives a security organ powers to silence journalists? Which part of the republican constitution bars journalists from reporting anything to do with the army? Which law did Gregory Gondwe break?

Gregory Gondwe and the rest of journalists need protection from state organs that threaten the future of good journalism. The Tonse Alliance administration must issue a statement on the matter; those in power must explain why some state agencies want to take Malawi back to dictatorship. Is this democracy? Malawi must never deteriorate into a police state. 

If Gregory Gondwe gets harmed, the world knows who to point fingers at. And if journalism gets attacked Malawians now know who to blame. Repressive regimes have a tendency of jailing journalists to silence trustworthy information. 

Worldwide the statics on how governments treat journalists are becoming increasingly shocking. A new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) , says there were 320 journalists in jail worldwide as of 1 December 2023. This is the second-highest number of journalists in jail since CPJ began keeping records more than 30 years ago. It is an unacceptable number and a testament to the perceived threat trustworthy information poses to autocrats around the world.

CPJ says the top offenders are notoriously repressive regimes that normally rank high on the list: three years after the military overthrew the democratically-elected government in a coup, Myanmar has 43 journalists in jail. This is only one less than China, which tops the list.

According to CPJ, Israel has climbed up the list and now ranks sixth with 17 Palestinian journalists behind bars – the same number of journalists currently jailed in Iran. This is also the highest number of arrests of Palestinian journalists since CPJ began documenting arrests in 1992. The country has seriously ramped up the arrests and incarcerations of Palestinian journalists since October, which speaks volumes of the current state of press freedom in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Fourteen of the Palestinian journalists in CPJ’s report are being held in administrative detention, meaning they’re detained without any charges presented to them, and that their imprisonment can be extended over and over again by the Israeli military courts without having to disclose any evidence.

Jesper Højberg, CPJ executive director says while these revelations are shocking, the report shows them to be part of a trend in which repressive regimes continue to aggressively silence free and independent media by jailing and prosecuting journalists. CPJ calls the 2023 numbers “a disturbing barometer of entrenched authoritarianism and the vitriol of governments determined to smother independent voices.”

“It is not just reporting from war zones that poses a threat to authoritarians; trustworthy reporting is especially vital as more than 40 countries will hold elections this year. It is thus crucial to try and secure journalists’ ability to freely and independently report without the threat of arrest or persecution. We cannot allow governments to use law enforcement and judicial systems to avoid criticism and public accountability. In Palestine, Myanmar and in the rest world, journalists must be able to do their jobs freely for the benefit of the public,” Højberg says.

For Malawi, human rights defenders must not lose strength and momentum. They must take to task ministries, departments and agencies that threaten democracy. They must decisively deal with those that are bent on frustrating democracy. As the country heads towards elections, such threatens could increase. Repressive regimes have no room in democracy. Malawi should not reach the levels of countries that have no respect for the rule of law. Let journalism thrive. Let Gregory Gondwe practice his journalism independently. His passion is investigative journalism.  

STORM BREWING OR DUST SETTLING IN DPP?

By Joseph Kayira | 2 February 2024

A few days ago, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) expelled some of its senior members, who included its former vice president for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa, former publicity secretary Nicholas Dausi and former secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey. This protracted battle started well before the general elections in 2019. It worsened when it was announced that DPP president Peter Mutharika would step down to pave way for a new leader.

Nankhumwa was one of the people who declared his interest to contest for the DPP presidency. Five others have been associated with the presidency too. They are Bright Msaka, DPP vice president for eastern region and legislator for Machinga Likwenu; Dalitso Kabambe, former governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi; Paul Gadama, a businessman; Joseph Mwanamvekha, member of Parliament for Chiradzulu South; and Living Word Evangelical Church Prophet David Mbewe. Mwanamvekha and Mbewe have chickened out of the race, thus far.

However, it is Nankhumwa who has been a thorn in the side of Mutharika and DPP. He has refused to be intimidated. He freely speaks his mind and has challenged certain decisions by the Central Executive Committee. He has been to the court several times because he did not agree with Mutharika on a number of issues. 

He has been kicked out of the DPP before only to be saved by the courts. In January, the Central Executive Committee expelled Nankhumwa and others from DPP. So, a handful of senior members were shown the exit door; others have been suspended. It is not clear if Nankhumwa and company will cling to DPP as was the case in the past.

Mutharika: Still in control 

(Photo Credit: Internet)

He told a gathering in Blantyre’s Ndirande Township that come 2025 his name will appear on the ballot paper. He has also promised to ‘speak out’ at an appropriate time. Nankhumwa has squarely put the blame on his detractors for his expulsion. And his detractors say it was unbecoming for a senior person of his calibre to keep dragging the party to court at the slightest provocation. 

They say any organisation survives on discipline and high regard for party statutes and those in authority. When leaders who are supposed to instill discipline in the rank and file of the party are in the forefront fanning the fire to spread and sowing seeds of confusion, they must be removed. That is what Nankhumwa’s opponents have been propagating.

There is time to let go. Nankhumwa must move on. Until now, it is not clear whether or not he will form his own political party. At least he has openly said that he is not joining Malawi Congress Party nor is he interested to go to UTM Party. We all are waiting for his next move. Surely, some people in the DPP, especially those who are not happy with Mutharika’s continued firm grip on the presidency, will follow Nankhumwa. 

Some MPs too are contemplating following him. In short, as it stands, DPP is a house divided. Things are falling apart. Can the party rebuild itself? Is there ample time for DPP to morph into something more attractive to regain its lost glory? With Nankhumwa amassing his soldiers in DPP’s stronghold what will be the outcome?

We must also remember that Mulanje Central is a very interesting constituency. This is where veteran politician Brown James Mpinganjira comes from. When Hon Mpinganjira crossed paths with former president Bakili Muluzi, he left ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) to form National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In those years there were strong rumours in and outside UDF that Hon Mpinganjira would be taking over the leadership from president Muluzi. 

Nankhumwa: Taking the bull by the horns 

(Photo Credit: Internet)

Obviously, some canning politicians who did not like Hon Mpinganjira cooked up some lies which they fed the president. The one tool that UDF politicians ‘finished’ each other with at the time was Muluzi’s third term bid. Once word went around and reached the president and his henchmen that you were against his third term bid, you were doomed. Hon Mpinganjira was a victim of such a smear campaign. Will Nankhumwa go down that path? Will another party come out of Mulanje Central after the demise of NDA? In DPP Nankhumwa was a force to reckon with, hence his election to positions such as vice president for the south and Leader of Opposition in Parliament. Outside the DPP what will the ‘new’ Nankhumwa offer? Has he got what it takes to give Mutharika a good run for his money?

The one thing we can truly prophesy is that this time around, the southern region will be a battleground for politicians. The MCP has already started to make inroads into the region. The DPP must expect to fight political enemies from different fronts. However, the DPP’s worst enemy is within itself – within its rank and file. 

Those who are close to DPP president and those that surround him, must begin to be honest with him before things get worse. Unless the leadership embraces democracy, the DPP is about to lose a good chunk of its membership to other political parties. It is up to Mutharika and his lackeys to reverse the tsunami that is about to hit DPP. The party must learn from its mistakes. Burying its head in the sand is a complete waste of time. All is not well in DPP. 

FEEDBACK: jkayira@gmail.com

PUTTING THE LID ON CORRUPTION, BAD GOVERNANCE 

By Joseph Kayira | 4 January 2024

Corruption is evil, yet it is generally accepted as a way of getting things done – especially in the civil service. Corruption is the reason the economy has remained stagnant for close to 60 years now. It is also the reason poverty has permeated through society’s stratum, leaving millions prone to de-humanising effects of poverty.

It is important to acknowledge that corruption is a serious problem in Malawi; and that it goes beyond the civil service. Corruption has quickly spread to other sectors of the economy, including the private sector. Stories are bound of politicians and businessmen who connive with public officers to defraud government. Past and present cases reveal how civil servants, politicians and businesspersons have seized by dishonest or fraudulent conduct, government resources and diverted them into their personal bank accounts.

Chizuma: Heads the ACB (Photo Credit: Internet)

The Cashgate scandal shows how those trusted with power at any level in government can abuse that power to enrich themselves. People systematically agreed to steal huge sums of money from government and it involved both senior people and clerks in the public service. They deliberately paid for goods and services that were never supplied or delivered at all. It was pure theft of hard-earned resources meant for development and other state obligations. 

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and other government agencies descended on them. Scores were arrested; some were convicted and served jail terms while others were made to pay back to government the money they stole. Others are still answering alleged charges – ranging from abuse of office to theft and so on and so forth. One key official involved in the Cashgate Scandal disappeared a few months ago. No one knows where he is; like mist, he just melted into the night. End of story.

What is more worrisome is how those in authority do not want to walk the talk on the fight against corruption. That is why the Catholic bishops in one of their statements – ‘A call for relentless fight against corruption’ – observed that “sadly, even many of those tasked to fight and eliminate corruption are too often sucked into it. But occasionally, there are people who risk everything by standing up to corruption.”

“No one should be pressurized, intimidated or influenced by threats or any other means in the carrying out of their work for the good of the country. We plead, in the interest of building a more just and transparent Malawi that benefits all its citizens, that any of the investigations or cases which the ACB is dealing with are not in any way obstructed or influenced.

“Let no suspect, however powerful, wealthy or who their connection are, be shielded or protected provided that he or she is given proper recourse to the legal processes of the courts. Let State institutions which were ultimately established for the good of all Malawians and those entrusted to carry out their objectives for the good of all not become themselves agents of darkness by failing to defend and promote the common good,” the bishops said in their statement.

Martha Chizuma, the (ACB) director general has been forthcoming in taking down the corrupt. She pinned down some powerful people here and beyond. They felt threatened; they ganged up against her. In the wee hours of Tuesday, December 5, 2022 police arrested her in her pajamas and drove her to Namitete Police Station, outside the City of Lilongwe.

In Parliament, Cabinet Ministers denied any knowledge of Chizuma’s arrest. In short, people who should have known about her arrest in advance and try to avoid it, to avoid the embarrassment that government suffered, said that arrest came as a surprise to them. The donors did not like the smell of it; opposition parties, civil society and churches condemned the arrest and demanded answers. It led to the firing of the director of public prosecutions.

President Lazarus Chakwera has spoken highly about Chizuma, saying, “I appointed her because I considered her to be a person of great integrity, the kind of integrity needed to resist every inducement that would be thrown her way to compromise her. I appointed her because I considered her to be a person of great strength, that kind of strength needed to keep fighting for justice even when it looks hopeless and dark.”

Such praise should begin to culminate into action. Yes, politically these statements make sense. They show donors and development partners that as a nation, Malawi is doing something on corruption. What is baffling though is the fact that on the ground, the situation is totally different. The ACB director needs the cooperation of everyone. She is pulling in one side, the powerful and the corrupt are doing exactly the opposite. Progress means pulling together as a team.

Professor Lumumba: Politicians have not helped 

matters (Photo Credit: Internet)

In 2024, this fight ought to take a new direction to achieve maximum results. There is need for unity of purpose in all the concerned ministries, departments and agencies to root out corruption. The past two years have been lost to fights within and among people who should be joining hands and forces to face the corrupt. A disjointed army that lacks discipline can hardly win this battle. In fact, the corrupt are too happy to divide and rule, and get away with impunity. In all this it is the poor, those who are at the bottom of the social class, that suffer most.

Kenyan Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba says politicians have not helped matters to decisively deal with corruption. Not many across the continent, he says have the zeal to fight corruption. They are actually so much into into it.  

“Politicians, not one of them – if there is one, I am struggling to remember – who actually want corruption to be fought and when you go out to fight corruption, they will try to create things against you. And I have seen it across the continent of Africa; I saw it with Nuhu Ribadu in Nigeria, I saw it with [Leonard] McCathy in South Africa – [where] they disbanded the organisation [that was mandated to fight corruption]. 

“I have seen it recently in Malawi, with the lady who is in-charge of the anti-corruption, Martha. They try to get things that you, yourself can be charged and arrested for corruption. They can amend laws to abolish your office; they amended laws here in Kenya when on the occasion of the change of the constitution, they amended laws to abolish the offices that we occupied. And I remember, I am writing my book and it shall come out. Those who sat at a room in Kisumu said ‘he must be removed’. If he is not removed all of us are going to be in jail. You go and read the Hansard at midnight on the day that they were changing the law to abolish our offices,” Lumumba says.

Whatever the case, corruption is a serious issue here. If we are to stop the cancer that is corruption, let’s call a spade by its name. Those who steal and plunder public resources are thieves. And there shouldn’t be sacred cows nor should there be selective justice when prosecuting agencies get down to business. It is how our friends elsewhere have successfully managed to deal with this evil.

FEEDBACK: jkayira@gmail.com 

CRAVING FOR A BETTER AND UNDIVIDED FAM

By Joseph Kayira | 21 December 2023

A lot has been said about the Football Association of Malawi (Fam) elections. One of the revelations from that election is that when people want change, they will do anything to force you out of office. Walter Nyamilandu, the man who was at the helm of Fam for 19 years did not commit any known serious crime to be kicked out of the football association. Those who wanted to flush him out of the system, come rain or shine, said the man had been Fam president for far too long “as if he is the only one who is blessed with the knowledge on how run football in Malawi.” At least that is what his detractors were saying. 

Those who did not like his legacy started accusing him of belonging to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Someone took a picture of the former Fam president standing by the roadside wearing something that looked like a blue DPP beret. It became fodder for those who were baying for his ‘blood’. One sports minister from the Tonse Alliance government was particularly full of bile and hatred. He confronted Nyamilandu. In a cabinet reshuffle afterwards, that minister was dropped. 

Nyamilandu: Outgoing Fam president 

(Photo Credit: Internet)

This time around, a ‘movement’ to oust Nyamilandu was rekindled. The media was not forgotten in this campaign. Newspaper opinion columns and radio programmes that are meant to at least give a sober view of the campaign, had the hallmarks of a well-structured and sponsored campaign to justify why “staying too long in a position in football is wrong”. So, two camps emerged – one backing Nyamilandu, and the other one drumming up support for Fleetwood Haiya, the man who went on to defeat the former Fam president. Again, the issue of the beret resurfaced when a cabinet minister suggested that when you are in football administration, berets shouldn’t be about political parties but football. 

Truth of the matter is, football is a lucrative business or undertaking. It is also in this beautiful game where politicians tend to reap fruits. DPP, MCP, UTM, UDF or whoever is in government would want their man or woman of influence to head institutions such as Fam. Political party supporters love football. 

It was apparent that in this campaign Nyamilandu’s challenger had the blessing of the people who kept mentioning that blue beret. They want to gain a foothold in football. They want their presence to be felt in football. 

All things being equal, politics should not blind people to forget the good things that Nyamilandu achieved as the top boss at the football association. During his time, the Flames, for that is what we call our national football team, qualified twice for the Africa Cup of Nations. You cannot take away that from Nyamilandu. There have been so many other positive developments in football that are associated with him. That said, it will be a waste of time to dwell on his weaknesses. None of us is 100 percent perfect.

Haiya: New Fam president (Photo Credit: Fam)

At this point in time, there is very little to talk about Haiya. The one thing we know though is that the new Fam president, is also a man who has a good track record in football administration. His records at Nyasa Big Bullets and Super League of Malawi (Sulom) speak volumes of his capabilities.   

If he performs well at Fam, he may also go the distance. The statutes have changed. He can only serve for two terms of office. His manifesto looks good. But what matters is to implement what he has promised. The very affiliates who turned their backs on Nyamilandu will be the very people who will also stun Haiya, should he derail the implementation process. 

Affiliates can be unpredictable and in the words of one contestant, ‘they are serpents’ who will not vote for you even if you treat them to a lavish banquet. Stories are told of how candidates buy off affiliates with huge sums of money and expensive gifts. Again, at this point, we will treat such stories as mere rumours.

Conceding defeat, Nyamilandu said: “Today is my last day in serving the beautiful game of football in Malawi as President of Fam. I am happy to leave the stage in a better place than I found it. I would like to express my gratitude to Malawians for granting me the rare opportunity to lead Malawi football.

“Thank you for your support and collaboration in moving football forward. We raised the bar by achieving significant milestones that brought joy and pride to our nation. However, at this juncture, it is time to move on by leaving the legacy behind as well as bridging the gap mindset. In all things, we give thanks to God [1 Thesa 5:18.]. The old has gone the new is here [2 Cor 5:17]. As I bid farewell, I would like to wish the president-elect Fleetwood Haiya and his executive committee all the best in their endeavours.”

For Nyamilandu, we can only say, you fought a good fight and it is time to move on. For Haiya, we can only say, there seems to be goodwill from all over that you should deliver. This is not just about you; it’s also about the whole nation. Malawians want football to develop to desired levels. That manifesto needs implementation and time will be of the essence. 

Nyamilandu and Haiya: No hard feelings 

(Photo Credit: Internet)

Perhaps the new president should be given an opportunity to deliver. He knows he has been elected on trust. He says: “It is my solemn pledge that I will not betray this invaluable trust, no matter the price. Allow me to applaud my predecessor Mr. Walter Nyamilandu for his service to the nation and to the game. You have laid strong foundations and I promise not to break them but to continue building a transformative super structure over it. I wish you all the best and hope you will always be available when we seek counsel in managing the game.

At the end of the day, we crave for a football association that will not dwell on politics of which football club a presidential candidate comes from – in this case Nyasa Big Bullets or Mighty Mukuru Wanderers. Or indeed, the political affiliation of a presidential candidate – in this case DPP or Tonse Alliance. This reckless tendency is what is threatening the future of football in Malawi. 

To all of you, a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous 2024.

IN THE NAME OF SAVING MALAWI...

By Joseph Kayira | 20 November 2023

Where I live, we are still arguing; and bone of contention is the 44 percent devaluation of the Malawi Kwacha, which the Reserve Bank of Malawi announced some days ago. We were informed that the devaluation was a necessary evil that once effected it would unlock donor funds that this country very much needs for development projects and to resuscitate the economy, which has been in the doldrums for far too long. The exchange rate was adjusted from the selling rate of K1,180.29 to K1,700.00 United States Dollars with effect from 9 November 2023.

The Central bank said the adjustment stemmed from an assessment it conducted which showed that: Supply demand imbalances remain in the market despite adjustments of the exchange rate through the auction system; arbitrage opportunities have resurfaced in the market due to the mismatch in the exchange rates in the cash and TT markets; and that spot checks on some of the players indicate that the market is able to clear import bills at this rate.

Immediately the adjustment was announced businesses reacted. Pump prices of fuel went up; that ignited uncertainty in the market. Overnight almost everything had a new price tag. You would not blame the businesses. They are in business to make profits – profits that are just. But in the confusion, some businesses are charging exorbitantly for their goods and services. 

This is causing a lot of misery on the people; most cannot afford three meals a day. With 4.4 million people facing hunger, the devaluation seems to have added salt to the injury. Malawians have been hit below the belt as they are struggling to come to terms with crime, shortage of food and other basic goods. 

Opinions range on why this devaluation is necessary or why it should have been delayed or why it should have been rejected all together. Those who back it say it was long overdue and its delay is the reason the economy is not ticking.

Minister of finance Simplex Chithyola Banda says “the situation with the exchange rate has long been like that of a tree with an infected and rotting trunk for which there are only two options: Either we cut the trunk so that it can grow healthily again, even though doing so will result in the temporary loss of the shade that protects us from the sun’s heat, or we continue to enjoy the shade until the cancer of the tree spreads to the roots and kills the whole tree permanently.” 

“By finally correcting the exchange rate, the Reserve Bank of Malawi has chosen to give us a healthy tree that will grow again and give us better shade in the future, rather than a dying tree that gives us shade today but that will not bear any fruit going forward. In fact, the Reserve Bank of Malawi should have done this a long time ago so that we would not have lost so much time and so many opportunities under the shade of a false exchange rate. Additionally, if this had been done early enough, we would have had a smaller adjustment in the exchange rate, but now we are having to deal with such a big adjustment because the correction was left too late,” he says.

In the same vein, Malawi has secured the International Monetary Fund (IMF) a four-year Extended Credit Facility of K296 billion. The package is expected to stabilize the economy which is on its knees. There is high expectation that donors would resume budget support. The facility will help to boost Malawi’s economic growth. The IMF acts as a catalyst to unlock funds that will be channelled towards different sectors of the economy.

There are sacrifices to be made. The devaluation is a bitter pill. Poor Malawians are especially paying the high price of this adjustment. They need protection from government against traders and service providers who are engaging in unfair pricing of commodities and services.

Farmers are also struggling to buy fertilisers and seed at new prices. The fear is that should they fail to produce enough this growing season, the result would be serious food shortages next year. 

Maize farming contributes to food security 

in Malawi (Photo Credit: Greenlife)

Whatever good things that come with devaluation, it will be very difficult to convince Malawians that it is indeed a necessary evil. Late Bingu wa Mutharika refused to devalue the Kwacha when he was told to do so by multilateral institutions. He became very unpopular with the IMF and the West. Yet, Bingu managed to grow the economy; he turned things around. Under Bingu, Malawi became a breadbasket, exporting maize to other countries in the region.

This time round, cost of living is too high. All Malawians are fed is political rhetoric. Both the ruling party and the opposition parties are busy trying to outclass each other on who is telling the truth on devaluation. It’s not what the poor are looking for; it is not what Malawians want to hear. Whatever the case, Malawians are suffering; however, you look at it, devaluation remains a bitter pill to swallow.  

Saving Malawi from further financial turmoil needs leadership that is honest. Yes, we have been told that the leadership has suspended external travel. We have also been told that they will instill fiscal discipline in the civil service. But for many years now, that is where it starts and ends. That is how politicians operate. And that is why we are getting angrier by the day. Politicians take us for granted. They think we are daft. When we ask probing questions we are perceived as enemies of the state. What happened to the notion of checks and balances? I still recall that those who are governing are employed by us – the voters and taxpayers. 

We will continue to argue about devaluation because of its aftermaths – which are always painful. Its after-effects are unpleasant. We will have problem understanding devaluation not because we are semi-literate, but because we think those who lead us should have done a better job to grow the economy and avoid this evil.  

In the name of saving Malawi, don’t hurt the poor; in the name rebuilding the economy don’t keep us in the vicious circle of poverty forever. The year 2023 has been a watershed of sorts – Malawi faced some crises but there also have been good things to write home about. Largely, though, we have suffered a lot. It matters less whether or not you belong to the ruling party or the opposition to believe this. 

Until now, we are not a failed state. There is still light at the end of the tunnel. What our leaders need to do is to get down to work to cushion the negative impact of the devaluation. Otherwise, we have just embarked on a long journey whose toll on Malawians will be so heavy.