Revisiting 43 years of independence
BY Auspicious Ndamuwa
07:11:16 - 12 July 2007


The 43rd independence anniversary has come hot on the heels of the interpretation of Section 65 which has overshadowed all public debate.

Even a person goes through several stages: from infancy to adolescence which in the long run culminates into full adulthood. Events surrounding Section 65 are a direct metamorphosis of a growing independent nation just in the same manner children grow into adulthood.

An independent nation that shook off the vestiges of colonialism in the same way a child may hit back at a domineering uncle. White settlers who owned the chaise would “drive” the breadth and width of the municipal town of Zomba stirring up dust for the natives in the process.

On the outset it didn’t occur to the natives that they too had the capacity to “drive” the much coveted chaise. The Whiteman’s empire started registering some cracks when Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, after 42 years in exile returned home to pursue the African dream. Then the Whiteman’s empire crumbled like a house of cards when Kamuzu was sworn in as de facto Prime Minister of Nyasaland- a title he assumed on February 1, 1963. A year later Nyasaland became independent on July 6, 1964.

Kamuzu then changed the name Nyasaland to Malawi. Apparently, he had seen Lake Maravi on an old French map in the land of the Bororos. The name tickled his fancy, for him it sounded like the word Malawi.
Barely a month after independence, Kamuzu’s administration came face to face with a cabinet uprising. The shrewd Banda came out unscathed. Kamuzu then became republican President on July 6, 1966. Afterwards the Malawi Congress Party was declared the only legal party in 1970 and made Banda its President.

Under his rule the country was known for its affability earning the accolade the warm heart of Africa. Under the four corner stones of unity, loyalty, obedience and discipline, grew the Malawi nation.

Cases of food scarcity were a rarity but in 1981 the country experienced a major famine. In 1992 Banda imported some yellow maize in order to feed his people. Through international pressure the Ngwazi called for a referendum in 1993 and the people’s desire for a multiparty system of government was fulfilled. Kamuzu paved way for Bakili Muluzi in the 1994 poll.

Muluzi started on an even keel but before long his style of leadership thrived on a culture of corruption and handouts. The Kwacha took a downward plunge against major foreign currencies. Inflation soared and people started moving with wads of banknotes for rather meaningless purchase. In 2002/3 one of the worst food shortages wrecked havoc in the country and this resulted into many people dying of hunger related diseases. Senior government officials allegedly sold 160,000 metric tones of reserve maize in 2000.

The introduction of free primary education created a need for more teachers as the enrolment rate doubled. The subsequent teacher recruitment exercise added chaos to an overburdened system because of their short induction courses. Government’s lack of foresight brought about delays in teachers’ salaries, inadequate teaching and learning materials and inability to provide more schools.

On the other hand, insecurity became a cancerous growth that resulted in the loss of many lives. The health sector was not spared either. Aspirin became the chief drug that people flocking to government hospitals with different ailments received. Roads became impassable as potholes evolved into drum holes. Muluzi pursued a failed third and open term bid and resultantly anointed economist Bingu wa Mutharika as his successor.

Mutharika’s anti-corruption drive upon assuming power in 2004 earned him more enemies than friends. The situation worsened when he ditched the party that sponsored him and formed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). While serving as the secretary general of Preferential Trade Area of Eastern and Southern Africa, Bingu made the following assertion after his talks with Muluzi: We’re literally sitting on wealth. We’ve no business to be poor.”

But 43 years after independence, the process of meaningful development still drags. To date, there are no proper laws that guarantee equality for children with disabilities. They fail to have equal participation in areas like education and sports. Holding prisoners in congested cells seem to be part of the unofficial Malawian punishment code.

According to Blantyre Chief Resident Magistrate Jack N’riva the practice amounts to torture. “I wonder whether reform and rehabilitation can really take place under such living conditions.”

It is now nine years since Zomba maximum prison was condemned as inhabitable. Built in 1919, the prison provides a comic picture of how backward we are. After 43 years of self rule we have minimum achievements to show. The 43 years do not march the achievements gained. Achievements are dwarfed by years of economic malaise and corruption. The HIV/Aids infection further compounds problems in health delivery services. To have 1 million people infected out of an estimated population of 13 million is not a drop in the ocean.

Issues of child molestation continue to dominate the country’s newspapers. The premature rising of parliament signifies how politics has for the past 43 years overshadowed developmental overtures.

But for the sake of upholding the interpretation made by the Supreme Court on the legality of Section 65, let the injunction be vacated so that all the concerned parties should scamper for by elections.

As the debate of Section 65 continues to dominate in the country, it is also the right moment to reflect what gains have we made out of politics in the 43 years of self-rule.

‘It is time people chased politicians insisting on sticking around when their time is up from the arena' - South African music icon, Hugh Masekela addressing Malawians in Lilongwe

BY Gedion Munthali
09:47:53 - 09 July 2007

South Africa music icon Hugh Masekela has urged political leaders not to insist on sticking around when their time is up.

Introducing a song: Mandela, when he held a concert at Lilongwe Golf Club on Saturday, Masekela said it was time people chased such politicians from the arena.

“We must say, damn it, your time is up, leave and leave for real,” roared Masekela.

The crowd answered back in excitement, coming up with their own names of people they felt had outstayed their welcome in Malawi’s political circles.

“I want to introduce a song here about a man who suffered, and when he was freed, said we must not take revenge although we must not forget.

“This is a man who told the world he would only stay in office for five years disappointing some presidents and leaders who do not want to leave when time is up,” said Masekela in the amidst of a wailing keyboard.

“But this man stood by his words and left and at the young ripe age of 81, he fell in love again. This man is Nelson Mandela,” the crowd exploded and the song set off.

Africa has been beset with leaders who have tried to change the Constitution against majority wishes so as to extend their mandate beyond the stipulated ones.

In Malawi, former president Bakili Muluzi tried in vain to change the Constitution allow him have a third term or indeed open terms.

After three years in retirement, Muluzi has now openly declared his desire to contest the 2009 elections had already started his campaign.

Dausi quits MCP…Joins ruling DPP…MCP retrogressive
BY DANIEL NYIRENDA
10:09:49 - 09 July 2007


Vice-President for main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Nicholas Dausi Sunday dumped the party and joined ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Announcing his defection at his Mwanza home, Dausi said he had decided to practice politics with the DPP because the party’s President Bingu wa Mutharika had accorded former president late Hastings Kamuzu Banda the respect he deserved by building a mausoleum for him and proposing a statue for him in the 2007/08 national budget.

“I will respect anyone who respects Kamuzu. He who builds a tombstone for your departed father is your relative,” Dausi told a jubilant crowd at Mwanza, in reference to the mausoleum that government built in Lilongwe for Banda.

Top DPP officials namely first Vice-President Khumbo Kachali, Secretary General Hetherwick Ntaba, Director of International Cooperation Davis Katsonga, who is MP for Mwanza Central Constituency, first Vice-Publicity Secretary Wyson Mkochi and Senior Political Advisor for Mutharika, Francis Mphepo, just to mention a few, witnessed Dausi’s unveiling to the DPP folk.

The officials hugged and shook hands with Dausi and smiled broadly as DPP women spiced the welcoming party with chants in praise of Mutharika and Dausi.

The former MCP diehard, known for his love of bombastic words as MCP spokesperson, said he was not happy with MCP’s insistence to put to the fore implementation of Section 65--that deals with MPs crossing the floor--ahead of the national budget.

“But I could not swallow it when staying in the MCP would mean frustrating the 2007 national budget where an allocation has been made to erect a statue of Ngwazi Dr H. Kamuzu Banda,” said Dausi, who used to be Banda’s bodyguard.

Dausi joined DPP alongside the party’s Regional Treasurer Stand Mgunda and his deputy Joseph Kangulu and scores of other executive members, who, donning Kamuzu cloth, presented themselves to the audience.

Asked why he decided to join DPP now when the party was formed in 2005, Dausi said: “This is the time to protect him [Mutharika]”.

Dausi, who was defeated twice by Katsonga in 1999 and 2004 parliamentary elections in the constituency, said on his political future: “Politics is a continuous struggle and it has its own logic. I’ve told a few colleagues that I have quit the party out of logic. It’s purely a matter of principle. I have no grudges against Honourable John Tembo.”

Kachali said Mutharika welcomed Dausi in the party and appealed to members to treat him as their own.

He said it was up to DPP to find a new role for Dausi in the party, as he held senior positions in his former party.

Ntaba, a former MCP guru as well, praised Dausi, saying he had made the right decision to quit MCP.

He said Dausi, as a vice-president, had left a huge gap in MCP.

Ntaba put the number of MCP defectors at 63, saying more opposition MPs had telephoned him, wishing to join the DPP.

On his part, Katsonga advised Dausi to strengthen the party in the constituency, saying there would be no rivalry between them.

Dausi served as Banda’s aide from the 1980s till the former president’s death in 1997.

He rose up the MCP ranks when Gwanda Chakuamba, now New Republican Party (NRP) leader, was at the helm of the party.

But Dausi grew further in political stature when he relentlessly campaigned against former president Bakili Muluzi’s bid for a third term in office.

When Chakuamba ditched MCP in 2004 ahead of the presidential and parliamentary elections, Dausi clung to MCP and was the only prominent MCP voice in the South.

Dausi in the early 1990s was arrested by the UDF government for making a public apology to the nation for atrocities the MCP regime committed in the country.

His resignation leaves MCP with Tembo as a lone president without deputies.

Former MCP first Vice-President Peter Chiwona resigned from the party and joined DPP in 2005.

MCP has not yet filled the vacancy, including that of Secretary General left by Kate Kainja, MP for Dedza, who quit the party this year to join DPP.

There was no immediate comment from MCP as both the party’s president John Tembo and publicity secretary for parliamentary affairs Ishmael Chafukira were addressing a rally in Kasungu.

“Call me at 6pm I am at a rally here in Kasungu,” said Chafukira with Tembo in the background addressing the rally.

We could not get Chafukira later in the evening.

Concentrating on Development

Original Story by
HANKIE ULUKO
11:22:58 - 06 July 2007

The recent events in the country are very strange and thought provoking. The year has seen a lot of child abuse cases, women battering, anti-reform police, mini-budget rejection, witchcraft training cases, First Lady’s death and the latest crisis of Section 65. We were recently celebrating the debt cancellation only to have the mini budget rejected because others thought this money should be tied until Section 65 is validated and they have a short cut to state house where they will eat the money.

There is nothing else to describe all these occurrences but being bewitched. Although, the recent Section 65 ruling is a constitutional one, one cannot fail to look at the other side of the road. I am a layman in Law and I believe the Bible or Koran would make a very good constitution than what we think is the supreme law of the land hence I will not comment in those lines.

True observations would show that the country was on track to attain large strides in development. We have all seen things we never anticipated and the interest investors/donors have shown in Malawi. It would not be an overstatement to say that this interest has been unparalleled since Malawi got independence save the one party to multiparty change period. Several projects that are addressing the plight of rural masses have been implemented during the last three years and everyone was optimistic that here is a case that will remove pessimism from Malawian minds. Others in diaspora had started talking of coming back to Malawi. But here we are. All of a sudden these gains will soon become history. The way parliament is trying to hold every citizen on ransom is worrisome and taking Malawians for granted. Much as I appreciate the role of politics in Malawi, I would think development could have taken centre stage now and leave politics aside. But that is not the way politicians see us. We are just tools to be used for their gains after that can be tossed anyhow and our wishes thrown to the wind.

I would have suggested that we leave this politicking behind and concentrate on development. The fact that parliament is opposition dominated would have shaped the development agenda well to cover all areas in the country. However, as one Yunus Mussa observed, the opposition is full of ‘development enemies.’ As a country we should be worried. If I was to repeat ‘this country is bewitched to remain undeveloped.’ It seems some unknown forces are compelling us to abyss of underdevelopment and poverty. We need some traditional healer to cleanse it as has happened in the mysterious Kasungu fires. Someone should really intervene and bring sanity into the heads of these politicians. Should I remind everyone of the Ghana, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda cases? Our politicians are becoming more self-seeking, power-hungry and over ambitious.

Think of it. The budget will not be passed in time so as to show who has the political muscle. There will be no meaningful development up until August. Its time wasted only that time is not money in Parliament.

Bewitched? Yes! We should regain our senses and snap up from this bewitched state very fast otherwise we are blind and not able to see the long fall. Despite the likely repercussions of Section 65 nobody is interested to hold these servants of ours to task. The sufferer is the voter but it seems as voters we are ‘addicted’ to listening to politicians instead of these representatives listening from us. As addicts, we assume our destiny is in the hands of the few.

I am saying we are a bewitched country because everybody is preoccupied with listening to the verbal hemorrhage about Section 65 yet we have real issues to tackle in the name of HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis. All of a sudden courts are what we believe in instead of the common will and way forward. Are we not sane enough to make our own judgements and act accordingly?

As the bitter pills of Section 65 are forced into our mouths, we should be thinking of how many miles are left in the development race that our neighbours are enjoying. Do not forget that politics can build or destroy a nation. You do not have to look very far for because Zimbabwe is near. Zambia has so far enjoyed its leap to development pathway due to sober politics and maybe exorcism.

We have two more years to elections and the legislators could have waited until then remember we decide and even now the true reflection could have come from people. A referendum may be, otherwise we are eating raw meat here.

Economist describes Malawi’s proposed budget as pro-poor

APA-Lilongwe (Malawi) Malawi’s proposed 2007/08 budget of US$1.2 billion that Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe has presented to parliament is “pro-poor,” an economist said here Monday.

Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) Executive Director Andrew Kumbatira told journalists in Lilongwe that the budget had allocated more resources for rural development in order to take care of the needs of the poor.

The economist noted that the funding that Gondwe outlined in parliament on Friday was important for the improvement of the masses, particularly the poor segment of society.

"It is expected that the budget can bring about marked enhancement of the quality of life among the poor people of this country," he said.

Gondwe presented to the house 2007/ 2008 a total expenditure of 162.8 billion kwacha (US$1.2 billion) which government hopes to start expending on 1 August – if parliament gives the green light.

FT/nm/APA