‘People paying for Malawi’s lack of foresight’
Almost sprouting from a cocoon of silence, National Salvation Party (Nasaf) president James Nyondo took a swipe on Joyce Banda leadership last week and joined others who are calling for transformative leadership in Malawi. George Mhango speaks with him.
Q: What kind of leadership is transformative and why does Malawi need it?
It is leadership that adheres to, promotes and lives by the culture of justifying every decision, action, trip by a public officer in line with the laws of Malawi. A leadership that will publish in the newspapers the cost of every trip, every decision it makes. Our presidents throughout Malawi’s history as an independent nation do things, say things, make unnecessary trips at huge costs because they can. Nasaf will champion through constitutional reforms that transparency of every government expenditure be mandatory. We will make sure that actions by public officials without justification become impeachable grounds. We want a government of laws not of whims of men and women. Secrecy breeds corruption. Yes, there are State secrets, we will honour that but all other expenditures, the nation needs to know about them and their justification. When we do this, public officers will behave responsibly. Malawi will literally save millions of kwacha which will then be invested into job creation and other services. The mantra of saying “when money becomes available we will do it’, will become history under Nasaf. Laws which are designed to benefit politicians will be scrapped off. Malawians work hard every day, but laws concerning their well-being are just on paper; yet politicians who earn a living by insulting one another and other people, defecting between political parties, collecting allowances without showing up, get to buy expensive vehicles duty free. Only Nasaf can champion this kind of transformation. Today, Malawians are suffering. They are paying for the mistakes of all governments Malawi has had since independence. People cannot go on paying for government’s lack of foresight.
Q: With the crop of leaders Malawi has in most political parties, can such kind of leadership be found?
Nasaf has such leaders. They believe that a political office gives them an opportunity to serve and NOT an opportunity to access the good things of life. Besides that, we strongly believe, as Nasaf leads the processes of transformational leaders, other good intentioned Malawians will follow.
Q: Your party has been silent on a number of issues affecting Malawians. How do you explain this?
Malawi is a blessed nation. It has rivers, lakes, fertile soils, national parks, game reserves, beautiful scenery and above all wonderful people who have been taken advantage of by politicians since independence. As Nasaf we decided to trade not beg Europe, America, China, India, Japan and other African countries. I have been finding markets, establishing relationships with institutions and individuals around the world for them to either buy our products, partner with us to process our raw materials right here so that Nasaf government in 2014 does not start looking for markets when Malawians give us the mandate to serve. It has been work. Malawi has everything it needs to prosper. This has been my mandate as president of our party. Right now we know what to do to make virtually every Malawian who is willing to work hard lift himself or herself out of poverty.
Q:What is your party’s policy on Section 65?
What has been happening in our National Assembly is a mockery of our hard won democracy. There is no way an MP can just switch parties the way they like, and still say he/she is representing the interests of the constituency that voted him/her into office. Under Nasaf leadership, Section 65 will be applied to any person who changes parties once elected on another party ticket.
Q: What is in your party that is not present in other parties that can make a difference to Malawians?
Nasaf requires of its leaders and members an unconditional obligation to help the poor, weak, sick and lame—all those who cannot speak for themselves even if they do not belong to our tribes, regions or faiths. A Nasaf leader and member does not ask for an allowance to help or do anything. Nasaf as a party is already promoting a culture of hard work. Nasaf believes in earning a living through hard work. Nasaf is the only party whose goal is to invest every available tambala into the people of Malawi by voluntarily giving up our privileges. Nasaf is the only party that believes in linking politicians’ salaries and benefits to economic growth. Our current politicians have no conscience. They continue to draw huge allowances, make unnecessary trips to collect allowances when Malawi’s young people roam the streets because there is no opportunity for self-advancement anywhere in the country.
Now Malawians, do your homework. Has there been any political party in Malawi’s history that has advocated the above? Nasaf is the only party that says Malawi must have 15 ministers only. As a party we will make sure that the size of the Cabinet, the presence of presidential advisors, become constitutional issues. [For] A house to stand, [it] must have four walls. Any additional wall must be justified. Similarly, a president must justify before the National Assembly and the people of Malawi why we need an additional ministry. Large Cabinets and the presence of advisers are there to serve their egos and to reward often incompetent friends at the expense of the nation. There are other reasons that distinguish us from other parties. Malawians will be hearing about them from later on this month when we officially launch our party activities with a mass rally in Lilongwe.
Q: PP and UDF have so far held their national conventions. DPP will have it next month. Do you have plans to do the same?
Yes, we will do so in May 2013. The date will be communicated to the nation in due course.
Q: Any other words
Nasaf has started taking part in helping to shape the future of our nation. We have everything we need to fight for the people of Malawi. We now have markets outside the country, a plan to help make every Malawian willing to work hard and lift himself or herself out of poverty.
