Aggie, Queens’ timely comfort

Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi has a soft approach to issues so much that even when things get really tough, he still manages to see the lighter side.

So, when the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) announced last week the 49 percent devaluation of the kwacha, I instantly remembered jokes that people threw around when the local currency slumped in ‘Atcheya’s’ time.

Some had the cheek to taunt him that when he was asked for a comment, he retorted in his Yao accent: “Kwacha yagwa? Ngati yagwa osayitola bwanji, amangwetu?”

Others joked that Muluzi was busy comforting his people, saying devaluation of the kwacha was, in fact, a global problem “…Amayi ndi abambo, sikuno kokha; ngakhale ku Britain, America komanso South Africa, kwacha yagwa!

In this era beyond ‘Atcheya’, when it was announced that the kwacha had slumped against the dollar, top female boxer Agnes Mtimaukanena provided me the timely comfort by knocking out Kenyan Susan Adezo to become the first Malawian female boxer to win an international belt.

In this fight, Agnes was probably the ‘dollar’ and her Kenyan opponent the ‘kwacha’. Agnes’ combination of jabs caused the helpless Adezo to stumble to the canvas just like the kwacha.

The ‘kwacha’ was under intense beating—knocked left, right and centre.

Mtimaukanena floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee and as the fight drew towards the end, the Kenyan’s punching and defence became ineffective as the strain of throwing so many wild zikwapa took its toll. In the end, our princess of the ring stood up to be counted.

She proved that while she might have beauty with no traits of a brutal beast, when she unleashes a hook or ducks, she leaves your mouth wide open to trap flies, in awe. We already have a ‘Golden Boy’ in Isaac Chilemba, could she be our ‘Golden Girl’?—Maybe! Could Aggie be our own Laila Ali in the making?—Probably!

And then our Queens also added extra solace by retaining the Africa Women Championship in Tanzania.

AOB: On Saturday, Manchester United defender Evra turned into another Prophet TB Joshua and predicted that the Red Devils could produce a title shock on Sunday. Well, hopefully Prophet Evra’s forecast, came to pass. Holaaa!!!