Word on the street

DPP NGC, stop playing down dissenting views

As I join you on the street this weekend, I am dismayed by the ever increasing stubbornness amongst some senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials. I am slowly thinking, the DPP, which many of us thought we are part of, does not belong to us. Don’t you agree?

Why is it hard for some party leaders to accept the dissenting views from within? Worse still, they are spending long hours talking and dismissing divergent views. As if that is not enough, they want their voice to be final.

The declaration by Honourable George Chaponda and others that President Peter Mutharika will go unopposed as the DPP presidential candidate at the party’s convention should be condemned in strongest terms. It is unconstitutional.

We on the streets believe in constructive debate. We chose to be a civilized generation that is tolerant and united. That is what democracy preaches. We always try hard not to be called educated savages.

Actually, we have never agreed in totality with Jargen Habermas, the founder of the public sphere theory. The reason is that we do not believe in that there is always rational discussion in a public sphere as he believes.

We agree with Nancy Fraser, who says in any public sphere, there are subaltern counterpublics—small groups of disgruntled individuals who feel their interests are not addressed in the official public sphere. The dangerous part with these publics is that they can cause a revolt if ignored as is happening in the DPP now. We on the streets say, DPP should give its subaltern counterpublics an ear.

The time to live in denial is over. Change is needed for DPP’s survival come 2019. People are suffering, the economy is in bad shape, businesses are shrinking, power is erratic, jobs are scarce, there are no drugs in hospitals and the list goes on.

For many years now, we on the streets have known the former first lady Callista Mutharika, former DPP Southern Region governor Noel Masangwi and director of youth in the party Louis Ngalande among others, as part of the DPP’s public sphere. We have never been wrong on this. Now that they have dissenting views, should not reduce them to enemies. What Chaponda and others should learn is that differences exist in a public sphere and constructive debate mends fences. Instead of verbal war, they should soberly reflect on the concerns of these counterpublics.

It is high time, the DPP and its leaders tap lessons from beyond. Revolution begins with an individual and every fall is created from within or without. We on the streets believe Callista is not alone. Behind her, are many voiceless zealots that cannot afford to risk their party benefits. But believe us, street mongers are always honest—those sealed lips will make noise one day—and we will have our mouth wide open in hilarity. The good thing is that such noises always end on the streets, and for us, we will just oil the engine for change.

*Albert Sharra is the guest writer of Word on the Street.

 

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