Government and governance

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ast week’s entry on the abuse of power by MPs at local government level attracted a lot of feedback. One came from Anderson J. Msosa, an alumini of Southampton University and a man with a long career in finance. He wrote me a lengthy piece in which he attributes the rot—spreading like cancer in this country—to lack of good governance. Here are his views:

The longer version  of  your message  on  the  above subject  last week would  make  an  interesting  book . In  fact  a  presidential  system, on  its  own, does  not embrace   mediocrity  in  leadership, but  rather  creates  tenets of  spear headship  and  control  out  of  an  open (free flow ) rule  by  the  people (democracy)  where individuals’  rights and  freedom  of expression  are  understood.

You  have rightly  highlighted   separation  of   party (lower  level)  phenomenon   from  State  with  State, of  course, being  the  biggest institution  on  the  land  put in  place  to service matters  of  welfare of  the  public.

At the  grassroot  level, equal  opportunities  and  rights  mean  that  we  are  all  equal.  State  or  civil   service is  institutionally  equipped  to  adhere  to  governance (with  feedback  systems),  State resources, manpower, and  national  plan (budget), all for  the  fulfillment  of  services of  the  livelihood of the  citizen or  in  short,  social contracts .

There  are  or  should be non-governmental  organisations comprising    churches and political  parties. There  are  larger  than  life  issues of  international  shape involving other nationals  and  states  commanding  cooperation  with  the  outside  world —World  Bank, and IMF   for  instance—for  implementing  and  monitoring .  This  applies  in  situations, calling  for  foreign  partners  in debt  financing, or  of  natural  disasters ,  climate  change  and  United  Nations  programmes.

This year Malawi is at  cross roads   as  others  have  put  it  in  the  media, and  in  another way  at  a  point  on  a  precipice to  a catastrophic  crisis.  This  country  needs  a  review  of  the  policies  for  development at  national  level  and  civil  service  reform not  susceptible  to  changes  through  whims  of  personal  interest  or regime  changes.

There are  those  who  have  considered  that mindset  change will  be  a  good  starting  point.  Currently, our State  is  dysfunctional and  non-responsive  to  feedback  of problems  facing  the  public or  communities.

At  party  level, abuse  of  power and  founders’ syndrome  are  at the centre  of    the  reasons  for  mismanagement  and  imbalance in  control  of  business.

The  President is  head  (by  election)  of  the  Executive  arm  to  execute (or  decide on  behalf of  the  people)  action  in  accordance  with  terms  of   reference  which  make  him/her  answerable  or  accountable  to  the  public (not  the  dolts)  who  hold  the  mandate.

Abuse  of  power is  one  of  the  serious  infringements  of  his  duties  of  care . Once a  ‘public’  has  reservations  or  concerns and  consensus  of  such,  then  grounds  for  a  process  of  disapproval  and  termination  of  terms  of   the  service of    incumbent  can  be  triggered. 

At  this  moment, the  Malawi  scenario is  reminiscent  of  an  untenable  situation   where  the voice  of  the people  has   turned  to  petitioning  and  protests  and demos. That change is imminent should not create the illusion that there is time.

The  average  Malawian  needs  no  explanation  to  the problem threatening  his  well  being  one  of  which  is  that  corruption  is  costing  the  country  through   Cashgate, Tractorgate, and  of  late Electiongate  which  all in  all deprive  him  of  the  opportunities  to  sustain his  wellbeing  when  his standard  of  living  is  being compromised.

Malawi  has  a  distinct  tribalist regime or  ruling  clique which  is  finding  itself confronted with  consequences of  undemocratic  policies  to  service matters  of  public  and  national  interest.  Public welfare has in the process been degraded.  One  of  its  failures  has  been  making  appointments  to  public  office  not  based  on  merit  which  is now  on  the  spotlight  for  inefficiencies in  service  deliveries   and  corruption  in  high  places  and criminal  activities  like  money  laundering  and  others  mentioned  above.

Collusion,  a  seemingly  non-consequential  habit,  has  resulted  in  profound  implications  as  much  as  obstruction  of  justice  to  the  extent  that  witnesses  have  been   with  and  in  extreme  cases  eliminated by  way  of  car  accidents,  even  poisoning . 

That  there  are  only  a  handful,  holding  positions  of  power  and  control who are able to  send  kids  to  expensive  private  schools when  public  schools  are  dilapidated. They   go  to  hospitals  abroad  and  on  medical  schemes while  the local  public health  care system  is  failing.

In  my  view, there  is  need  to  recognise  and  encourage  creation and  reinforcing  modalities   of  human   rights  in  Malawi. We  come  from  a background  of economic  problems as  indicated    which  can  be  traced  to  leadership  issues .

Those  in  position  of  power  should  honour  and  serve the   interests  of  the  public  to whom  their  responsibility  is  owed.—edited for space and clarity. n