Joyce Banda trapped in political decay

When Joyce Banda assumed power following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012, there was much expectation that she would do things differently. Many people expected that her administration would be a complete departure from that of Bakili Muluzi and Mutharika.

However, after she restored donor relations, made filling stations overflow with fuel and foreign exchange filled the tills of commercial banks, the vision to run an effective government disappeared. What has gone wrong?

Firstly, JB chose many recycled politicians, who had defected from DPP, to be in her Cabinet. If one looks at the history of these politicians, one discovers that they are political wanderers.  They move from one political party to another with no ideological basis other than to enrich themselves. You cannot bring about change with the same ministers who failed in UDF and DPP and hope to turn around the fortunes. It does not work. The majority of people JB is surrounded with cannot help her to improve the lives of Malawians because they have nothing tangible to offer. They are used to the same type of politics.

Secondly, JB ignored to probe into the looting of public resources during DPP era.  It is proverbial that Mutharika had set up a deadly machinery to fulfil his personal agenda. His tribesmen occupied all strategic positions in both State-owned enterprises and government. Some tribesmen benefited from huge government tenders. There were allegations that he was involved in a clandestine relationship with locally registered foreign companies and were transferring huge sums of funds into his offshore account on a regular basis.

JB knew about the mismanagement of public resources in Mutharika’s time. But she chose to do nothing it. By sweeping the issue under the carpet, she created a fertile ground for people to continue looting public resources. Hence, corruption has continued unabated even under PP. The pattern of corruption and looting of government resources in the Cashgate saga resembles how UDF and DPP used to defraud government. The ruling elite shared government tenders among themselves, friends, relatives and party officials.

In turn, some officials donated to the party either in cash or kind. This has become a model of political party funding which was started by UDF, then DPP and eventually PP. All the three political parties have raised funds or bought party vehicles using public resources through fraud. One had thought JB would not fall victim to this strategy. PP is even failing to publicise the names of individuals involved in Cashgate. It would not be surprising if some people who were involved in the mismanagement of public funds during Mutharika’s era are also involved in Cashgate.

This culture of condoning criminal behaviour can be extended to other spheres.  JB equally ignored to prosecute DPP youth terrorists who bombed houses or premises of political activists. People expected that PP would take action against these perpetrators of political violence and charge them. After all, the thugs were known. To everyone’s disappointment, PP let these deadly criminals off the hook. One can understand her soft approach. Her fear was that if she takes action, her detractors, especially DPP, would protest that she was vindictive or trying to persecuting political opponents. But justice demands that everyone involved in criminal activities be prosecuted regardless of who they are to serve as a lesson to others.

In fact, she should have taken a cue from Mutharika who ensured that former Minister of Education Sam Mpasu, shielded by Muluzi, went to jail for corruption. He also ensured that UDF young democrats involved in violence during Muluzi’s time were prosecuted. Leaders should take decisive action!

Thirdly, JB is following in the footsteps of Muluzi and Mutharika in many respects such as endless trips, wasteful expenditure, distributing handouts for political gain and no clear-cut vision to improve the economy and above all, appointing people who undermine democratic values to be presidential spokesperson. Everyone knows how Wakuda Kamanga as DPP secretary general used to castigate the opposition and defended the indefensible, even when Mutharika’s rule reached its maximum ruthlessness.

JB appointed the same Kamanga to be her spokesperson to be doing what he used to do. Really? What message is JB sending to Malawians? Can politics change?

Rewarding people who undermine democracy undermines the confidence of the people in leaders. Malawians were expecting things to change for the better, but they have realised that nothing has changed. Malawi needs radical leaders, the “business unusual” type.