Malawi needs a strong opposition

Let me start by congratulating those who have been newly elected as Members of Parliament and ward councillors in the just ended by-elections. There are some political parties that have gained while others have lost miserably. The by-elections have also revealed one thing that needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

For this country’s democracy to thrive, there is a need for a strong opposition. The gains and losses experienced in the by-elections should be a wake-up call to the opposition in Malawi, to put their house in order or else run the risk of having a dominant party, or if you want, call it a dominant alliance, that is if the Tonse Alliance lasts.

For a healthy democracy, a healthy opposition is as important as a strong government. It helps to keep the regime in power under control. It also prevents it from developing arrogant and autocratic deviations from the path of progress and democracy by questioning such steps, assessing their policies objectively, and also giving important inputs. The opposition acts as the watchdog of the system ensuring that the interests of the ruling party are not detrimental to the interest of the public.

At present, Malawi is suffering from the most non-synced and unprepared opposition. Take the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), for instance, party, and its structures are in disarray. Here is a party that lacks leadership. At this point, the DPP’s only achievement has been to confuse their grassroots.

It is hard to know who is steering this ship. There is so much in-fighting going on that the party which was in a government not long ago, has very little time of offering checks and balances of the Tonse Alliance administration. DPP’s voice is almost muted. The only time the party speaks is when Brown Mpinganjira is disputing what Kondwani Nankhumwa has said or Nankhumwa is disputing what Mpinganjira has said. Simply put, DPP is a circus.

As for the United Democratic Front (UDF), the party is suffering “dad’s boy” syndrome. Anything its president Atupele Muluzi says is dismissed.

The fear that some of us have is that it seems the opposition does not understand their role and why it is important that their voice is heard not just for the sake of opposing, but to hold the government accountable. It is the duty of the opposition to support the ruling party for the acts that are in the interest of the nation while exercising vigil of government’s performance.

Unfortunately, the opposition has been too quiet for anybody’s liking. This is no sign that the government is doing well, it is simply a sign that we have a weak opposition, which is currently incapable of questioning the government.

The opposition can, however, regroup. The first step for the opposition is to get rid of the old fogies. The younger lot needs to move up the ladder—change the face of the leaders. There is a lot of potential in the youngsters who are pushed down and not allowed to shine. What else does Peter Mutharika got to offer? How about Bakili Muluzi who still wields so much power within the UDF? As for his son, Atupele, he has run the course. Let others take a shot at leading the party.

The opposition should never underestimate its role. Malawi cannot afford to have a weak opposition it will be disastrous for our democracy.