To say that the presidential re-run election on 23 June 2020 was unique is an understatement. The uniqueness started in 2019 when the five judges of the Constitutional Court nullified the results of 2019 presidential election after finding out that there were irregularities. Honestly speaking, nullifying the election for a President who had already been sworn in was not an easy thing. In fact, the Malawi Judiciary made a name on the continent of Africa. Without doubt the decisions by the Judiciary gave Malawi some confidence in their quest for change in leadership. The judges’ decision also quashed the mistaken belief that once a President elect is sworn in, no one should expect the reverse.
Meanwhile, the handling of the election cases by the Judiciary gave Malawians confidence to go out and vote decisively. Hence president Chakwera under the Tonse alliance had a convincing win of one million votes over and above Mutharika’s votes. So far, the majority of Malawians are happy with President Chakwera as well as the Vice-President Chilima. These two leaders promised to be servant leaders which has been missing in the past leaders. It goes without saying that Malawians have all manner of problems that they wish to have a listening leader. In addition, the leadership should have empathy. This is unlike the past leaders. One can remember President Mutharika who seemed to have a culture of silence. So many things could happen that people want the President to say something to assure the citizens about their security and yet the President would say nothing. For example, there was a time when HRDC leaders were petrol-bombed in their houses and property destroyed, Mutharika said nothing even though in this country petrol bombs are a new scare. There is need to stop the practice before more people lose their property. By not commenting on the petrol bombs, those people using them might have thought the President had given them a green light.
Mutharika might have known the militant behaviour of the DPP cadets. There was need for him to come up with a bold condemnation. But he did not instead cadets continued with their scaring people.
For a long time, people of Malawi have been crying for servant leadership which seems to have been found in Chakwera and Chilima, things will no longer be the same. Both leaders have started with enthusiasm to take this country to another level of development while giving people a lot of hope and expectation.
As it were, for a very long-time parastatals have been working at their own slow pace because no leadership would check them. At the moment Vice President Chilima has been to some of them to discuss with senior management. Wherever he has been Chilima has left an indelible mark while advising them to pull up their socks failing which they will be shown the exit door. The Vice President has called a spade a spade and leaving no one in doubt.
As for President Chakwera, he has been bold enough to go to Parliament to answer questions. He did exceptionally well while leaving no stone unturned. At the moment the ball is in MPs’ court to ask on more complex issues instead of wasting time on trivia.
The leadership have shown their boldness within the law. Let Malawians follow suit.
