Emily Mkamanga

MCP primaries, warning to politicians

Honestly speaking, the hype on Malawi’s political scene can be likened to the excitement that Malawians expressed in 1994 when they wanted a change from one party dictatorship to multiparty democracy. Unfortunately, after 25 years of multiparty democracy, there has been no change worth being proud of. The poor of 1994 are poorer today.

The main reason for such abject poverty in the country is not a secret. Taxpayers’ money just disappears into corruption which has been institutionalised. This is coupled with stealing large amounts of government money which is common, but surprisingly, some people get away with it. This is done by giving culprits minor charges.

For example, instead of charging them with stealing, they are charged with abuse of office or negligence of duty. Such charges are sometimes difficult to prove and culprits walk out scot free to enjoy the stolen taxpayers’ money. In most cases, such people are leaders in politics or government where they are expected to be exemplary. To ordinary people, such leaders, have no moral standing in the society which is full of victims of corruption and stealing of public funds.

At the moment, the suffering public blame their leaders, which include Members of Parliament (MPs) and the State President for doing nothing about the cause of suffering. Furthermore, they are blamed for stifling opportunities for people to live an acceptable life. It must also be mentioned that some MPs desert their constituencies to live in towns, only to come back when they need peoples vote. This is a very bad practice to say the truth.

It goes without saying that leaders have taken the poor majority for granted for too long. Therefore, time for reckoning has come. People want change of leadership. The wind of change has started in MCP and likely to move to other political parties as well and finally at national level. In MCP primaries, some of the old guards have failed to make it through. The mood is to try other people with the expectations that they might bring development and improve people’s lives. What leaders must know is that when they have been in power for ten years, people just tolerate them since they can hardly bring new ideas. Therefore, they become irrelevant. Some leaders can be in power for five years or so and because of their inefficiency which qualifies them to be failed leaders, qualify to be replaced.

It is believed that failed Heads of State come about because they get into power without knowing that Feedback is their best tool for success. Unfortunately, they rate themselves so high to the extent that they close the channels of negative feedback and only allow positive feedback such as praises for imaginary successes. People who are aspiring for political power must first realise that Malawians might be poor but are intelligent enough to know real success as opposed to fake progress.

Due to suffering with poverty, it is true that the people of Malawi want new blood at every level of leadership. Therefore, no one should be surprised that he/she has been replaced in the 2019 elections. Meanwhile, MCP primaries have led the way. Take it or leave it, change is coming. Leaders should not waste time by splitting hairs in a bid to prove their past success stories. Malawians know better and are the best judges. Even buying votes with handouts might not work this time round. Malawians have suffered enough with bad leadership.

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