Sunday, July 3, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Columns These Freedoms

Open letter to APM: Slave ships set out to Africa

by Janet Karim
15/05/2020
in These Freedoms
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

“We will never rise to any position of importance in Africa until we learn to do things for ourselves,” Kamuzu Banda, Malawi’s founding president.

Your excellency President Peter Mutharika, watching the events for the past 10 days, I was reminded of many of William Shakespeare’s tragic heroes; at other times, it was like your tailor (aka advisers) gave you new clothes.

I watched you and other presidential candidates present nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

Then on Friday, your excellency, the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the lower court judgement to nullify the May 21 2019 presidential election.

To cap it, the seven-judge panel of the Supreme Court stopped registration of new voters, an exercise which some quarters alleged involved the registration of minors.

As if this was not enough, some angry people stoned your convoy in Ndirande Township on the day you presented your nomination to MEC chairperson Jane Ansah.

While I do not condone any act of violence, particularly to a leader, Malawi should get its act together, especially in this time of Covid-19. This is because the slave ships are coming to Africa again.

As a country, Malawi is gifted with professional, patriotic and selfless judicial system that has given democracy successive wins in this debacle. It is an insult to your profession and wrong for your pundits to declare that Malawi is being ruled by judges because you and MEC lost the court cases.

Please, permit me to give you six germane tips on the essentials of leadership in Malawi.

First is for you to study the history of Malawi; learn every nook and cranny of places and events of Malawians. You will be served well if you read some of the former presidents’ speeches, especially Kamuzu Banda’s four-hour speeches. Through this, you will be inspired to achieve more.

Second is to avoid scolding religious leaders when they visit you. They command respect among people who may vote for you. Show them the respect they deserve.

Third is that when people are angry with you, the last place you want to go to is Ndirande Township. The residents in the township can go angry, at times. As children in 1959, we lined Kamuzu Highway and threw stones at vehicles, if the drivers were the British.

Fourth, Malawians are deeply saddened to learn about the alleged stealing of public funds and engaging in corrupt practices. Your supposedly lack of action on such malpractices is a breach of the social contract you entered with Malawians. History of Malawi will show you how Kamuzu dismissed ministers and members of Parliament at political rallies. This was cruel and undemocratic, but it was better than condoning corruption.

The fifth point is that you should respect the rule of law and democratic governance. If a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member breaks a law, a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) member breaks a law, and a UTM Party member breaks a law, all should face the same justice. As a democracy, there are three arms of government. All three know how to do their job. Please, respect this.

Finally, the world is going through a pandemic. We are lucky this is happening in a digital era because information is flowing swiftly. And it is not pretty as the slave ships are coming back to Africa. This time there are motley Pandora’s boxes of diseases, medicines and vaccines. Therefore, you should defend Malawians from becoming guinea pigs. Long live genuine democracy!

Previous Post

FDH donates to Blantyre DHO

Next Post

Govt forms task force on re-opening schools

Related Posts

These Freedoms

The good, sad, bad and down-right ugly 2021—Part 2

January 7, 2022
Targeted by fraudsters: Madamme Chakwera
These Freedoms

Malawi’s leaders in 57 years of independent rule: Our first ladies

October 1, 2021
These Freedoms

Malawi leaders in 57 years of independent rule—Part III

July 22, 2021
Next Post
Susuwele Banda: We appreciate the support

Govt forms task force on re-opening schools

Opinions and Columns

Editor's Note

MPs’ houses to cost taxpayers K60bn

July 3, 2022
My Thought

Women underutilise digital platforms

July 3, 2022
Big Man Wamkulu

Her body count is too high, should I dump her?

July 3, 2022
Search Within

We should start discussing ideas

July 3, 2022

Malawi-Music.com Top10

Trending Stories

  • Alliance partners talk

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Dubai firm cries foul

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • MP Chihana flops at Sadc elections

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Her body count is too high, should I dump her?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chilima opens pandora’s box

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.