President Lazarus Chakwera will succeed
At this point it is possible to throw away the baby with bath water. Pessimism teaches to hope for the very best and the likelihood of the Lazarus Chakwera presidency succeeding is high. Chakwera will succeed because he has no choice. Let the good man succeed.
He is at gunpoint to deliver, and for that, the man will deliver. For all purposes and intents, criticism will propel him to succeed. He has full four years ahead of him, will make-up, change course where needed and deliver.
That is what Malawians expect from him. Probably, it is time he was given an opportunity for another shot at the goal.
The alternative to Tonse Alliance is the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP]. DPP never again. While it is unavoidable, the greatest beneficiary of giving up on Chakwera is DPP as they regroup with vigour to take over the country and take us back to the dark days.
DPP is as callous as is nepotistic. Tonse Alliance is not even a percentage of DPP; hence, need not to say the grace period is over for Tonse. It is not, but Tonse needs to deliver urgently or set the path for delivery as the country cannot slip back to DPP. That is the country’s vomit, it can’t be taken back. DPP as a party throws away all manners to the dogs just to ensure a small tribal clique is munching State coffers.
Chakwera has no choice but to go on the agreed route and deliver, no well-meaning Malawian is ready to go back to the DPP days.
Folks, the country can discard the essential while retaining the superfluous because of excessive zeal. Maybe we have been too hard on Chakwera, maybe this zeal in over-peeping into State affairs and dissecting everything only serves DPP.
Look, a company belonging to one of the leaders of Mulhako wa Lhomwe won a tender at Macra during this Tonse administration. Yes, Tonse zealots cried foul but this level of objectivity and opportunity for all was never heard of during the DPP regime. The same applies to a couple of DPP connected companies winning tenders for the supply of fertiliser last year under Affordable Inputs Programme. This is good, DPP have to be taught how to govern while they are on the sidelines.
This signals the beginning of normalcy, there is no greater example than the aforementioned in displaying that things are beginning to be fair. On this alone, Chakwera deserves a pat on the back. On a lighter note, his temperament as well is good for leadership coming from the “Ndikunyenyani” mantra.
Slowly as it may be but this administration and Chakwera are doing away with cronyism. So far, some MCP or UTM Party hand-clappers have failed some State firms’ CEO job interviews. These are telltale signs that one can belong to the ruling system and only rely on merit to either do business or secure a job.
DPP’s cronyism was sophisticated. DPP lived the old adage which goes: “It’s not what you know but who you know,” or “It’s not what you don’t know; it’s who your college roommate knows”.
The positive with Tonse is that this sort of sophisticated network is non-existent or if it is there, it is not as coordinated as was with the DPP.
That said, Chakwera’s appointment of a daughter to Brussels was ill-timed, ill-fated, same with the appointment of Veep Saulos Chakwera’s mother-in-law.
In the political sphere such departures are bound to happen like John F. Kennedy, for example, appointed his brother Robert as Attorney – General. Every President names close associates to key positions. Human nature is such that people want to put those they know and trust, for loyalty in positions but buyable justifications need to follow such appointments. This is where Tonse fails.
This is just to avoid a DPP repeat on patronage jobs. DPP ran a crusade such that hangers-held meetings every Saturday at golf clubs to discuss government employment opportunities and tenders. Tonse is not this bad.
With DPP, down to a dogcatcher, were being filled by people whose only qualification was their support for their party. As Chakwera gets another opportunity to shoot at the goal and score, he must be reminded that Malawians loath favouritism because of how DPP used it as a tool to oppress people of alternative viewpoints.
Is it all lost for Chakwera? The answer is no. There are challenges which are resolvable if another gear was engaged and things look sour in an exaggerated way because Mutharika has also started fanning the fires, too. This is why Chakwera needs to fasten the seat belt and drive off.
Everybody deserves a second chance. DPP was given that chance. In one year, surely, we can give Chakwera another lease of life to make amends and deliver. Godot will deliver and succeed. That is the only available choice.
