My Turn

Where did it all go wrong?

It does not require rocket science to notice that our political system is not successful. Having been independent for close to five decades is enough to breed mature leaders who know their job, but every now and then, our leaders lose their sanity when they get a grip on power. This has been the trend since 1964, and we don’t seem to have a clue on how to reverse it.

The first 30 years of independence maybe excusable because it was a dictatorship. The governance flaws during those dark years are well documented. That is where our problems start and obviously end.

The developments that took place during Dr Kamuzu Banda’s era are commendable as he tried to set the pace for economic development in the country. However, the foundation he set was not built upon by Bakili Muluzi, who ushered Malawi into a democratic era. Granted, Muluzi had his own successes. On the other hand, the late Bingu wa Mutharika’s tenure brought in some noticeable development, but he was better known for how he brought the nation to its knees in just eight years. As a nation, our failure to deal with political crises and tyranny were exposed and exploited.

Despite all the recorded flaws, it is evident that we have moved on from July 1964. The country Kamuzu found is a far cry from what we have today, and we should be proud of that. I am not suggesting that we are where we ought to be, as the late Mutharika suggested by imposing a new flag upon us (depicting a full sun as a symbol of accomplishment), but development is not an overnight thing.

The one area which we have not improved on, however, is governance which, ironically, has the capacity to shape every aspect of our society. For what it is worth, I point a finger at the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for this state of affairs. I believe the culture instilled into a majority of citizens at that time has been entrenched into our DNAs and it is not easy to run away from. You do not wake up one morning and start practising civilised politics.

Most aspects of our politics, which are significant in leadership, are shaped by what we experienced during the three decades. The fact that we have first generation politicians actively participating in politics is testament to this. These are the same people that practised tyranny; they have nothing better to impart onto the next generation. We might curse our leadership style all we want, but we should keep in mind that the seeds were sown a few months after independence with the changing of the Constitution and have taken 49 years of watering and harnessing by all who care.

Currently, our economy is experiencing difficulties and our democracy is not the healthiest, but one thing which is neglected, yet very significant in turning around our pitiable fortune is the style of leadership. The way our leaders handle the people they govern, as well as themselves, is very important. We can no longer afford to have leaders who, above anything, serve for their potbellies and allies. We are a 20-year-old democracy and we have to start acting like one.

Because of that blurred legacy, however, we are not experiencing any gains from democracy. Our leaders think that politics is a game of survival; for them it is power or nothing else at any cost.

If we are to experience a reversal in prosperities from the raw deal, it is time we stood up to them. It is the 21st century and we have to live in it. We should let our leaders know that we have been in their ride for far too long. It is time we dragged them into the vehicle of our choice for them to drive us to our destination.

Simply crying behind closed doors about which politician is insulting who at the podium will not help solve matters. We make democracy; we should make our existence count, for our children if not for anything else.

—The author is a political science student at the Catholic University of Malawi.

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