Freedom is a complex term, understood differently from one setting to another. It may be a result of the liberation that was or has been endowed on a nation or individual, but sometimes freedom tends to be analyzed in its practicability sense. Thus, it has oftentimes been argued that freedom for mankind may just be illusory – a kind of freedom that exists in books only – or it may indeed be practical – that is a kind of freedom that is seen in all its basic interpretations.
The aspect of many nations being under indirect rules of other nations has been taken onto the centre stage by some writers – African writers in particular – who argue it is high time African countries got ‘really’ free. In fact, there is the notion of neocolonialism existing within the minds of many Africans including Malawians. Yet, in Malawi, universal history holds that father and founder of the nation, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, broke the ‘stupid federation’ and broke Malawi free from the pangs of colonial oppression, thereby rendering Malawi a free nation, free at last.
Essentially, the term neo-colonialism was coined by the first Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah who argued that Africa was just undergoing a new kind of colonialism with Europe still having a hand in the ruling of African countries. This might be decades ago, but the notion is still noted to this day, and is applied in different analyses of African states’ freedoms.
These states, Malawi inclusive, are said to be currently in a phase which is a new form of imperial rule stage managed by the colonial powers to give the colonized the illusion of freedom. And most of the times, we fail to fully and convincingly answer the question of whether or not we are indeed free. Is our freedom really practical, or just theoretical?
It appears the survival of the colonial system, in spite of the formal recognition of political independence in emerging countries which become the victims of an indirect and subtle form of domination by political, economic, social, military or technical means, as neo-colonialism was defined at the 1961 All-African People’s Conference held in Cairo, still exists.
About two months from now, Malawians from all walks of life will be thronging the giant Kamuzu Stadium to cerebrate the country’s 46th independence anniversary, assuming it is going to take place at the traditional venue. This is always a rare occasion marked by new inventions of marking the day which usually have never been there before. That independence came within the context of freedom that became a reality some three years previously or so.
As a matter of fact, at the passing of forty-five years since the British Administration in Malawi handed over power to native Malawians, there was plenty of glamour. It was a rare occasion, garnished with novel exhibitions that left most of us wondering why Malawi remains one of the poorest countries in the world despite having very creative citizens; why we still rely on the West in most of our development projects; and whether the freedom that Kamuzu grabbed from the colonial masters is viably working.
It may be worthy noting that ever since Malawi broke away from the ‘stupid federation’, two types of governments have been experienced, namely the one-party system and the multiparty system. And now, about a half a century down the line, some, if not most people, still believe our freedom is not practical. They go on to argue that in fact there are many countries in the world, with African countries topping the list, whose freedom, up to date, is not practical, even though these countries appear to be independent theoretically.
Some people even reach the point of claiming that Malawi is just under a sophisticated type of colonialism with some underlying colonial masters hidden somewhere miles away.
“We are free in theory; on paper, our freedom is there, but in practice we are far away from that. Well, we rule ourselves, but how can we say we are free when economically we cannot fully provide for ourselves? They (the West) control our economy, and we cannot claim we are free. Even the political freedom that we think we have is not necessarily there,” argues James Kawaye, a fourth year Political Science student at Chancellor College.
Perhaps, his line of thought emanates from the fact that the country relies extensively on donour funds for the majority of its development projects. Since some of the donations come in form of grants where there is an already defined purpose for the donation where the recipient only needs to implement it, we may indeed be forgiven for arguing that there are indirect ruling hands from outside Malawi which rule us.
Maybe indeed there is nothing peculiar about our freedom apart from the fact that we have a native Malawian as the country’s president and that we have our own national flag and constitution; and, our constitution can be taken to be just another vindication that our freedom, at least for now, is not complete, since it is just an adapted version of the British constitution.
As a practical thing, Malawi, it seems, is not a free state. However, to a certain extent, some analysts point out that all the arguments advanced for the justification of the fact that Malawi is not a free state are ill-conceived. They go on to argue that there is no denying that most developing countries rely on donour funds, but this does not conclusively imply that they are not politically free.
Many nationalists and commentators see the independence gained from the withdrawing of colonial powers as only partial liberation. In other words, they argue that independence in its fullness is yet to dawn on Malawi, and most African states. Some call it ‘false freedom’. Full or real freedom, they believe, will come with economic independence, that is the time when Malawi will be able to fund its own development projects using its own money.
But, others still see Malawi to be a completely free state. “There are many rich countries in the world that in certain cases rely on donations even from poorer countries when they have been caught napping in certain crises. Malawi has ever made donations to other countries, but this cannot imply that those countries do not have their freedom in entirety,” argues Leonard Mphande in his yet to be published research paper titled Malawi’s Freedom Seen From an Outsider’s Perspective.
In 1992, the donour community threatened that it would pull out its support to Malawi if the one-party government did not improve on human rights issues and proper governance. The donour community wanted Malawi to start practicing multiparty politics. Some people see that as an underlying rule where foreign countries dictated Malawi’s politics.
But Willy Kambwandira chooses to differ. “I find this argument a little irrelevant as regards independence. Even the United States of America which is taken to be the world’s super-power will embrace advice from other nations. In fact there are international organisations which nations belong to and these nations are supposed to abide by any rule that has been implemented by the organisations,” observes the third year student at Chancellor College.
He goes on to point out that it is wrong to argue that the nations are under the rule of the organisations. Some time back, he observes, the United Nations and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) warned Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe that they would impose sanctions on him once he did not comply to enforcing peace with the leader of the main opposition party, Morgan Tszangirai but this did not mean Zimbabwe was not a free state and it shall never be so.
Perhaps, indeed, that Malawi is still under the control of Western powers with our rulers being either willing puppets or involuntary subordinate of these powers is misguided and a big misrepresentation of facts. It could be true that focusing our attention on misguided reasoning that our country is still under foreign rule has drawn our attention away from internal forces that are crucial to the understanding of our condition and which, unlike external conditions, need to be altered by ourselves.
Some commentators maintain that “the fatalistic opinion that Malawi is stuck in ‘foreign hand ruling’ continues obstructing the growth of popular political movements for social and economic change in our beloved country. In fact, the claim that Malawi is not really free is the one which is theoretical, because it only exists in the minds of some people. The fact of the matter cannot be changed and it remains that upon freedom – on 14 may 1961, Malawi became a free nation, able to plan for its own future.”
When considering the economic conditions of nations in the world it is wise to think of them as belonging to different levels in the global pyramid. At the bottom are the poorest of the poor; while at the top is a tiny minority of some rich countries. And for the balance of the global market, there is need that some countries’ wealth is complimented by donour funds. Perhaps, here is where we may feel that we are not free until the day when we will finally be able to compliment our own economy fully.
But still, if donations mean the absence of freedom, then not more than one percent of the world’s countries would be termed as free states, agues a lecturer at Chancellor College. He further observes that despite the fact that a nation may rely extensively on external assistance, as long as it has its own leader elected by the natives, its own constitution designed by its own natives, it has its freedom and as a practical thing, it is ruling itself.
There could indeed be nothing like theoretical freedom. As a matter of fact, there is no country in the world which is being ruled by another country, and every country is free – freedom it its fullness, and never partial, argues the lecturer.
He goes on to say that even Iraq, which is under constant threats from the United States of America, is a free state. It has its own president elected by native Iraqis.
Perhaps, we also need to consider the fact that there are some brave individuals who fought relentlessly for Malawi to gain its freedom, among whom Dr. Banda is one, and it would be mockery to these departed souls to claim that Malawi is still not free. But, if truth is there, should it not be told because of fear to offend the dead?
But, on the other hand, it has to be noted that freedom does not mean solitude. As a country, we cannot live in absolute solitude without any external influence. Just like any other state in the world, Malawi will continue interacting with other countries, and yet our freedom will never cease to be. But perhaps, we cannot run away from the fact that this freedom is not yet complete.
And on the other hand, much as we may receive funds from other countries, especially from the West, the government of Malawi has the final say. Even if it is a grant, the donour will not dictate other aspects. For example, the donour will not decide where the grant has to be implemented, though it has to be acknowledged that the purpose will not be changed.
Above all, Malawi is a free state just like any other country in the world. There is nothing more to being free other than the fact that we have our own leader. But, the question which might bring us to conclude that our freedom is not entire yet is that of the international community, oftentimes, having a hand in the affairs of this country.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Reflecting on Climate Change
It has been said several times at different forums organized with the issue of climate change being at the pivot of the agenda, that the unimpeded growth of greenhouse gas emissions is raising the earth’s temperature.
Ardent researchers have gone further to warn that the consequences of these greenhouse gas emissions include melting glaciers, more precipitation, more and more extreme weather events, and shifting seasons. It appears this year, it has undoubtedly come here in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, that we should have a feel of what this climate change is all about.
The accelerating pace of climate change, combined with global population and income growth, threatens food security everywhere, and experts here in Malawi have already warned that the country is likely to experience hunger after this growing season.
Undoubtedly, agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. This has already been vindicated in many areas where farmers are at a risk of not harvesting anything because the rains are not coming. In other areas, even though the rains have started coming, farmers have already given up because they feel that the growing season is now over.
On the other hand, even in areas where rains have been sufficient, higher temperatures are eventually reducing yields of desirable crops while encouraging weed and pest proliferation. In such cases, it is impossible to have the usual bumper harvests.
Again, changes in precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of short-run crop failures and long-run production declines. Already, it has been observed that while some areas are facing prolonged dry spells, others are receiving rains continuously. Although there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening global food security.
Farmers have not yet adapted to the changes in climate and it is therefore very difficult for them to sow seeds in February when what they know is that they are supposed to sow in the months of November, December and January. It may need to take the intervention of experts in the environmental fields to advise farmers that the shifting of seasons due to climate change may mean that the growing season may as well shift.
Populations in the developing world, which are already vulnerable and food insecure, like in most African countries, are likely to be the most seriously affected. A research conducted by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reveals that in 2005, nearly half of the economically active population in developing countries, which translates to 2.5 billion people, relied on agriculture for its livelihood.
Different researches conducted on climate change in different countries of the world have also revealed that climate change is already affecting water resources, agriculture, land resources, and biodiversity, and will continue to do so. According to the researches, grain crops will mature more rapidly, but increasing temperatures will increase the risk of crop failures, particularly if precipitation decreases or becomes more variable.
Higher temperatures are affecting livestock negatively. Warmer ‘wet seasons’ will reduce mortality but this will be more than offset by greater mortality in hotter summers. Hotter temperatures will also result in reduced productivity of livestock and dairy animals. This is already being experienced in hot areas of Malawi like the Lower Shire where farmers have already started losing their livestock due to the hot temperatures.
It is up to concerned stakeholders to sensitize people on what they are supposed to do in their respective farming areas according to climate experiences which such areas are likely to meet each and every season. This may require that such sensitizations should be done now and then since climate change is not constant.
Climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale. Thus, assessment of the effects of global climate changes on agriculture might help to properly anticipate and adapt farming to maximize agricultural production. So far, this appears to be the only remedy that can redress the imbalance.
Despite technological advances, such as improved varieties, genetically modified organisms, and irrigation systems, weather is still a key factor in agricultural productivity, as well as soil properties and natural communities. That is why it is imperative that other measures other than those involving technological advances should be applied to deal with the effects of climate change.
Other researchers have concluded that the poorest countries would be hardest hit, with reductions in crop yields in most tropical and sub-tropical regions due to decreased water availability, and new or changed insect pest incidence.
In most African countries, many rain-fed crops are near their maximum temperature tolerance, so that yields are likely to fall sharply for even small climate changes. That is why, perhaps in areas where irrigation is feasible, it should be seriously encouraged.
Ardent researchers have gone further to warn that the consequences of these greenhouse gas emissions include melting glaciers, more precipitation, more and more extreme weather events, and shifting seasons. It appears this year, it has undoubtedly come here in Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, that we should have a feel of what this climate change is all about.
The accelerating pace of climate change, combined with global population and income growth, threatens food security everywhere, and experts here in Malawi have already warned that the country is likely to experience hunger after this growing season.
Undoubtedly, agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. This has already been vindicated in many areas where farmers are at a risk of not harvesting anything because the rains are not coming. In other areas, even though the rains have started coming, farmers have already given up because they feel that the growing season is now over.
On the other hand, even in areas where rains have been sufficient, higher temperatures are eventually reducing yields of desirable crops while encouraging weed and pest proliferation. In such cases, it is impossible to have the usual bumper harvests.
Again, changes in precipitation patterns increase the likelihood of short-run crop failures and long-run production declines. Already, it has been observed that while some areas are facing prolonged dry spells, others are receiving rains continuously. Although there will be gains in some crops in some regions of the world, the overall impacts of climate change on agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening global food security.
Farmers have not yet adapted to the changes in climate and it is therefore very difficult for them to sow seeds in February when what they know is that they are supposed to sow in the months of November, December and January. It may need to take the intervention of experts in the environmental fields to advise farmers that the shifting of seasons due to climate change may mean that the growing season may as well shift.
Populations in the developing world, which are already vulnerable and food insecure, like in most African countries, are likely to be the most seriously affected. A research conducted by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reveals that in 2005, nearly half of the economically active population in developing countries, which translates to 2.5 billion people, relied on agriculture for its livelihood.
Different researches conducted on climate change in different countries of the world have also revealed that climate change is already affecting water resources, agriculture, land resources, and biodiversity, and will continue to do so. According to the researches, grain crops will mature more rapidly, but increasing temperatures will increase the risk of crop failures, particularly if precipitation decreases or becomes more variable.
Higher temperatures are affecting livestock negatively. Warmer ‘wet seasons’ will reduce mortality but this will be more than offset by greater mortality in hotter summers. Hotter temperatures will also result in reduced productivity of livestock and dairy animals. This is already being experienced in hot areas of Malawi like the Lower Shire where farmers have already started losing their livestock due to the hot temperatures.
It is up to concerned stakeholders to sensitize people on what they are supposed to do in their respective farming areas according to climate experiences which such areas are likely to meet each and every season. This may require that such sensitizations should be done now and then since climate change is not constant.
Climate change and agriculture are interrelated processes, both of which take place on a global scale. Thus, assessment of the effects of global climate changes on agriculture might help to properly anticipate and adapt farming to maximize agricultural production. So far, this appears to be the only remedy that can redress the imbalance.
Despite technological advances, such as improved varieties, genetically modified organisms, and irrigation systems, weather is still a key factor in agricultural productivity, as well as soil properties and natural communities. That is why it is imperative that other measures other than those involving technological advances should be applied to deal with the effects of climate change.
Other researchers have concluded that the poorest countries would be hardest hit, with reductions in crop yields in most tropical and sub-tropical regions due to decreased water availability, and new or changed insect pest incidence.
In most African countries, many rain-fed crops are near their maximum temperature tolerance, so that yields are likely to fall sharply for even small climate changes. That is why, perhaps in areas where irrigation is feasible, it should be seriously encouraged.
On Part-time Lesson Ban
Recently, government made a directive that there should no longer be part-time lessons in all public schools. It appears this is part of government’s process of reconstructing the education sector in Malawi. It started with the shutting down of all sub-standard secondary schools, mainly privately owned ones.
Government went further to ban summer term lessons in secondary schools and ruled that if at all summer lessons were to be held, then they should be free of charge. The Private Schools Association of Malawi (Prisam) expressed its concern over the directive, but it appears this is no time for any government’s directive to flop. To a larger extent, it seems we are living in an era where everything that government says is supposed to be adhered to even if it does not wholly appeal to the majority.
And now, some teachers and parents have expressed their misgivings over the ban on part-time lessons. In essence, on the part of government, the ban on summer terms and part-time lessons is aimed at avoiding putting at a disadvantage students who cannot afford to pay for the ‘extra’ lessons.
An official from the Ministry of Education intimated that the problem with these ‘extra’ lessons was that a student who misses them will not be able to recapture them because they would not be re-taught in the normal learning period.
But much as this is true, it does not imply that in the normal learning period, everything in the teaching syllabus will be covered, especially this academic year when the learning period has been lessened to such an extent that only the inclusion of some extra effort by both the teachers and the students can help redress the teaching/learning imbalance.
So, it is imperative to let those who can attend extra lessons do so without any restraint. It is true that everywhere in the world, there are both the rich and the poor, but it does not imply that because the poor cannot afford something, then the rich too, should not be allowed to get it. This kind of philosophy, to me, appears to be just opium of the masses which is only aimed at pleasing the economically-disadvantaged, while tramping over them at the same time.
There are those who could afford to pay for their children’s part-time school fees (after some struggles, though) but are encouraged not to do so because the playing field has been ‘levelled’.
Government should not just implement policies without proper consultation. There are many departments both in the public and private sectors that can assist in conducting relevant researches whose results government can use to implement policies.
It is no denying fact that part-time lessons have helped many pupils/students do well in their examinations and the ban categorically means that the performance of many pupils/students will dwindle.
Just like one teacher argued in The Daily Times of last Monday, some pupils take part-time lessons more seriously than they do normal-time lessons. Part-time lessons also make pupils concentrate on their education other than other distractive activities which can affect their lessons. After the normal lessons, instead of pupils going to entertainment centres, they are forced to attend part-time lessons and they subsequently have very little time to spend on something else other than education.
It is being unrealistic of government to demand that teachers who hold part-time lessons should not charge students/pupils any amount of money. How does government expect someone to teach for hours on end on a part-time basis and be satisfied with nothing? A teacher needs to be satisfied so that they can work diligently. In fact, this is the spirit of every working environment: diligence and efficiency comes from satisfied workers.
On the other hand, rehabilitating the education sector in Malawi is a welcome development considering the fact that in recent years, complaints have emanated from different quarters that education standards in Malawi are going down. But policies which negatively affect the rehabilitation process should be avoided.
Government went further to ban summer term lessons in secondary schools and ruled that if at all summer lessons were to be held, then they should be free of charge. The Private Schools Association of Malawi (Prisam) expressed its concern over the directive, but it appears this is no time for any government’s directive to flop. To a larger extent, it seems we are living in an era where everything that government says is supposed to be adhered to even if it does not wholly appeal to the majority.
And now, some teachers and parents have expressed their misgivings over the ban on part-time lessons. In essence, on the part of government, the ban on summer terms and part-time lessons is aimed at avoiding putting at a disadvantage students who cannot afford to pay for the ‘extra’ lessons.
An official from the Ministry of Education intimated that the problem with these ‘extra’ lessons was that a student who misses them will not be able to recapture them because they would not be re-taught in the normal learning period.
But much as this is true, it does not imply that in the normal learning period, everything in the teaching syllabus will be covered, especially this academic year when the learning period has been lessened to such an extent that only the inclusion of some extra effort by both the teachers and the students can help redress the teaching/learning imbalance.
So, it is imperative to let those who can attend extra lessons do so without any restraint. It is true that everywhere in the world, there are both the rich and the poor, but it does not imply that because the poor cannot afford something, then the rich too, should not be allowed to get it. This kind of philosophy, to me, appears to be just opium of the masses which is only aimed at pleasing the economically-disadvantaged, while tramping over them at the same time.
There are those who could afford to pay for their children’s part-time school fees (after some struggles, though) but are encouraged not to do so because the playing field has been ‘levelled’.
Government should not just implement policies without proper consultation. There are many departments both in the public and private sectors that can assist in conducting relevant researches whose results government can use to implement policies.
It is no denying fact that part-time lessons have helped many pupils/students do well in their examinations and the ban categorically means that the performance of many pupils/students will dwindle.
Just like one teacher argued in The Daily Times of last Monday, some pupils take part-time lessons more seriously than they do normal-time lessons. Part-time lessons also make pupils concentrate on their education other than other distractive activities which can affect their lessons. After the normal lessons, instead of pupils going to entertainment centres, they are forced to attend part-time lessons and they subsequently have very little time to spend on something else other than education.
It is being unrealistic of government to demand that teachers who hold part-time lessons should not charge students/pupils any amount of money. How does government expect someone to teach for hours on end on a part-time basis and be satisfied with nothing? A teacher needs to be satisfied so that they can work diligently. In fact, this is the spirit of every working environment: diligence and efficiency comes from satisfied workers.
On the other hand, rehabilitating the education sector in Malawi is a welcome development considering the fact that in recent years, complaints have emanated from different quarters that education standards in Malawi are going down. But policies which negatively affect the rehabilitation process should be avoided.
Is Abortion Murder?
Human life has for times without number been put to some fatal test by human beings. In many circumstances, we have found ourselves debating on issues that deal directly with human life; with the debate centering on whether at some point in time, such life which was always described as sacred by the late Pope John Paul should be terminated or not. One topic which has drawn mixed reactions from different individuals and stakeholders is abortion. Up to now, it appears it is very difficult for global dwellers to reach a consensus and agree on one thing regarding abortion: whether it should be legalized or not.
Abortion is defined as a human action carried with the chief aim of preventing the continuation of a human life. This implies that by all means, abortion results in death of some sort. So the most significant question for those who honestly feel like addressing matters to do with abortion is whether or not the pre-birth annihilation of a pregnancy is in reality a wicked killing of a human being, murder in technical terms.
Since time immemorial, the response has always depended on diverse people’s perceptions and understanding of the same. To certain extent, some if not most of those who argue for abortion maintain that the fetus is not a living person and that therefore, when it is destroyed, a human being is not taken. As a result, they hold that abortion is an ethically nonaligned act.
Some even hold that it is a good act.
Analyzing the above argument will need that we first of all have to look at when human life begins. Professionals in biological science unanimously agree that any organism which exhibits the seven traits of life which include metabolism, excitability, conductivity, contractility, differentiation, growth, and reproduction is living, and is living according to its own kind.
During each stage of development within the mother's body, the zygote, morula, blastocyst, embryo, and fetus all exhibit these traits of life. The mere fact that because the intra-uterine organism is in a process of development and is unseen does not warrant the view that it does not possess life; life in accord with its nature, in this case human life.
Since the zygote possesses all of the seven traits of life, all biological scientists agree that life begins at conception. They identify this already objective fact of when life begins.
In fact, there is no other point at which life can begin. Whatever the circumstance, there is never any non-life stage that finally develops into a life-stage during a pregnancy. Such a concept is completely foreign to biological life. That which has life now or any other time had time from the very beginning.
In other words, it is an established scientific fact and a logical one as well that there is no other developmental stage in which life begins other than the moment of conception.
Whatever one's spiritual or unspiritual presuppositions may be, these biological facts cannot be denied by any person of sound reason. Human life is not definable in terms of stages of development. At all stages of development, human life is present. Therefore, destroying it at any of the stages is to destroy a human life, a living person.
“The beginning of a single human life is from a biological point of view a simple, straightforward matter – the beginning is conception. This straightforward biological fact should not be distorted to serve sociological, political, or economic goals,” Argues Dr. Watson Bowes of the University of Colorado. His view is corroborated by Dr. Micheline Matthews-Roth, a Research Associate at Harvard Medical School who notes that it is scientifically correct to say that an individual human life begins at conception.”
“Each of us has a unique beginning, the moment of conception. Our entire being is contained in the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) in the very first moment of fertilization.” This is noted by Dr. Jerome Lejeune, Genetics Professor at Rene Descartes University of Paris.
However, on the other hand, it may be unreasonable to rush to conclude that abortion is always completely wrong. There are some women who feel they have a good cause for performing abortions, especially in cases where they might have fallen pregnant after being raped. But still here, it is still the case that human life (which has to be protected whatever the case) is there.
So in this case as well it may only be reasonable to preserve human life since the sovereignty of life supersedes any other factors which may inspire an abortion.
It is true that children, especially babies, are expensive. They need clothes, food, diapers and many other things. But still that does not outdo the value of human life.
It does not take God or religion to determine that, just basic rationality. Children have no control over the personal and social lives of their parents at the time of their conception; consequently, they should not have to pay the ultimate price for someone else’s mistakes.
A child conceived in rape is still a child. A baby with health challenges is still human. Perhaps those who feel like aborting a baby because they did not conceive it voluntarily should consider keeping it until deliverance when they can let it out for adoption.
Religiously, the bible teaches us not to commit murder. God Himself is the source of life. Thus, to reject life is to reject the source of life and is to reject God, who is the very source and author of life.
Let abortion remain illegal whatever the circumstance. Ron Paul a U.S. Politician, astutely believes that a fetus is a human life, and that a fetus deserves the same legal protections afforded to all human beings. He observes that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.
And Peter Singer, a Professor of Philosophy strongly believes that a fetus is a human life, and that a fetus deserves the same legal protections as everyone else. Thus abortion should remain illegal, at least here in Malawi. Human life should not be out to test by human beings.
Abortion is defined as a human action carried with the chief aim of preventing the continuation of a human life. This implies that by all means, abortion results in death of some sort. So the most significant question for those who honestly feel like addressing matters to do with abortion is whether or not the pre-birth annihilation of a pregnancy is in reality a wicked killing of a human being, murder in technical terms.
Since time immemorial, the response has always depended on diverse people’s perceptions and understanding of the same. To certain extent, some if not most of those who argue for abortion maintain that the fetus is not a living person and that therefore, when it is destroyed, a human being is not taken. As a result, they hold that abortion is an ethically nonaligned act.
Some even hold that it is a good act.
Analyzing the above argument will need that we first of all have to look at when human life begins. Professionals in biological science unanimously agree that any organism which exhibits the seven traits of life which include metabolism, excitability, conductivity, contractility, differentiation, growth, and reproduction is living, and is living according to its own kind.
During each stage of development within the mother's body, the zygote, morula, blastocyst, embryo, and fetus all exhibit these traits of life. The mere fact that because the intra-uterine organism is in a process of development and is unseen does not warrant the view that it does not possess life; life in accord with its nature, in this case human life.
Since the zygote possesses all of the seven traits of life, all biological scientists agree that life begins at conception. They identify this already objective fact of when life begins.
In fact, there is no other point at which life can begin. Whatever the circumstance, there is never any non-life stage that finally develops into a life-stage during a pregnancy. Such a concept is completely foreign to biological life. That which has life now or any other time had time from the very beginning.
In other words, it is an established scientific fact and a logical one as well that there is no other developmental stage in which life begins other than the moment of conception.
Whatever one's spiritual or unspiritual presuppositions may be, these biological facts cannot be denied by any person of sound reason. Human life is not definable in terms of stages of development. At all stages of development, human life is present. Therefore, destroying it at any of the stages is to destroy a human life, a living person.
“The beginning of a single human life is from a biological point of view a simple, straightforward matter – the beginning is conception. This straightforward biological fact should not be distorted to serve sociological, political, or economic goals,” Argues Dr. Watson Bowes of the University of Colorado. His view is corroborated by Dr. Micheline Matthews-Roth, a Research Associate at Harvard Medical School who notes that it is scientifically correct to say that an individual human life begins at conception.”
“Each of us has a unique beginning, the moment of conception. Our entire being is contained in the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) in the very first moment of fertilization.” This is noted by Dr. Jerome Lejeune, Genetics Professor at Rene Descartes University of Paris.
However, on the other hand, it may be unreasonable to rush to conclude that abortion is always completely wrong. There are some women who feel they have a good cause for performing abortions, especially in cases where they might have fallen pregnant after being raped. But still here, it is still the case that human life (which has to be protected whatever the case) is there.
So in this case as well it may only be reasonable to preserve human life since the sovereignty of life supersedes any other factors which may inspire an abortion.
It is true that children, especially babies, are expensive. They need clothes, food, diapers and many other things. But still that does not outdo the value of human life.
It does not take God or religion to determine that, just basic rationality. Children have no control over the personal and social lives of their parents at the time of their conception; consequently, they should not have to pay the ultimate price for someone else’s mistakes.
A child conceived in rape is still a child. A baby with health challenges is still human. Perhaps those who feel like aborting a baby because they did not conceive it voluntarily should consider keeping it until deliverance when they can let it out for adoption.
Religiously, the bible teaches us not to commit murder. God Himself is the source of life. Thus, to reject life is to reject the source of life and is to reject God, who is the very source and author of life.
Let abortion remain illegal whatever the circumstance. Ron Paul a U.S. Politician, astutely believes that a fetus is a human life, and that a fetus deserves the same legal protections afforded to all human beings. He observes that human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception.
And Peter Singer, a Professor of Philosophy strongly believes that a fetus is a human life, and that a fetus deserves the same legal protections as everyone else. Thus abortion should remain illegal, at least here in Malawi. Human life should not be out to test by human beings.
On Crime Rise, Morality
There always is something, oftentimes, in hearts of men that compel them to avoid evil. Human beings being what we are, are consciously designed to navigate away from the face of evil even without a pastor or police officer watching us. The battle between good and evil rages in all mankind; society only crowns it all: it helps us become what we want, with the help of our authority.
Man, being naturally a moral being, would comfortably live in the world without solders, lawyers, police officers and judges. Yet, now these individuals shape our lives. They determine how we live and they reward us with plenty or nothing, in accordance with how we live our lives.
All human beings are equal; the environment is what shapes us into different kinds. Yet, the environment does not have control over one’s life. Poverty means nothing other than lack of what others have. And richness is not the basis of judging humanity; humanity is humanity even without clothes. On the other hand, humans can be there only if they have what are basic necessities.
But does the fact that someone does not have these basic necessities warrant that such an individual should use immoral means of acquiring them? Philosophy, religion, and even basic wisdom never approves of such means.
Yet crime is on the rise, and those who advocate for a return to our roots lack all conviction. It is like that situation portrayed in W.B. Yeats’s poem The Second Coming, where the falcon can no longer hear the falconer and things are falling apart as the centre if failing to hold.
Why is it that as today we hear that a 50-year-old man has ravished a 10-year-old girl, tomorrow we hear that two men were holding an engagement ceremony somewhere? Where has our sanity gone? Where have our morals instantly vanished to?
The most dangerous thing about morality is that it is never constant if at all you entertain change. There are societies that were initially very firm when it came to guarding their morals, but have lost them because of ‘adaptation to change’. Change is only necessary if it does not conflict with the basic morals of a society.
There were things which were considered alien to some societies, but have long at last been accepted as axioms of morality in the very same societies. Our hope in the law courts is fast waning: their use of intellectual determination has betrayed many a people who advocate for morality.
Imagine this: a man breaks into a house and rapes a woman; and he is finally apprehended and hauled up before a court of law. And time has come that he should ask the prosecutor questions and the conversation goes as follows:
“When I was raping the so-called woman, was she sleeping or not?” and the prosecutor answers that she was sleeping. “No,” says the defendant. “She was not sleeping.” And he goes on to ask questions which clearly entail that he indeed raped the woman; only that the prosecutor does not have sufficient information and ends up giving wrong answers.
At the end, the learned judge now has information that the defendant indeed raped the woman but acquits him because the prosecutor did not give enough evidence regarding the case. Such is the folly of intellectual wisdom. Much as intellectual wisdom may form the basis of legal arguments, on the one hand, I should think morality is supposed to be practiced more often than not by our honorable judges.
And then there is the issue of armed robberies. Someone has pressed charges against an armed robber who was caught in the process of robbing a house or an institution and because the robber hires very prominent lawyers, he wins the case where it is clear that he indeed committed the crime. Can we say laws are indeed there to protect the innocent or to give hope to criminals?
In other instances, people who never committed any offence find themselves behind bars just because they could not afford a lawyer. Yet, it may be even in instances where it clear that they never committed a crime (of course, those in the law fraternity will always claim that those who are convicted are always guilty).
Well, whatever the case, it appears our fight against crime is still a long way to go. Old measures seem to be failing; old strategies appear to have been mastered by offenders; and it appears hope reigns only among the well-off.
Factual axioms of morality appear to matter less now and intellectual determination supersedes all human wisdom. And the tasks of “officers of the watch” continue being myriad in the face of the rising rate of crime. Yet, oftentimes, there is something in hearts of judges that was supposed to impel them to understand the nature of cases; only that it may just be ignored.
Man, being naturally a moral being, would comfortably live in the world without solders, lawyers, police officers and judges. Yet, now these individuals shape our lives. They determine how we live and they reward us with plenty or nothing, in accordance with how we live our lives.
All human beings are equal; the environment is what shapes us into different kinds. Yet, the environment does not have control over one’s life. Poverty means nothing other than lack of what others have. And richness is not the basis of judging humanity; humanity is humanity even without clothes. On the other hand, humans can be there only if they have what are basic necessities.
But does the fact that someone does not have these basic necessities warrant that such an individual should use immoral means of acquiring them? Philosophy, religion, and even basic wisdom never approves of such means.
Yet crime is on the rise, and those who advocate for a return to our roots lack all conviction. It is like that situation portrayed in W.B. Yeats’s poem The Second Coming, where the falcon can no longer hear the falconer and things are falling apart as the centre if failing to hold.
Why is it that as today we hear that a 50-year-old man has ravished a 10-year-old girl, tomorrow we hear that two men were holding an engagement ceremony somewhere? Where has our sanity gone? Where have our morals instantly vanished to?
The most dangerous thing about morality is that it is never constant if at all you entertain change. There are societies that were initially very firm when it came to guarding their morals, but have lost them because of ‘adaptation to change’. Change is only necessary if it does not conflict with the basic morals of a society.
There were things which were considered alien to some societies, but have long at last been accepted as axioms of morality in the very same societies. Our hope in the law courts is fast waning: their use of intellectual determination has betrayed many a people who advocate for morality.
Imagine this: a man breaks into a house and rapes a woman; and he is finally apprehended and hauled up before a court of law. And time has come that he should ask the prosecutor questions and the conversation goes as follows:
“When I was raping the so-called woman, was she sleeping or not?” and the prosecutor answers that she was sleeping. “No,” says the defendant. “She was not sleeping.” And he goes on to ask questions which clearly entail that he indeed raped the woman; only that the prosecutor does not have sufficient information and ends up giving wrong answers.
At the end, the learned judge now has information that the defendant indeed raped the woman but acquits him because the prosecutor did not give enough evidence regarding the case. Such is the folly of intellectual wisdom. Much as intellectual wisdom may form the basis of legal arguments, on the one hand, I should think morality is supposed to be practiced more often than not by our honorable judges.
And then there is the issue of armed robberies. Someone has pressed charges against an armed robber who was caught in the process of robbing a house or an institution and because the robber hires very prominent lawyers, he wins the case where it is clear that he indeed committed the crime. Can we say laws are indeed there to protect the innocent or to give hope to criminals?
In other instances, people who never committed any offence find themselves behind bars just because they could not afford a lawyer. Yet, it may be even in instances where it clear that they never committed a crime (of course, those in the law fraternity will always claim that those who are convicted are always guilty).
Well, whatever the case, it appears our fight against crime is still a long way to go. Old measures seem to be failing; old strategies appear to have been mastered by offenders; and it appears hope reigns only among the well-off.
Factual axioms of morality appear to matter less now and intellectual determination supersedes all human wisdom. And the tasks of “officers of the watch” continue being myriad in the face of the rising rate of crime. Yet, oftentimes, there is something in hearts of judges that was supposed to impel them to understand the nature of cases; only that it may just be ignored.
Poems Miscellaneous
Illusions of love
Away many miles even you may be,
In my heart pain mounts, breaking away
Its delicate bits glued together for free
By love from you who for my comfort has final say.
For many days with me you may live,
But yet for you my passion glows like fire.
For me you were made tho’ you may not believe,
That’s why you can’t suppress in you that desire.
A day without you but strengthens my soul;
Thus, yours too needs to face the truth,
As there at the altar no vow was made
That when comes your death mine too peeps.
Two are two
All I have for you is my heart, nothing else.
Now and then the feeling is renewed;
Although life exists only in us two;
But as for me, none is there other than you;
Yet be not conceited for separately we were made;
And alone each will be claimed.
Before our meet I was strong,
But now my life has been weakened.
Thus I find this desire for you absurd;
For what does it benefit me now?
When all truth is I am and you are.
They that say forever they shall be one
Only display a real sense of artificiality,
For out of two one make will never be pure;
And out of two shall be two, nothing more.
Hence even now we are two, not one,
For my heart is all what makes me,
And your heart all what makes you;
Whose merging can only bring death.
Thus my stand stands: two are two, never one.
Feel my pulse
Feel my pulse and append some commentary.
Does it mean anything to you now?
Tell me the truth and unburden me now;
For all I need is a true answer from you,
That I may concede defeat or celebrate win.
Look into my eyes and observe something.
Is there any reflection of love that goes into yours?
Hide nothing and put my mind at ease;
As I may be fooled by my own distant illusions
Of hopes that are coined out of wishes.
Feel my pulse and feel my life.
Is it normal when swift it is now?
And abnormal when slow it was yesterday?
An honest answer can come from you only;
You who controls my life, even in your ignorance.
Oh, pink rose!
Oh, pink rose you bring me real joy!
As the air you scent for me, no one else.
Among roses of all hues you stand out,
And render all nature but useless;
For you alone were made with all care.
But for me you are not yet one
And this way I feel it good and real;
For when I come, pluck and keep you,
Your beauty I may no longer adore.
Oh pink rose, be there in the field for my joy
To hold you between my fingers I can’t afford.
Yet all I want is no man should pluck you,
And own you as his own for a day or more;
For that way, I may not adore you anymore,
In fear of breaking a holy commandment;
As I have within my heart proved it
That I can’t own you, yet I can’t avoid you,
Then my life may as well be on the balance.
From me comes this warning
I am but a silent observer placed far and high,
Yet among you my eyes roam boldly.
From me comes a message the time is nigh;
For you whom I love fondly.
Now be to you time to straighten your ways,
That such may you after passing on have joy,
For having lived enough even for a few years;
And truly your king you shall not annoy.
From me quickly comes this message;
A message but extolling sincere warning,
That there in The Book you search a passage,
For your real life to be devoid of groaning.
Worst be times for he that has condemned
With or without ignorance, yet be the scripture
That for all message of warning has proclaimed.
But for they that wait, filled with hope for rapture;
Are required for the holy place to bring more in,
And cast wide the net for fulfilment of the commission.
Hence for them even after death joyful life may begin;
As judgment will be cast without error or omission.
Away many miles even you may be,
In my heart pain mounts, breaking away
Its delicate bits glued together for free
By love from you who for my comfort has final say.
For many days with me you may live,
But yet for you my passion glows like fire.
For me you were made tho’ you may not believe,
That’s why you can’t suppress in you that desire.
A day without you but strengthens my soul;
Thus, yours too needs to face the truth,
As there at the altar no vow was made
That when comes your death mine too peeps.
Two are two
All I have for you is my heart, nothing else.
Now and then the feeling is renewed;
Although life exists only in us two;
But as for me, none is there other than you;
Yet be not conceited for separately we were made;
And alone each will be claimed.
Before our meet I was strong,
But now my life has been weakened.
Thus I find this desire for you absurd;
For what does it benefit me now?
When all truth is I am and you are.
They that say forever they shall be one
Only display a real sense of artificiality,
For out of two one make will never be pure;
And out of two shall be two, nothing more.
Hence even now we are two, not one,
For my heart is all what makes me,
And your heart all what makes you;
Whose merging can only bring death.
Thus my stand stands: two are two, never one.
Feel my pulse
Feel my pulse and append some commentary.
Does it mean anything to you now?
Tell me the truth and unburden me now;
For all I need is a true answer from you,
That I may concede defeat or celebrate win.
Look into my eyes and observe something.
Is there any reflection of love that goes into yours?
Hide nothing and put my mind at ease;
As I may be fooled by my own distant illusions
Of hopes that are coined out of wishes.
Feel my pulse and feel my life.
Is it normal when swift it is now?
And abnormal when slow it was yesterday?
An honest answer can come from you only;
You who controls my life, even in your ignorance.
Oh, pink rose!
Oh, pink rose you bring me real joy!
As the air you scent for me, no one else.
Among roses of all hues you stand out,
And render all nature but useless;
For you alone were made with all care.
But for me you are not yet one
And this way I feel it good and real;
For when I come, pluck and keep you,
Your beauty I may no longer adore.
Oh pink rose, be there in the field for my joy
To hold you between my fingers I can’t afford.
Yet all I want is no man should pluck you,
And own you as his own for a day or more;
For that way, I may not adore you anymore,
In fear of breaking a holy commandment;
As I have within my heart proved it
That I can’t own you, yet I can’t avoid you,
Then my life may as well be on the balance.
From me comes this warning
I am but a silent observer placed far and high,
Yet among you my eyes roam boldly.
From me comes a message the time is nigh;
For you whom I love fondly.
Now be to you time to straighten your ways,
That such may you after passing on have joy,
For having lived enough even for a few years;
And truly your king you shall not annoy.
From me quickly comes this message;
A message but extolling sincere warning,
That there in The Book you search a passage,
For your real life to be devoid of groaning.
Worst be times for he that has condemned
With or without ignorance, yet be the scripture
That for all message of warning has proclaimed.
But for they that wait, filled with hope for rapture;
Are required for the holy place to bring more in,
And cast wide the net for fulfilment of the commission.
Hence for them even after death joyful life may begin;
As judgment will be cast without error or omission.
The Detective
Detective Kayange sat serenely behind his cypress desk thinking about how he would present himself before this woman whom he had been assigned to investigate. Her name was Anganile and she had been dating Mongololo, the General Manager of a certain downtown hotel, for three years now and they were planning to tie the knot the following month.
Mongololo had been tipped by some of his workmates that his fiancée was having an affair with another man. But he was not a man who would rush to act based on rumours but always wanted to establish the truth.
Above everything, he loved Anganile so much he never thought she would ever double-cross him.
Anganile was a raving beauty. Her gleaming ivories were like pellets of frozen rain. Her gentle smiley countenance spoke volumes of how much she cared for it. As she walked in the streets, men would stop dead in their tracks to feast their eyes on this wonderful creation of nature.
Only those who were confident enough had the guts to greet her. Men feared her like hell, yet she was a very sociable woman according to circumstances.
Now Kayange had been given this task by Mongololo to find out the truth concerning her alleged promiscuity. It was part of his profession and he could hardly turn down the assignment. After all, he was known to be a very competent detective, but somehow he thought that this special assignment was too difficult.
Never in his challenging profession had he ever come across such an episode which appeared to be thick with labyrinths. He knew that he was dealing with the future of both Mongololo and Anganile and that the former would kill him if he messed things up, while the latter would be terribly angry with him should she learn that her husband-to-be had jilted her because some nosy parker called a detective had fed him with some negative information.
And to another extent, the detective decided that Mongololo would not believe it should he come to him and tell him that all the rumours about Anganile going out with other men were just baseless.
Kayange pulled a file from the lowest compartment of a desk drawer, subsequently discarding some old newspapers and magazines. Holding one magazine in front of himself, he flipped through its pages purposelessly. Then he dropped it back in the drawer.
The vague impression on his mind that could be easily read on his face meant nothing progressed in him better than the usual reflex actions which he could not control. He had not been tipped by anyone what he would rank a good clue so far because he did not want anyone to interfere with his investigation.
No informant was needed as far as the secrecy of the investigation was concerned, he assured himself.
He walked out of his office with gentle springs in his measured steps and headed towards Anganile’s workplace where he though that the investigation had to start. She was working as a sales officer at a certain company which was about 200 metres away from the detective’s office.
He just thought that the investigation had to start there without making any premeditated plans. He believed that sometimes spontaneous plans worked best in his profession.
A few minutes later, he found himself on the road that connected with the one leading to Anganile’s workplace. Across the road stood a three-storey complex where the woman worked.
“So far so good,” the detective mumbled to himself as he neared the complex.
Suddenly he became unfocussed and disorganised but still he did not completely flinch from doing the assignment. He stood in front of the doorway into Anganile’s office and seemed to lose all the confidence with which he had started.
Then he knocked at the door gently and a soft feminine voice ushered him in.
After some formal greeting, Detective Kayange said to Anganile: “I am the General Manager of Tuliko Bank and have heard quite a lot about you; how you diligently work and how you have helped your organisation make outstanding profits this year.”
“What do you mean sir,” asked Anganile.
“Anyway, to be frank, my coming here is to ask you if you may consider joining our bank as an employee. I know that it might surprise you but sometimes where there is honey, you don’t necessarily need to wait till the bees leave; for they cannot leave when the honey is still there.”
Anganile smiled. She had always looked forward to the day when her welfare would be improved and here was this grand opportunity which she could hardly despise. It was a stepping stone into a brighter future, a future filled with glory.
“What should I do to return the gesture?” she wanted to know.
“You can have dinner with me tonight if you don’t already have an appointment.”
“I am a married woman.”
“Wow, I never knew. Alright what do you think you can do which you will be comfortable with?” He decided that perhaps it could have been better if he had brought with him the recorder so that he would record the whole conversation.
Anganile just smiled without saying a word. It was clear that the ball was in the detective’s court. The woman just moved to and fro in her swivel chair. The detective decided that he had discovered enough about this woman but the only problem was that he did not have any evidence that she was promiscuous.
He wanted to leave, but her beam was so inviting and he could hardly ignore it.
“Come,” she beckoned him pointing at her lap.
Who was Kayange to reject the offer? Who was he to discount this angel beckoning him, this bird which had perched itself on a snare which he had never set. He was human, born of fresh and blood and he had feelings like all humans. He ambled towards her and looked in her roving eyes.
“Come and sit here,” she repeated and pointed at her left thigh this time around.
He resisted but finally he fell to the temptations of the fresh. He forgot that he was on a mission and that he had a family at home which relied on him on everything. The two were like they had been lovers for a decade, yet they had only met that day.
That marked the beginning of a love relationship. Mongololo kept waiting for Detective Kayange to give him the final information as soon as possible. After waiting for too long he decided to visit the detective and ask how far he had gone with the investigation.
But when he arrived at the detective’s office, he was told that he had gone out. Then he decided to go to his fiancée’s office. There he found the detective sitting on Anganile’s lap comfortably reading a newspaper. Mongololo could not believe his eyes. What the hell was going on? Why the hell would Kayange do that to him? He collapsed.
Mongololo had been tipped by some of his workmates that his fiancée was having an affair with another man. But he was not a man who would rush to act based on rumours but always wanted to establish the truth.
Above everything, he loved Anganile so much he never thought she would ever double-cross him.
Anganile was a raving beauty. Her gleaming ivories were like pellets of frozen rain. Her gentle smiley countenance spoke volumes of how much she cared for it. As she walked in the streets, men would stop dead in their tracks to feast their eyes on this wonderful creation of nature.
Only those who were confident enough had the guts to greet her. Men feared her like hell, yet she was a very sociable woman according to circumstances.
Now Kayange had been given this task by Mongololo to find out the truth concerning her alleged promiscuity. It was part of his profession and he could hardly turn down the assignment. After all, he was known to be a very competent detective, but somehow he thought that this special assignment was too difficult.
Never in his challenging profession had he ever come across such an episode which appeared to be thick with labyrinths. He knew that he was dealing with the future of both Mongololo and Anganile and that the former would kill him if he messed things up, while the latter would be terribly angry with him should she learn that her husband-to-be had jilted her because some nosy parker called a detective had fed him with some negative information.
And to another extent, the detective decided that Mongololo would not believe it should he come to him and tell him that all the rumours about Anganile going out with other men were just baseless.
Kayange pulled a file from the lowest compartment of a desk drawer, subsequently discarding some old newspapers and magazines. Holding one magazine in front of himself, he flipped through its pages purposelessly. Then he dropped it back in the drawer.
The vague impression on his mind that could be easily read on his face meant nothing progressed in him better than the usual reflex actions which he could not control. He had not been tipped by anyone what he would rank a good clue so far because he did not want anyone to interfere with his investigation.
No informant was needed as far as the secrecy of the investigation was concerned, he assured himself.
He walked out of his office with gentle springs in his measured steps and headed towards Anganile’s workplace where he though that the investigation had to start. She was working as a sales officer at a certain company which was about 200 metres away from the detective’s office.
He just thought that the investigation had to start there without making any premeditated plans. He believed that sometimes spontaneous plans worked best in his profession.
A few minutes later, he found himself on the road that connected with the one leading to Anganile’s workplace. Across the road stood a three-storey complex where the woman worked.
“So far so good,” the detective mumbled to himself as he neared the complex.
Suddenly he became unfocussed and disorganised but still he did not completely flinch from doing the assignment. He stood in front of the doorway into Anganile’s office and seemed to lose all the confidence with which he had started.
Then he knocked at the door gently and a soft feminine voice ushered him in.
After some formal greeting, Detective Kayange said to Anganile: “I am the General Manager of Tuliko Bank and have heard quite a lot about you; how you diligently work and how you have helped your organisation make outstanding profits this year.”
“What do you mean sir,” asked Anganile.
“Anyway, to be frank, my coming here is to ask you if you may consider joining our bank as an employee. I know that it might surprise you but sometimes where there is honey, you don’t necessarily need to wait till the bees leave; for they cannot leave when the honey is still there.”
Anganile smiled. She had always looked forward to the day when her welfare would be improved and here was this grand opportunity which she could hardly despise. It was a stepping stone into a brighter future, a future filled with glory.
“What should I do to return the gesture?” she wanted to know.
“You can have dinner with me tonight if you don’t already have an appointment.”
“I am a married woman.”
“Wow, I never knew. Alright what do you think you can do which you will be comfortable with?” He decided that perhaps it could have been better if he had brought with him the recorder so that he would record the whole conversation.
Anganile just smiled without saying a word. It was clear that the ball was in the detective’s court. The woman just moved to and fro in her swivel chair. The detective decided that he had discovered enough about this woman but the only problem was that he did not have any evidence that she was promiscuous.
He wanted to leave, but her beam was so inviting and he could hardly ignore it.
“Come,” she beckoned him pointing at her lap.
Who was Kayange to reject the offer? Who was he to discount this angel beckoning him, this bird which had perched itself on a snare which he had never set. He was human, born of fresh and blood and he had feelings like all humans. He ambled towards her and looked in her roving eyes.
“Come and sit here,” she repeated and pointed at her left thigh this time around.
He resisted but finally he fell to the temptations of the fresh. He forgot that he was on a mission and that he had a family at home which relied on him on everything. The two were like they had been lovers for a decade, yet they had only met that day.
That marked the beginning of a love relationship. Mongololo kept waiting for Detective Kayange to give him the final information as soon as possible. After waiting for too long he decided to visit the detective and ask how far he had gone with the investigation.
But when he arrived at the detective’s office, he was told that he had gone out. Then he decided to go to his fiancée’s office. There he found the detective sitting on Anganile’s lap comfortably reading a newspaper. Mongololo could not believe his eyes. What the hell was going on? Why the hell would Kayange do that to him? He collapsed.
Home is Best for All Mankind
Those of us who are keenly aware of how life out of a defined home – life in the midst of strangers – is, might not consider it wise to express any disapproval towards government’s desire to have street kids relocated to their homes, or at least a place they can comfortably call home.
Street kids might spend their nights under roofs, eat good food from their daily alms and appear to be satisfied with how they live; yet above everything, what they need most is a place they can call home; a place where they will feel deep within their souls that they belong.
It is a fact that they always desire to have someone around them on whom they can lean when misfortunes strike. Yet, while they remain in streets – in places where they are reportedly abused in different ways – such tidings remain as far-fetched as gold dust. Life there in the streets treats them unfairly – or may be fairly, since that is its nature: peace, comfort and harmony can never be guaranteed in streets.
From the beginning of this millennium, or thereabout, street kids – both males and females – have been constant victims of all kinds of abuse, both physical and sexual. And since the perpetrators have not always been successfully brought to book, it is wise to take these kids away from harm’s way. They are human beings, and nothing separates them from the indisputable position of them being such in all kinds.
They have taken streets to be their homes because that is where they feel they can find the ultimate hope for their survival. Some of them have been driven out of their real homes by their own parents and are left with only one option: to call the streets home. They can be forgiven for that, for that is where they find hope and comfort; that is wherever they hang, and that is where they always feel they belong.
Street kids have perceptions of all mankind and their feelings are not completely manipulated by the illusory comfort of life in the streets. They, at one point in time, develop a sentimental longing towards home. This is their real home where they have to belong; and in fact, where they always feel they belong.
We, as human beings, might take different directions and stay in different places, but something will still haunt us. This is the desire to go back home. Of course, some have argued before that home is wherever one feels comfortable and wherever one finds all what they need; nevertheless, real home will always beckon us towards it, naturally.
And in streets, no one belongs, even if some may feel they do. That is why street kids duly need to be taken back home. All we need to do is to welcome them and give them an embrace of brotherhood or sisterhood. The social status of the families in which they were born, their physical condition or the state of whether they have parents or not should not alien them from mankind; they too, are human beings and need to belong among human beings.
There are parents who fell out with their kids, and subsequently resorted to chasing them out of their homes. My plea to them is to forgive them and forget everything so that a new life – a renewed one – may blossom between or among them. This might be the most intriguing experiences of their lives. Let the kid/s be received back like the biblical prodigal son and be embraced with many smiles. That will again make them feel human; it will revive the hope they once had and open a new chapter in their lives.
One thing that will always remain so is that no human being is completely detached from the race of mankind, for by default, he is part of it. All street kids, no matter where they were born, have some relations or, at least someone so close to them that they can take them as their next father or mother or brother or sister. If we have the potential of living with them, let us do so and save the futures of these street kids.
Of course, there are some street kids – and they are likely to be many for that matter – who may present some resistance towards the ‘relocation’ exercise. Such kids need some psychological counseling so that they understand that no one belongs to the streets. They might have undergone terrible experiences which drove them to the streets, but the most important thing is that we tell them that there is always a better home beyond the streets; a home that smells sweet because it is always designed to be home.
Time has come – and is fully ripe – that street kids should have the opportunity of redefining home. They should be taken home, where they can, at least be assured of safety and security, and where they can take pride and understand that it is always home even if it may not be so homely. Above everything, street kids, too, like all of us, need a place they can comfortably call home, for home is best for all mankind.
Street kids might spend their nights under roofs, eat good food from their daily alms and appear to be satisfied with how they live; yet above everything, what they need most is a place they can call home; a place where they will feel deep within their souls that they belong.
It is a fact that they always desire to have someone around them on whom they can lean when misfortunes strike. Yet, while they remain in streets – in places where they are reportedly abused in different ways – such tidings remain as far-fetched as gold dust. Life there in the streets treats them unfairly – or may be fairly, since that is its nature: peace, comfort and harmony can never be guaranteed in streets.
From the beginning of this millennium, or thereabout, street kids – both males and females – have been constant victims of all kinds of abuse, both physical and sexual. And since the perpetrators have not always been successfully brought to book, it is wise to take these kids away from harm’s way. They are human beings, and nothing separates them from the indisputable position of them being such in all kinds.
They have taken streets to be their homes because that is where they feel they can find the ultimate hope for their survival. Some of them have been driven out of their real homes by their own parents and are left with only one option: to call the streets home. They can be forgiven for that, for that is where they find hope and comfort; that is wherever they hang, and that is where they always feel they belong.
Street kids have perceptions of all mankind and their feelings are not completely manipulated by the illusory comfort of life in the streets. They, at one point in time, develop a sentimental longing towards home. This is their real home where they have to belong; and in fact, where they always feel they belong.
We, as human beings, might take different directions and stay in different places, but something will still haunt us. This is the desire to go back home. Of course, some have argued before that home is wherever one feels comfortable and wherever one finds all what they need; nevertheless, real home will always beckon us towards it, naturally.
And in streets, no one belongs, even if some may feel they do. That is why street kids duly need to be taken back home. All we need to do is to welcome them and give them an embrace of brotherhood or sisterhood. The social status of the families in which they were born, their physical condition or the state of whether they have parents or not should not alien them from mankind; they too, are human beings and need to belong among human beings.
There are parents who fell out with their kids, and subsequently resorted to chasing them out of their homes. My plea to them is to forgive them and forget everything so that a new life – a renewed one – may blossom between or among them. This might be the most intriguing experiences of their lives. Let the kid/s be received back like the biblical prodigal son and be embraced with many smiles. That will again make them feel human; it will revive the hope they once had and open a new chapter in their lives.
One thing that will always remain so is that no human being is completely detached from the race of mankind, for by default, he is part of it. All street kids, no matter where they were born, have some relations or, at least someone so close to them that they can take them as their next father or mother or brother or sister. If we have the potential of living with them, let us do so and save the futures of these street kids.
Of course, there are some street kids – and they are likely to be many for that matter – who may present some resistance towards the ‘relocation’ exercise. Such kids need some psychological counseling so that they understand that no one belongs to the streets. They might have undergone terrible experiences which drove them to the streets, but the most important thing is that we tell them that there is always a better home beyond the streets; a home that smells sweet because it is always designed to be home.
Time has come – and is fully ripe – that street kids should have the opportunity of redefining home. They should be taken home, where they can, at least be assured of safety and security, and where they can take pride and understand that it is always home even if it may not be so homely. Above everything, street kids, too, like all of us, need a place they can comfortably call home, for home is best for all mankind.
Tragedy in our Midst
It is usually the nature of tragedy to strike when we least expect it; yet we always expect it – we always live with it – that is why we must strive to make things better. Always. On the other hand, we always need to avoid tragedy; that is if at all it can be avoided. Nevertheless, oftentimes, tragedy has proved to be beyond human wisdom; beyond all technological predictions – for it strikes even palaces which have maximum security.
Still more, if tragedy can, at all, at least be foretold, we must prepare for its coming. We must put in place precautionary measures of dealing with it because he will be ridiculed if it strikes us after an alarm has already been sounded.
There is some tragedy in our amidst. Our own actions have led to extreme weather conditions which we have never experienced before, and things are fast getting out of hand. The current climate change is not accidental; it was forewarned and all what we needed to do was to avoid all what precipitates it.
Yet, we never did; instead, we cut down trees carelessly and increased green house gas emissions and now things are falling apart. The whole scenario has turned against us now and human wisdom appears to be constantly failing.
Nevertheless, we still have alternatives which can help redress this global tragedy. We can reduce green house gas emissions and plant as many trees as possible. We, as the situation is now, appear to have no choice. In most African countries, the most viable mode of contributing towards the mitigation of climate change is by planting trees, and above all, by avoiding cutting them.
Some experts argue that the most painful thing about climate change is that most areas which are horribly affected are those that contribute the least to it. Some have gone further to point out that the effects of climate change are now coming when most African countries are making great strides in their development, industrial development inclusive. Well, whatever the case, climate change is here with us and we cannot fold our arms and wait for come what may.
We need to do something before things completely get out hand. The fact of who contributes most to climate change might be of little significance now: you don’t fail to take your poisoned child to hospital just because you are not the one who poisoned him. Your priority is to have him saved and you need to do everything within your capacity to ensure he is healed. Thus, it makes little or no sense at all to argue that we should not be concerned about mitigating the impacts of climate change just because we contribute very little to it.
Environmental organizations and, in fact, all of us should take a leading role in conserving the environment – for our own sake and for the sake of our children. Projections of when the real impacts of climate change will be terribly felt by mankind might be placed far from today, but it will still be time when those affected will remain human beings, and they will be our own children, for that matter. In fact, there might be no need to go as far as the future generations because the tragedy of climate change is evidently already here, and is affecting us who live now.
Charcoal and firewood businesses can be given alternatives, thereby curtailing the careless cutting down of trees. Otherwise, the current trend of charcoal and firewood business has gone to horrible levels and needs to be curbed without procrastination.
Another thing which worries most Malawians is that despite the fact that charcoal burning is a criminal offense, you will still find numerous bags of the same perched along the main roads of this country. And you sometimes wonder who is not doing whose job. Where do the sellers find the courage with which to fell numerous trees for charcoal burning if the fear of being found on the wrong side of the law is in them? It is clear that, much as the laws are there in the departments of forestry and wildlife, such laws are seldom put into practice.
Stakeholders can come in and help Malawi return to its roots. They can promote the lives of Malawians in different ways so that the green vegetation that is there in this country should not perish; hope should not be completely mutilated. The little that is there can be sustained.
In other instances, it appears most areas which were supposed to be protected are undergoing constant abuse in terms of cutting down trees and setting them on wild bushfires. Perhaps government, through the relevant ministry or departments, can do something about these areas because it is not always charcoal selling that is diminishing our vegetation.
Tragedy should only strike where it is beyond human wisdom. It is mostly true that on one hand it is not always anticipated. Still more, we live with it and sometimes deliberately choose to embrace it, yet it never comes singing calming songs; rather its main aim is to maim all hope. This tragedy of climate change is something that has been solely initiated by man – and subsequently needs to be redressed by man since it is affecting man himself.
Still more, if tragedy can, at all, at least be foretold, we must prepare for its coming. We must put in place precautionary measures of dealing with it because he will be ridiculed if it strikes us after an alarm has already been sounded.
There is some tragedy in our amidst. Our own actions have led to extreme weather conditions which we have never experienced before, and things are fast getting out of hand. The current climate change is not accidental; it was forewarned and all what we needed to do was to avoid all what precipitates it.
Yet, we never did; instead, we cut down trees carelessly and increased green house gas emissions and now things are falling apart. The whole scenario has turned against us now and human wisdom appears to be constantly failing.
Nevertheless, we still have alternatives which can help redress this global tragedy. We can reduce green house gas emissions and plant as many trees as possible. We, as the situation is now, appear to have no choice. In most African countries, the most viable mode of contributing towards the mitigation of climate change is by planting trees, and above all, by avoiding cutting them.
Some experts argue that the most painful thing about climate change is that most areas which are horribly affected are those that contribute the least to it. Some have gone further to point out that the effects of climate change are now coming when most African countries are making great strides in their development, industrial development inclusive. Well, whatever the case, climate change is here with us and we cannot fold our arms and wait for come what may.
We need to do something before things completely get out hand. The fact of who contributes most to climate change might be of little significance now: you don’t fail to take your poisoned child to hospital just because you are not the one who poisoned him. Your priority is to have him saved and you need to do everything within your capacity to ensure he is healed. Thus, it makes little or no sense at all to argue that we should not be concerned about mitigating the impacts of climate change just because we contribute very little to it.
Environmental organizations and, in fact, all of us should take a leading role in conserving the environment – for our own sake and for the sake of our children. Projections of when the real impacts of climate change will be terribly felt by mankind might be placed far from today, but it will still be time when those affected will remain human beings, and they will be our own children, for that matter. In fact, there might be no need to go as far as the future generations because the tragedy of climate change is evidently already here, and is affecting us who live now.
Charcoal and firewood businesses can be given alternatives, thereby curtailing the careless cutting down of trees. Otherwise, the current trend of charcoal and firewood business has gone to horrible levels and needs to be curbed without procrastination.
Another thing which worries most Malawians is that despite the fact that charcoal burning is a criminal offense, you will still find numerous bags of the same perched along the main roads of this country. And you sometimes wonder who is not doing whose job. Where do the sellers find the courage with which to fell numerous trees for charcoal burning if the fear of being found on the wrong side of the law is in them? It is clear that, much as the laws are there in the departments of forestry and wildlife, such laws are seldom put into practice.
Stakeholders can come in and help Malawi return to its roots. They can promote the lives of Malawians in different ways so that the green vegetation that is there in this country should not perish; hope should not be completely mutilated. The little that is there can be sustained.
In other instances, it appears most areas which were supposed to be protected are undergoing constant abuse in terms of cutting down trees and setting them on wild bushfires. Perhaps government, through the relevant ministry or departments, can do something about these areas because it is not always charcoal selling that is diminishing our vegetation.
Tragedy should only strike where it is beyond human wisdom. It is mostly true that on one hand it is not always anticipated. Still more, we live with it and sometimes deliberately choose to embrace it, yet it never comes singing calming songs; rather its main aim is to maim all hope. This tragedy of climate change is something that has been solely initiated by man – and subsequently needs to be redressed by man since it is affecting man himself.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
On FastCash Money Transfer
AUTHOR'S NOTE: THIS ARTICEL WAS PUBLISHED BY THE NATION ON SUNDAY
In a bid to be abreast of the times in this era of a very fast growing rate in science and technology, most service providers, ranging from mobile phone network providers to banks and other money institutions, always have new ideas to maximize the effectiveness of their services.
With mobile phone operators, they do everything possible to make sure they provide services which will be deemed to be the best by their subscribers. This appears to be the best marketing strategy.
One service provider that does not want to lag behind in terms of service delivery is the Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC). Considering that money sent through the telegram system takes a bit long to reach the recipient, MPC introduced one of the fastest ways of sending and receiving money branded FastCash Money Transfer.
The whole procedure can only take five minutes and the recipient will be brandishing the hard cash afterwards. The demands of the process are not very involving. In fact the one sending you the money can just tell you to go and collect the money the moment he finishes processing sending procedures.
With no strings attached, the process is a very convenient way of sending and receiving money. But much as the system is very convenient, it sometimes plays tricks with the recipients. This is largely due to the system itself and then the issue of power blackouts.
Sometimes you may go to the Post Office with the aim of receiving the money that has been sent to you only to be told that the information that you have been given is not correct.
For instance, the Postmaster will tell you that the ID number that you have been given does not match with any number on the computers. You insist that the sender of the money repeated the number several times to make sure you did not copy the wrong number and the postmaster – to help you? – advises you to come probably an hour later.
Yet you are supposed to use the money just now. So what is the essence of FastCash Money Transfer if one can not retrieve his money as soon as possible?
This is what happened to a certain colleague of mine. He was supposed to use the money for transport to a certain place where he had been invited for an interview but he could not get his money instantly.
The following day the young man went to the Post Office again to collect his monies but he was told that there was a power blackout and that the computers which contained all the information could hardly operate because there was no standby generator.
One wonders why MPC decided to introduce this ‘fast’ way of transferring money even in Post Offices where they have no alternatives in terms of power.
If MPC knew that the operation would be useless in cases of power blackouts, they should have mounted standby generators which would come into use in cases of blackouts.
It goes without saying that before a company introduces a service system, it first of all considers all the shortfalls of the system. I wonder whether MPC looked at the demerits of this system of transferring money in Post Offices that do not have standby generators.
It also appears that the implementation of the system has not been maximized because of the fact that computers sometimes fail to recognize certain information at first and then recognize the same information later..
In a bid to be abreast of the times in this era of a very fast growing rate in science and technology, most service providers, ranging from mobile phone network providers to banks and other money institutions, always have new ideas to maximize the effectiveness of their services.
With mobile phone operators, they do everything possible to make sure they provide services which will be deemed to be the best by their subscribers. This appears to be the best marketing strategy.
One service provider that does not want to lag behind in terms of service delivery is the Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC). Considering that money sent through the telegram system takes a bit long to reach the recipient, MPC introduced one of the fastest ways of sending and receiving money branded FastCash Money Transfer.
The whole procedure can only take five minutes and the recipient will be brandishing the hard cash afterwards. The demands of the process are not very involving. In fact the one sending you the money can just tell you to go and collect the money the moment he finishes processing sending procedures.
With no strings attached, the process is a very convenient way of sending and receiving money. But much as the system is very convenient, it sometimes plays tricks with the recipients. This is largely due to the system itself and then the issue of power blackouts.
Sometimes you may go to the Post Office with the aim of receiving the money that has been sent to you only to be told that the information that you have been given is not correct.
For instance, the Postmaster will tell you that the ID number that you have been given does not match with any number on the computers. You insist that the sender of the money repeated the number several times to make sure you did not copy the wrong number and the postmaster – to help you? – advises you to come probably an hour later.
Yet you are supposed to use the money just now. So what is the essence of FastCash Money Transfer if one can not retrieve his money as soon as possible?
This is what happened to a certain colleague of mine. He was supposed to use the money for transport to a certain place where he had been invited for an interview but he could not get his money instantly.
The following day the young man went to the Post Office again to collect his monies but he was told that there was a power blackout and that the computers which contained all the information could hardly operate because there was no standby generator.
One wonders why MPC decided to introduce this ‘fast’ way of transferring money even in Post Offices where they have no alternatives in terms of power.
If MPC knew that the operation would be useless in cases of power blackouts, they should have mounted standby generators which would come into use in cases of blackouts.
It goes without saying that before a company introduces a service system, it first of all considers all the shortfalls of the system. I wonder whether MPC looked at the demerits of this system of transferring money in Post Offices that do not have standby generators.
It also appears that the implementation of the system has not been maximized because of the fact that computers sometimes fail to recognize certain information at first and then recognize the same information later..
On Minubis Seating Capacity
When early last year government made a directive that all minibuses operating on the roads of Malawi should start carrying a maximum of three passengers per seat, smiles flitted across the faces of many Malawians who commute to and from different places using public transport.
On the other hand, it was a directive that aroused so much apprehension within the transport industry up to reaching a point where minibus operators decided to pack their vehicles in their garages and refused to take them to the roads for a week or so.
Government was mostly concerned about the peril that the lives of Malawians using public transport, minibuses in this case, were exposed to. With four passengers occupying one seat, road accidents were a dime a dozen and they were difficult to control, usually because the vehicles were overloaded. In simple terms, it is very difficult for a driver to swerve back into the road an overloaded vehicle that has deviated from the road than a ‘lightly-packed’ one.
In another instance, if passengers are packed like sardines, almost with no breathing space, chances of survival in an accident are very minimal. This is because they are already under panic and any mishap is likely to cause more havoc as they will be scrambling for space through which they can escape.
Government put all these dangers under a microscope and finally ordered that passengers’ lives should no longer be put in danger without cause. And the decree has had practical positive results since it was implemented.
But now the journey to the much-abhorred past is almost complete: minibus operators have reverted to the old system of carrying four passengers per seat, and like before February last year, the victim remains the poor Malawian who cannot afford to acquire a personal vehicle, and subsequently turns to public transport.
And the paradox of the whole thing is that this usually happens in the presence of traffic police officers. No wonder they have recently been declared the most corrupt entity of government.
All the conductor or the drive of the minibus that is carrying four passengers per seat has to do at a traffic police check-point is palm-grease the officer/s and the trip continues without much as hard work. This is done at the expense of the lives of passengers who are usually gagged by the conduct of the law enforcers since the conductor or the driver will not hear the passengers’ pleas because he has already dealt with the “biggest impediment”.
Sad to not also is the fact that while carrying four passengers per seat, instead of three, some minibus drivers over-speed as though they are carrying bales of clothes.
The avaricious desire to make more money in the “four-seat” lucrative minibus-transport business becomes the prevailing passion such that they instantly begin to yearn for another trip the moment the minibus starts off.
Although the fear for one’s life is the dominant image when it comes to minibus seating capacity, comfort too needs to be at the centre of consideration. It is very disheartening for a passenger to travel a journey of more than 100 kilometers on a worn-out minibus that is not even fit to be on the road.
Yet this is the very same minibus whose driver and conductor demand that three passengers per seat are not enough, but four. The passenger has no flicker of comfort and the whole journey becomes a burden on them.
Well, one might argue that on the part of worn-out, unfit minibuses, every passenger has the right which minibus to board. But the problem comes when one is in a hurry and wants to meet a deadline and they find that the next minibus to leave the terminal is the worn-out one. Do they have any choice in this case other than to jump onto the unfit vehicle? This is because minibus operators have their own special arrangement on which minibus is supposed to leave next.
But perhaps the blame has to be shifted onto the Road Traffic Directorate for issuing Certificates of Fitness (Cof) to vehicles that are not worth to operate on the roads of Malawi.
All in all, it is a clear fact that the prohibited seating plan in back in town. Minibus operators have reverted to the old system of carrying four passengers per seat despite government having abolished it last year, and traffic police officers are within the whole system and lack professionalism.
Of course, it should not be generalized here because there are others who are very competent and have no craving for bribes of whatever sort. Such officers need a pat on their backs.
But still more, reverting to the abolished system of carrying four passengers per seat in minibuses should not have been the case now. We were supposed to be moving forward in all aspects, not backtracking.
There are many issues that government needs to tackle now and the issue of minibuses carrying four passengers per seat should have been a dead letter now, but since it has resurfaced, government should have no option than to revisit it before it expands out of reach. Government needs to act quickly; the journey to the past is here again!
On the other hand, it was a directive that aroused so much apprehension within the transport industry up to reaching a point where minibus operators decided to pack their vehicles in their garages and refused to take them to the roads for a week or so.
Government was mostly concerned about the peril that the lives of Malawians using public transport, minibuses in this case, were exposed to. With four passengers occupying one seat, road accidents were a dime a dozen and they were difficult to control, usually because the vehicles were overloaded. In simple terms, it is very difficult for a driver to swerve back into the road an overloaded vehicle that has deviated from the road than a ‘lightly-packed’ one.
In another instance, if passengers are packed like sardines, almost with no breathing space, chances of survival in an accident are very minimal. This is because they are already under panic and any mishap is likely to cause more havoc as they will be scrambling for space through which they can escape.
Government put all these dangers under a microscope and finally ordered that passengers’ lives should no longer be put in danger without cause. And the decree has had practical positive results since it was implemented.
But now the journey to the much-abhorred past is almost complete: minibus operators have reverted to the old system of carrying four passengers per seat, and like before February last year, the victim remains the poor Malawian who cannot afford to acquire a personal vehicle, and subsequently turns to public transport.
And the paradox of the whole thing is that this usually happens in the presence of traffic police officers. No wonder they have recently been declared the most corrupt entity of government.
All the conductor or the drive of the minibus that is carrying four passengers per seat has to do at a traffic police check-point is palm-grease the officer/s and the trip continues without much as hard work. This is done at the expense of the lives of passengers who are usually gagged by the conduct of the law enforcers since the conductor or the driver will not hear the passengers’ pleas because he has already dealt with the “biggest impediment”.
Sad to not also is the fact that while carrying four passengers per seat, instead of three, some minibus drivers over-speed as though they are carrying bales of clothes.
The avaricious desire to make more money in the “four-seat” lucrative minibus-transport business becomes the prevailing passion such that they instantly begin to yearn for another trip the moment the minibus starts off.
Although the fear for one’s life is the dominant image when it comes to minibus seating capacity, comfort too needs to be at the centre of consideration. It is very disheartening for a passenger to travel a journey of more than 100 kilometers on a worn-out minibus that is not even fit to be on the road.
Yet this is the very same minibus whose driver and conductor demand that three passengers per seat are not enough, but four. The passenger has no flicker of comfort and the whole journey becomes a burden on them.
Well, one might argue that on the part of worn-out, unfit minibuses, every passenger has the right which minibus to board. But the problem comes when one is in a hurry and wants to meet a deadline and they find that the next minibus to leave the terminal is the worn-out one. Do they have any choice in this case other than to jump onto the unfit vehicle? This is because minibus operators have their own special arrangement on which minibus is supposed to leave next.
But perhaps the blame has to be shifted onto the Road Traffic Directorate for issuing Certificates of Fitness (Cof) to vehicles that are not worth to operate on the roads of Malawi.
All in all, it is a clear fact that the prohibited seating plan in back in town. Minibus operators have reverted to the old system of carrying four passengers per seat despite government having abolished it last year, and traffic police officers are within the whole system and lack professionalism.
Of course, it should not be generalized here because there are others who are very competent and have no craving for bribes of whatever sort. Such officers need a pat on their backs.
But still more, reverting to the abolished system of carrying four passengers per seat in minibuses should not have been the case now. We were supposed to be moving forward in all aspects, not backtracking.
There are many issues that government needs to tackle now and the issue of minibuses carrying four passengers per seat should have been a dead letter now, but since it has resurfaced, government should have no option than to revisit it before it expands out of reach. Government needs to act quickly; the journey to the past is here again!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
More Should be Done on Foreign Exploiters
Minister of Labour Yunus Mussa’s warning to foreign investors who are exploiting indigenous workers should obviously have promised some light at the end of the tunnel for the indigenous workers, and above all, most if not all Malawians who are aware of the kind of exploitation that local Malawians undergo at the hands of the foreign investors.
His observation that some foreigners who are issued with Trade and Temporary Employment Permits (TEPs) come into the country as investors, only to up end being traders, is also timely.
But this is just the inception of a long and big task and the real fact hinges on what step the ministry is going to take next, now that the observations have been made.
In Malawi, we have been very much used to mere rhetorical speeches by the authorities and the trend has become a moral axiom, such that even if the speeches seldom translate into fruition, everything appears to be taken as normal. Threats are issued, memorandums of understanding signed, yet afterwards, no tangible change is seen on the ground.
It is an inevitable fact that President Bingu wa Mutharika’s first and primary priority is to steer this country out of the jaws of poverty to prosperity. He has repeated this now and then and in his capacity as the leader of this country, he has put into place calculated measures that will help him realize his dream; a dream that is supposed to be shared by all Malawians.
Any country’s success stems from the fact that its citizens are living comfortable lives so that they help in the development of their country as a whole. The citizens also need to live lives that are free from disease.
The president has always made certain that Malawians are not exploited by anyone in whatever way, yet from facts, this appears to be mere rhetorical speech which but appears to be taken seriously by some authorities as envisaged from what Mussa has done.
Mutharika has not hesitated to chase away cash crop buyers who want to exploit poor farmers who work tirelessly on their fields just to earn some little bucks. The president’s desire has always been that farmers and, of course, all Malawians in different occupations should reap what they deserve instead of some fellows capitalizing on something that they never toiled for.
It is clear that Malawi is one country whose bilateral connections with other countries are so strong that foreigners can easily enter into the country and start operating any kind of business they desire.
However, this is not the case in most African countries, where most of them have defined businesses that may be done by foreigners while some other businesses are reserved for the natives.
For example, in Ghana, foreigners are not allowed to operate small-scale businesses at the expense of locals. But this is so prevalent in Malawi such that locals succumb to the pressure and finally give up. Hence, they fail to develop their lives in their own country.
Foreigners have reached the point of even operating small businesses like restaurants and small retail shops whose capital cannot even exceed K50, 000. This is so sad! I must be understood here; I do not intend to mean that foreigners should not be allowed to operate businesses in Malawi.
All I mean is that they should perhaps deal in big businesses which will bring forex into the country; for what does the nation benefit from foreign traders operating restaurants in the suburban areas of our country?
These are businesses that are supposed to be operated by locals, but when these foreigners come onto the scene, they tramp over the locals to such an extent that the locals fail to cope with the pressure and finally just give up.
For the improvement of their lives, native Malawians need to be given the first priority as far as the welfare of their lives is concerned. Lives of Malawians cannot improve if they are not allowed to have a chance of operating small-scale businesses in their own country.
After all, government has always been committed to giving locals loans under the Malawi Rural Development Fund (Mardef) so that local Malawians should engage in small-scale businesses for the betterment of their lives. The natives fail to prosper in the small-scale businesses because they compete against foreigners who import cheaper goods from their home countries.
It is not my aim to precipitate hatred between Malawians and foreigners, but rather to truly assess a very crucial, yet delicate issue, that is neglected by many. Many people, including government, know what local Malawians in small-scale businesses go through, but they deliberately ignore everything, while they have the power to act.
Let us face facts here: what should Malawians trade in if the small-scale businesses are being done by foreigners? One would expect the foreigners only to trade in big businesses like wholesale shops, manufacturing industries and to be contractors, just to mention a few.
Government can do something about the increasing number of foreigners operating small businesses in this country because this is exploitation just wearing a new face. The fight against poverty cannot be successful unless native Malawians who should develop this country have a chance of operating small-scale businesses.
This is an issue that needs to be confronted and examined with a sober mind; otherwise, we will wake to a rude awakening one day to find that no Malawians can be found operating any kind of business in their own country.
His observation that some foreigners who are issued with Trade and Temporary Employment Permits (TEPs) come into the country as investors, only to up end being traders, is also timely.
But this is just the inception of a long and big task and the real fact hinges on what step the ministry is going to take next, now that the observations have been made.
In Malawi, we have been very much used to mere rhetorical speeches by the authorities and the trend has become a moral axiom, such that even if the speeches seldom translate into fruition, everything appears to be taken as normal. Threats are issued, memorandums of understanding signed, yet afterwards, no tangible change is seen on the ground.
It is an inevitable fact that President Bingu wa Mutharika’s first and primary priority is to steer this country out of the jaws of poverty to prosperity. He has repeated this now and then and in his capacity as the leader of this country, he has put into place calculated measures that will help him realize his dream; a dream that is supposed to be shared by all Malawians.
Any country’s success stems from the fact that its citizens are living comfortable lives so that they help in the development of their country as a whole. The citizens also need to live lives that are free from disease.
The president has always made certain that Malawians are not exploited by anyone in whatever way, yet from facts, this appears to be mere rhetorical speech which but appears to be taken seriously by some authorities as envisaged from what Mussa has done.
Mutharika has not hesitated to chase away cash crop buyers who want to exploit poor farmers who work tirelessly on their fields just to earn some little bucks. The president’s desire has always been that farmers and, of course, all Malawians in different occupations should reap what they deserve instead of some fellows capitalizing on something that they never toiled for.
It is clear that Malawi is one country whose bilateral connections with other countries are so strong that foreigners can easily enter into the country and start operating any kind of business they desire.
However, this is not the case in most African countries, where most of them have defined businesses that may be done by foreigners while some other businesses are reserved for the natives.
For example, in Ghana, foreigners are not allowed to operate small-scale businesses at the expense of locals. But this is so prevalent in Malawi such that locals succumb to the pressure and finally give up. Hence, they fail to develop their lives in their own country.
Foreigners have reached the point of even operating small businesses like restaurants and small retail shops whose capital cannot even exceed K50, 000. This is so sad! I must be understood here; I do not intend to mean that foreigners should not be allowed to operate businesses in Malawi.
All I mean is that they should perhaps deal in big businesses which will bring forex into the country; for what does the nation benefit from foreign traders operating restaurants in the suburban areas of our country?
These are businesses that are supposed to be operated by locals, but when these foreigners come onto the scene, they tramp over the locals to such an extent that the locals fail to cope with the pressure and finally just give up.
For the improvement of their lives, native Malawians need to be given the first priority as far as the welfare of their lives is concerned. Lives of Malawians cannot improve if they are not allowed to have a chance of operating small-scale businesses in their own country.
After all, government has always been committed to giving locals loans under the Malawi Rural Development Fund (Mardef) so that local Malawians should engage in small-scale businesses for the betterment of their lives. The natives fail to prosper in the small-scale businesses because they compete against foreigners who import cheaper goods from their home countries.
It is not my aim to precipitate hatred between Malawians and foreigners, but rather to truly assess a very crucial, yet delicate issue, that is neglected by many. Many people, including government, know what local Malawians in small-scale businesses go through, but they deliberately ignore everything, while they have the power to act.
Let us face facts here: what should Malawians trade in if the small-scale businesses are being done by foreigners? One would expect the foreigners only to trade in big businesses like wholesale shops, manufacturing industries and to be contractors, just to mention a few.
Government can do something about the increasing number of foreigners operating small businesses in this country because this is exploitation just wearing a new face. The fight against poverty cannot be successful unless native Malawians who should develop this country have a chance of operating small-scale businesses.
This is an issue that needs to be confronted and examined with a sober mind; otherwise, we will wake to a rude awakening one day to find that no Malawians can be found operating any kind of business in their own country.
Clear the Subsidy Mess
Although the farm input subsidy coupons have already started being distributed, it seems there are still some anomalies in the programme. Up to now, to a certain extent, the programme appears to have brought so many divisions, doubts and complications among Malawians.
Since the good gesture came onto the scene, it has been rocked with corruption and mismanagement subsequently ending up benefiting the wrong people while those for whom it was meant cry foul. Of course, it is likely that every new system that is being introduced may involve some anomalies, but these anomalies are supposed to be a stepping-stone for the betterment of the system.
Hence, it is not normal to observe that four years or so after the subsidy programme was introduced, complaints from different quarters continue coming out as regards management of the system.
At one point, the clergy in Blantyre were given coupons which they were supposed to distribute to their faithful. Obviously, this should not be one of the objectives of the programme. It is clear that there are rules that govern the programme and no one would expect to find a rule that stipulates that the faithful are supposed to benefit from the programme.
If it is there, then it is totally misplaced! The whole thing appeared to be just a political move aimed at wooing the support of the faithful since that was prior to the last general elections. Otherwise, there is no other argument that can justify such an action.
But was whoever gave the clergy the coupons double-sure that they would be duly distributed to the faithful? The only problem in Malawi is that everything that is being done by, about or for politicians becomes political even if it was not naturally political at the onset.
That is why politics sometimes dominates events that have nothing to do with the same. Religious activities are politicized; funeral ceremonies are politicized; development programmes are politicized; everything in Malawi falls under politics.
Last year Bob Khamisa was accused of giving coupons to UDF’s Phillip Bwanali and the former minister was stripped of his position after the scandal was uncovered. But what would happen if the truth about Khamisa’s action remained underlying? Obviously it would be as though nothing happened at all!
And it should be the case that Khamisa was not the only one who was involved in that kind of scam. In fact it was revealed that cabinet ministers had been given a certain number of coupons which they were at liberty to give to whoever they desired.
It is obvious that those cabinet ministers who had estates used the coupons to buy subsidized farm inputs (which were meant for the poor) for their cash crops while the needy Malawian somewhere continued basking in the agony of poverty precipitated by hunger.
This should really be pathetic! Such is the irony of the farm input subsidy programme. Sometimes the richest has access to the same while the poorest continues crying foul.
Another big problem which has rocked the farm input subsidy programme is that of ghost villagers. It has been observed several times that village headmen include on the list of beneficiaries names of villagers who are non-existent, with the aim of embezzling farm input subsidy coupons which they would sell afterwards.
This is a very serious problem because it is theft by all means and must be dealt with as such. It is significant that everyone including traditional leaders and politicians and the clergy know who is supposed to benefit from the subsidized farm inputs.
If what government said at the very onset of the programme is anything to go by, the poor people are the ones who are supposed to benefit from the programme, (not politicians, village headmen or the clergy).
There are many other anomalies in the programme which cannot be exhausted. Somewhere some needy Malawians who were supposed to benefit from government’s subsidized farm inputs failed to do so because the inputs had run out at selling depots while the coupons were still with the beneficiaries who but never benefited.
This automatically begs the question of where the farm inputs, especially fertilizer, had gone when the quantity sold was supposed to be proportional to the number of coupons produced.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon government to clear the mess that is rocking the programme. It will smack of negligence and laxity on the part of government when Malawians see that the mess that was there when the subsidy programme was just being introduced is still there up to now, especially considering that President Bingu wa Mutharika admitted that the mess is indeed there.
Since the good gesture came onto the scene, it has been rocked with corruption and mismanagement subsequently ending up benefiting the wrong people while those for whom it was meant cry foul. Of course, it is likely that every new system that is being introduced may involve some anomalies, but these anomalies are supposed to be a stepping-stone for the betterment of the system.
Hence, it is not normal to observe that four years or so after the subsidy programme was introduced, complaints from different quarters continue coming out as regards management of the system.
At one point, the clergy in Blantyre were given coupons which they were supposed to distribute to their faithful. Obviously, this should not be one of the objectives of the programme. It is clear that there are rules that govern the programme and no one would expect to find a rule that stipulates that the faithful are supposed to benefit from the programme.
If it is there, then it is totally misplaced! The whole thing appeared to be just a political move aimed at wooing the support of the faithful since that was prior to the last general elections. Otherwise, there is no other argument that can justify such an action.
But was whoever gave the clergy the coupons double-sure that they would be duly distributed to the faithful? The only problem in Malawi is that everything that is being done by, about or for politicians becomes political even if it was not naturally political at the onset.
That is why politics sometimes dominates events that have nothing to do with the same. Religious activities are politicized; funeral ceremonies are politicized; development programmes are politicized; everything in Malawi falls under politics.
Last year Bob Khamisa was accused of giving coupons to UDF’s Phillip Bwanali and the former minister was stripped of his position after the scandal was uncovered. But what would happen if the truth about Khamisa’s action remained underlying? Obviously it would be as though nothing happened at all!
And it should be the case that Khamisa was not the only one who was involved in that kind of scam. In fact it was revealed that cabinet ministers had been given a certain number of coupons which they were at liberty to give to whoever they desired.
It is obvious that those cabinet ministers who had estates used the coupons to buy subsidized farm inputs (which were meant for the poor) for their cash crops while the needy Malawian somewhere continued basking in the agony of poverty precipitated by hunger.
This should really be pathetic! Such is the irony of the farm input subsidy programme. Sometimes the richest has access to the same while the poorest continues crying foul.
Another big problem which has rocked the farm input subsidy programme is that of ghost villagers. It has been observed several times that village headmen include on the list of beneficiaries names of villagers who are non-existent, with the aim of embezzling farm input subsidy coupons which they would sell afterwards.
This is a very serious problem because it is theft by all means and must be dealt with as such. It is significant that everyone including traditional leaders and politicians and the clergy know who is supposed to benefit from the subsidized farm inputs.
If what government said at the very onset of the programme is anything to go by, the poor people are the ones who are supposed to benefit from the programme, (not politicians, village headmen or the clergy).
There are many other anomalies in the programme which cannot be exhausted. Somewhere some needy Malawians who were supposed to benefit from government’s subsidized farm inputs failed to do so because the inputs had run out at selling depots while the coupons were still with the beneficiaries who but never benefited.
This automatically begs the question of where the farm inputs, especially fertilizer, had gone when the quantity sold was supposed to be proportional to the number of coupons produced.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon government to clear the mess that is rocking the programme. It will smack of negligence and laxity on the part of government when Malawians see that the mess that was there when the subsidy programme was just being introduced is still there up to now, especially considering that President Bingu wa Mutharika admitted that the mess is indeed there.
Debate: Was DPP Right to Fire Mkandawire?
No, the decision was ill-timed
BY ANANIYA ALICK PONJE
News that ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Political Affairs Harry Mkandawire’s had been fired from the party must not have come as any new to many Malawians who were keenly observing the path on which he was treading. And his subsequent decision to form a pressure group christened Northern Region Fora must not have come as a surprise to most people, including the party itself.
This should be the case because, out of the blue, Mkandawire got the courage to challenge his boss, President Bingu wa Mutharika on ‘some of Mutharika’s decisions on quota system, local government elections, Muhlako wa Ahlomwe, public appointments and separation of powers’.
It must be the case that Mkandawire quite well knew that his ‘scathing’ remarks would not go down well with the president and he must have already known all possible repercussions that would fall on him in the wake of his challenge. Of course, one might argue that there is no need to bring the president in as far as the issue of firing Mkandawire is concerned; but the fact of the matter remains that those who presided over Mkandawire’s hearing could not have done anything apart from that which would please the head of state.
On the other hand, soon after the disciplinary hearing where Mkandawire was the centre of attention, it was reported that top DPP officials who were there during the hearing said that whatever had transpired there was an internal matter, (not meant for public consumption).
I should believe that if such was the case, and since Mkandawire himself as well confirmed that what had transpired during the disciplinary hearing was an intra-party matter, then Mkandawire was not fired during the hearing. He was fired later, and there should have been someone who precipitated the decision. In this case, the president cannot be ruled out.
One thing that looms large is that Mkandawire must have intentions to ‘break away’ from the party long ago but only waited for an opportune time to arise. In other words, he was waiting for a scapegoat and truly it came in the name of ‘Mutharika’s blunders’ which have been condemned by many. It may be right to suggest that his pressure group was never formed recently; rather it must have been there even before his ‘scathing’ letter to the president and it only come out ‘formally’ now.
There is something peculiar about Mkandawire: since President Mutharika ascended onto the throne of power, no party member has come in the open to criticize his (Mutharika’s) decisions even where it was clear that some members had misgivings.
If at all some party officials wanted to attack the president, they would only do so ‘in hiding’ while “speaking on strict condition of anonymity”. The issue of ‘succession blues’ in the ruling party is a perfect example. Many top party officials are essentially not happy with how it is being handled, especially now that the party should be strategizing on who should be its torchbearer some 2014, but on-one has come in the open to express their concerns.
But Mkandawire defied all odds and took the president to task. He failed to play bootlicking politics; it was against his conscience to do so and he had to do all it would take to clear his conscience. Now the rest is history: he is no longer part of the ruling party, for he fell out with the president despite what he, himself, called ‘constructive criticism’.
Now, people are asking: was the ruling party right to fire Mkandawire? And the extension of the question would be: was the ruling party right to fire Mkandawire because of his ‘constructive criticism?’ So far, some people have analyzed the Mkandawire saga and have found that DPP’s decision to get rid of Mkandawire from the party is the best any party would take on a ‘rebel’ like Mkandawire.
Others believe that the party has made the worst mistake ever and that the decision itself is entirely ill-timed. It is my desire to join the bandwagon of those that feel DPP’s decision to fire Mkandawire was ill-timed and of course, the worst mistake the party has ever made. The party has made many blunders before, but this one is standing out, especially this time when it (seems) to be sailing in troubled waters.
It is clear that there are numerous cracks in the party and Mkandawire’s case is just a tip of the iceberg. The first pointer of cracks in the ruling party began to show when Mutharika condemned his cabinet ministers for ‘failing to concentrate on development projects, but only positioning themselves for the party’s presidency for 2014’. The president’s remarks never came out of a vacuum.
There was tension within the party as Raphael Tenthani pointed out in his article titled ‘Succession blues’. Instead of ministers concentrating on development projects, they were busy eyeing Bingu’s seat. That is why the ruling party should have been concentrating on ‘rebuilding’ itself instead of firing its members for positive criticism.
In fact, a strong message has been sent from the centre: there is no democracy in the party and it lacks tolerance because these two aspects entail the accommodation of dissenting views.
In any democratic dispensation, there is need for tolerance and accommodating dissenting views. Hence the ruling party’s decision to fire Mkandawire is a double blow to its future.
I believe that Mkandawire has massive support from whoever is concerned (what more with the many adverts about his Northern Region Fora that appear in the papers) and this means that by firing him from the DPP, the party has alienated itself from all Mkandawire’s supporters and this should be very dangerous this time than never before.
His pressure group does not comprise himself alone; there are many others involved. If the party retained Mkandawire, it would win the ‘sympathy’ of other members of the group. But now, following the firing of the group’s torchbearer, his group is very likely to mount more pressure on Mutharika’s government than if Mkandawire remained in the party.
In fact without the firing of Mkandawire, the group might have been left underlying but now it has come out and obviously it is going to receive massive support from all those who are against Mutharika’s policies, at least for now. Of course, the possibility that Mkandawire is being financed by some individuals or stakeholders that are not happy with Mutharika’s way of governance, cannot be entirely ruled out.
Above everything, the ruling party should now be strategizing on what to do to ‘rebuild’ itself as now it is clear that there are divisions within it. It should have come out and do a number of things that would assure Malawians that the party is really democratic; like by accommodating dissenting views of its members, like those raised by Harry Mkandawire.
It should not have fired him now that the party appears to be treading on a bumpy road. Perhaps Bingu no longer cares about the future of his party now that he is quite aware that he is in the last phase of his stay at the palace. Maybe he feels that this is the best time he can wield his powers to the utmost because it may not be necessary for ‘the works of his hands’ to speak for him.
If this is His Excellency’s line of thinking, then he is making a big mistake. The legacy of his party is his own legacy and its failure will be attributed to him just as the MCP’s and the UDF’s failures are being attributed to their presidents. This is why I believe the president can do something about the mistake his party made by firing Mkandawire.
Mutharika will be judged by what he has destroyed; and not what he built. And should his party fail in the 2014 elections because of problems like the firing of Mkandawire, Mutharika will be haunted till his last breath.
Yes, he exceeded limits
By Hardson Chamasowa
When the media broke the news that ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Director of Political Affairs Harry Mkandawire had written a very critical letter to president Bingu wa Mutharika in which he accused the Malawi leader of a number of things, many Malawians were waiting with bated breaths for what would befall Mkandawire.
It became obvious to many that such a letter would not fail to incur the displeasure of the party, at large, and the president, himself. It was a letter which some argue was filled with the blinding truth while others feel it lacked honorific aspects and was a very upsetting kind of open defiance to the head of state.
In fact, DPP’s Publicity Secretary Hetherwick Ntaba was quoted as saying that “Mkandawire went too far; he exceeded the limits.” Above all, it is DPP’s decision to fire Mkandawire that has aroused the attention of some critics from different corners of this country. People doubt the presence of democracy in the party and argue that it does not give room for criticism for it considers any opposing view as rebellion.
In a situation like that of Mkandawire, people need to sideline the preconceived ideas they have about the ruling party and allow reason to govern every critique. Malawi attained multiparty democracy as one way of liberating itself from the chains of oppression which found ground in the autocratic rule of one party leadership.
The consolidation of multiparty democracy gave birth to various human rights encompassing with it many other distinguished classes of freedoms of which one is the freedom of expression. This freedom implies that every citizen of this nation is entitled to his or her opinion. The problem rotating in different personalities is that they fail to realize the limitations to the rights they proudly posses.
Every agent of human rights is required to first ask himself if he is entitled to a particular right before reacting to it. If the agent is entitled to the right, they should then find out the extent to which they are to exercise their right and finally acknowledge that they are not violating somebody’s right when they are exercising their right.
I bet Mkandawire found it unnecessary to abide by the limitations of his human rights when he enjoyed his freedom of expression on October 17. He put pen to paper and experienced the art of weaving words into long loops that criticized Mutharika’s involvement in the Mulhako wa Alhomwe; his stand on quota system which Mkandawire thought (or still thinks) has the potential to divide the country; failure to hold local government elections; abuse of the rule of law; suspicious public appointments and the separation of powers.
Many can hail Mkandawire for pointing out that the President is flouting the constitution for ruling without councilors and functioning assemblies. He may as well be applauded for suggesting that the President is masterminding tribalism and for his opinion that the President also seems to favour the Shire Highlands region in his appointments but it is the channel through which he decided to express himself that has outdone all the points which he raised.
His courage to confront the President and address his weaknesses is a welcome development in a democratic government like ours as it is one way of sustaining our democracy which cost blood of innumerable innocent people.
However, he did not follow the right protocol. He was the director of the party’s political affairs and if he really had passion of controlling the image of the party he would summon the president to the party’s executive committee.
The fact that Bingu is the head of the party means that all allegations against him are automatically the party’s internal issues. By turning such issues into public consumption, it is right to point out that Mkandawire’s aim was to damage the image of the party and the president and at the same time registering as a mere spy and not a true member of the party. That is why it is my view that Mkandawire deserved dismissal.
We can not blame DPP for expelling him out of the party because every party has its rules and regulations and any breach of any rule entices a punishment depending on the nature of the offence. It is obvious that Mkandawire offended the party’s provisions.
And it pleased the authorities to fire him; and so they did! His reaction had the potential of influencing divisions in the party and therefore uncalled for. The expulsion can well be described as a democratic action and a true reflection of DPP as a democratic party since Mkandawire was kicked out of the party for the reason that he abused his democratic freedom of expression by exercising his rights without drawing boundaries.
What Mkandawire did is what is known as open defiance. It is not wrong to criticize the failures of a leader especially in a democratic country like ours but Mkandawire’s approach appears to have intended purposes.
The news of his expulsion from the party closely followed (or preceded) his announcement that he had founded a pressure group called Northern Region Fora. This development did not come in good faith; it only signifies that all along Mkandawire had that in mind. When his letter got leaked by the media, reports have it that he did not show any sign of shock, simply showing that it was a planned escapade.
Reasoning from his background, Mkandawire wanted to bring confusion among the members of the party which would entice internal rebellion which would entail the party’s downfall in the 2014 elections.
His colleagues have been grilling his motive behind operating outside the party, ignoring procedures to be used when presenting grievances or opposing views. The extreme mischief of the former DPP official is found in Mzimba West constituency where its residents got shocked at his reaction to a loss of seat in the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Mkandawire repossessed vehicle tyres he had given to a chief during the campaign season. Referring to this undesirable background, it can not be illogical to conclude that Mkandawire did not have passion for the party, because of what the loss that he experienced in the 19 May elections.
Forming a pressure group is not that bad when the genesis of the idea has cream grounds. After all, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) began as pressure groups and transformed into strong political parties because they were formed on sound grounds whose common aim was to dismantle power from Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Similarly, Mkandawire’s pressure group would otherwise be recommended if it was not a product of inconvenience.
There are enough reasons to prove that the existence of his Northern Region Fora is an instrument to use in opposing the policies of the DPP and the party officials must have been brave enough to nip him in the bud. His conduct has proven he is not a right member to keep in the DPP as he was always busy damaging the image of the party and searched for various means of seeking political sympathy from the people of this nation.
Thus, I maintain my stand on the matter, that DPP’s decision to sack Mkandawire is the best every party that is concerned about its future would take on any member who rebels against it.
That was the only remedy for Mkandawire and nothing would have worked better than getting rid of him. He showed that he was not a genuine member of the party and such a person had to be treated as such. Simply put, he had to be shown the exit door, whatever the case.
BY ANANIYA ALICK PONJE
News that ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Political Affairs Harry Mkandawire’s had been fired from the party must not have come as any new to many Malawians who were keenly observing the path on which he was treading. And his subsequent decision to form a pressure group christened Northern Region Fora must not have come as a surprise to most people, including the party itself.
This should be the case because, out of the blue, Mkandawire got the courage to challenge his boss, President Bingu wa Mutharika on ‘some of Mutharika’s decisions on quota system, local government elections, Muhlako wa Ahlomwe, public appointments and separation of powers’.
It must be the case that Mkandawire quite well knew that his ‘scathing’ remarks would not go down well with the president and he must have already known all possible repercussions that would fall on him in the wake of his challenge. Of course, one might argue that there is no need to bring the president in as far as the issue of firing Mkandawire is concerned; but the fact of the matter remains that those who presided over Mkandawire’s hearing could not have done anything apart from that which would please the head of state.
On the other hand, soon after the disciplinary hearing where Mkandawire was the centre of attention, it was reported that top DPP officials who were there during the hearing said that whatever had transpired there was an internal matter, (not meant for public consumption).
I should believe that if such was the case, and since Mkandawire himself as well confirmed that what had transpired during the disciplinary hearing was an intra-party matter, then Mkandawire was not fired during the hearing. He was fired later, and there should have been someone who precipitated the decision. In this case, the president cannot be ruled out.
One thing that looms large is that Mkandawire must have intentions to ‘break away’ from the party long ago but only waited for an opportune time to arise. In other words, he was waiting for a scapegoat and truly it came in the name of ‘Mutharika’s blunders’ which have been condemned by many. It may be right to suggest that his pressure group was never formed recently; rather it must have been there even before his ‘scathing’ letter to the president and it only come out ‘formally’ now.
There is something peculiar about Mkandawire: since President Mutharika ascended onto the throne of power, no party member has come in the open to criticize his (Mutharika’s) decisions even where it was clear that some members had misgivings.
If at all some party officials wanted to attack the president, they would only do so ‘in hiding’ while “speaking on strict condition of anonymity”. The issue of ‘succession blues’ in the ruling party is a perfect example. Many top party officials are essentially not happy with how it is being handled, especially now that the party should be strategizing on who should be its torchbearer some 2014, but on-one has come in the open to express their concerns.
But Mkandawire defied all odds and took the president to task. He failed to play bootlicking politics; it was against his conscience to do so and he had to do all it would take to clear his conscience. Now the rest is history: he is no longer part of the ruling party, for he fell out with the president despite what he, himself, called ‘constructive criticism’.
Now, people are asking: was the ruling party right to fire Mkandawire? And the extension of the question would be: was the ruling party right to fire Mkandawire because of his ‘constructive criticism?’ So far, some people have analyzed the Mkandawire saga and have found that DPP’s decision to get rid of Mkandawire from the party is the best any party would take on a ‘rebel’ like Mkandawire.
Others believe that the party has made the worst mistake ever and that the decision itself is entirely ill-timed. It is my desire to join the bandwagon of those that feel DPP’s decision to fire Mkandawire was ill-timed and of course, the worst mistake the party has ever made. The party has made many blunders before, but this one is standing out, especially this time when it (seems) to be sailing in troubled waters.
It is clear that there are numerous cracks in the party and Mkandawire’s case is just a tip of the iceberg. The first pointer of cracks in the ruling party began to show when Mutharika condemned his cabinet ministers for ‘failing to concentrate on development projects, but only positioning themselves for the party’s presidency for 2014’. The president’s remarks never came out of a vacuum.
There was tension within the party as Raphael Tenthani pointed out in his article titled ‘Succession blues’. Instead of ministers concentrating on development projects, they were busy eyeing Bingu’s seat. That is why the ruling party should have been concentrating on ‘rebuilding’ itself instead of firing its members for positive criticism.
In fact, a strong message has been sent from the centre: there is no democracy in the party and it lacks tolerance because these two aspects entail the accommodation of dissenting views.
In any democratic dispensation, there is need for tolerance and accommodating dissenting views. Hence the ruling party’s decision to fire Mkandawire is a double blow to its future.
I believe that Mkandawire has massive support from whoever is concerned (what more with the many adverts about his Northern Region Fora that appear in the papers) and this means that by firing him from the DPP, the party has alienated itself from all Mkandawire’s supporters and this should be very dangerous this time than never before.
His pressure group does not comprise himself alone; there are many others involved. If the party retained Mkandawire, it would win the ‘sympathy’ of other members of the group. But now, following the firing of the group’s torchbearer, his group is very likely to mount more pressure on Mutharika’s government than if Mkandawire remained in the party.
In fact without the firing of Mkandawire, the group might have been left underlying but now it has come out and obviously it is going to receive massive support from all those who are against Mutharika’s policies, at least for now. Of course, the possibility that Mkandawire is being financed by some individuals or stakeholders that are not happy with Mutharika’s way of governance, cannot be entirely ruled out.
Above everything, the ruling party should now be strategizing on what to do to ‘rebuild’ itself as now it is clear that there are divisions within it. It should have come out and do a number of things that would assure Malawians that the party is really democratic; like by accommodating dissenting views of its members, like those raised by Harry Mkandawire.
It should not have fired him now that the party appears to be treading on a bumpy road. Perhaps Bingu no longer cares about the future of his party now that he is quite aware that he is in the last phase of his stay at the palace. Maybe he feels that this is the best time he can wield his powers to the utmost because it may not be necessary for ‘the works of his hands’ to speak for him.
If this is His Excellency’s line of thinking, then he is making a big mistake. The legacy of his party is his own legacy and its failure will be attributed to him just as the MCP’s and the UDF’s failures are being attributed to their presidents. This is why I believe the president can do something about the mistake his party made by firing Mkandawire.
Mutharika will be judged by what he has destroyed; and not what he built. And should his party fail in the 2014 elections because of problems like the firing of Mkandawire, Mutharika will be haunted till his last breath.
Yes, he exceeded limits
By Hardson Chamasowa
When the media broke the news that ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Director of Political Affairs Harry Mkandawire had written a very critical letter to president Bingu wa Mutharika in which he accused the Malawi leader of a number of things, many Malawians were waiting with bated breaths for what would befall Mkandawire.
It became obvious to many that such a letter would not fail to incur the displeasure of the party, at large, and the president, himself. It was a letter which some argue was filled with the blinding truth while others feel it lacked honorific aspects and was a very upsetting kind of open defiance to the head of state.
In fact, DPP’s Publicity Secretary Hetherwick Ntaba was quoted as saying that “Mkandawire went too far; he exceeded the limits.” Above all, it is DPP’s decision to fire Mkandawire that has aroused the attention of some critics from different corners of this country. People doubt the presence of democracy in the party and argue that it does not give room for criticism for it considers any opposing view as rebellion.
In a situation like that of Mkandawire, people need to sideline the preconceived ideas they have about the ruling party and allow reason to govern every critique. Malawi attained multiparty democracy as one way of liberating itself from the chains of oppression which found ground in the autocratic rule of one party leadership.
The consolidation of multiparty democracy gave birth to various human rights encompassing with it many other distinguished classes of freedoms of which one is the freedom of expression. This freedom implies that every citizen of this nation is entitled to his or her opinion. The problem rotating in different personalities is that they fail to realize the limitations to the rights they proudly posses.
Every agent of human rights is required to first ask himself if he is entitled to a particular right before reacting to it. If the agent is entitled to the right, they should then find out the extent to which they are to exercise their right and finally acknowledge that they are not violating somebody’s right when they are exercising their right.
I bet Mkandawire found it unnecessary to abide by the limitations of his human rights when he enjoyed his freedom of expression on October 17. He put pen to paper and experienced the art of weaving words into long loops that criticized Mutharika’s involvement in the Mulhako wa Alhomwe; his stand on quota system which Mkandawire thought (or still thinks) has the potential to divide the country; failure to hold local government elections; abuse of the rule of law; suspicious public appointments and the separation of powers.
Many can hail Mkandawire for pointing out that the President is flouting the constitution for ruling without councilors and functioning assemblies. He may as well be applauded for suggesting that the President is masterminding tribalism and for his opinion that the President also seems to favour the Shire Highlands region in his appointments but it is the channel through which he decided to express himself that has outdone all the points which he raised.
His courage to confront the President and address his weaknesses is a welcome development in a democratic government like ours as it is one way of sustaining our democracy which cost blood of innumerable innocent people.
However, he did not follow the right protocol. He was the director of the party’s political affairs and if he really had passion of controlling the image of the party he would summon the president to the party’s executive committee.
The fact that Bingu is the head of the party means that all allegations against him are automatically the party’s internal issues. By turning such issues into public consumption, it is right to point out that Mkandawire’s aim was to damage the image of the party and the president and at the same time registering as a mere spy and not a true member of the party. That is why it is my view that Mkandawire deserved dismissal.
We can not blame DPP for expelling him out of the party because every party has its rules and regulations and any breach of any rule entices a punishment depending on the nature of the offence. It is obvious that Mkandawire offended the party’s provisions.
And it pleased the authorities to fire him; and so they did! His reaction had the potential of influencing divisions in the party and therefore uncalled for. The expulsion can well be described as a democratic action and a true reflection of DPP as a democratic party since Mkandawire was kicked out of the party for the reason that he abused his democratic freedom of expression by exercising his rights without drawing boundaries.
What Mkandawire did is what is known as open defiance. It is not wrong to criticize the failures of a leader especially in a democratic country like ours but Mkandawire’s approach appears to have intended purposes.
The news of his expulsion from the party closely followed (or preceded) his announcement that he had founded a pressure group called Northern Region Fora. This development did not come in good faith; it only signifies that all along Mkandawire had that in mind. When his letter got leaked by the media, reports have it that he did not show any sign of shock, simply showing that it was a planned escapade.
Reasoning from his background, Mkandawire wanted to bring confusion among the members of the party which would entice internal rebellion which would entail the party’s downfall in the 2014 elections.
His colleagues have been grilling his motive behind operating outside the party, ignoring procedures to be used when presenting grievances or opposing views. The extreme mischief of the former DPP official is found in Mzimba West constituency where its residents got shocked at his reaction to a loss of seat in the 2009 parliamentary elections.
Mkandawire repossessed vehicle tyres he had given to a chief during the campaign season. Referring to this undesirable background, it can not be illogical to conclude that Mkandawire did not have passion for the party, because of what the loss that he experienced in the 19 May elections.
Forming a pressure group is not that bad when the genesis of the idea has cream grounds. After all, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) began as pressure groups and transformed into strong political parties because they were formed on sound grounds whose common aim was to dismantle power from Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda. Similarly, Mkandawire’s pressure group would otherwise be recommended if it was not a product of inconvenience.
There are enough reasons to prove that the existence of his Northern Region Fora is an instrument to use in opposing the policies of the DPP and the party officials must have been brave enough to nip him in the bud. His conduct has proven he is not a right member to keep in the DPP as he was always busy damaging the image of the party and searched for various means of seeking political sympathy from the people of this nation.
Thus, I maintain my stand on the matter, that DPP’s decision to sack Mkandawire is the best every party that is concerned about its future would take on any member who rebels against it.
That was the only remedy for Mkandawire and nothing would have worked better than getting rid of him. He showed that he was not a genuine member of the party and such a person had to be treated as such. Simply put, he had to be shown the exit door, whatever the case.
Debate: Was Mzamo's Behaviour in the BBA House Wrong?
Yes, it is an embarrassment to the nation
By Ayami Mkwanda
ON 11 November this year, women members of the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) petitioned the government of Malawi over Big Brother Africa Revolution representative, Mzamose Chibambo, arguing that her sex ‘escapades’ in the house do not reflect the true image of a Malawian woman.
The group met the Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development, Patricia Kaliati in Lilongwe. The chairperson of MCC, Agnes Mkoko, said Mzamo’s behaviour is not portraying Malawi well as a God-fearing nation. So the group asked government to be sending representatives who are morally upright that would not bring the country shame through despicable behaviour.
This has come at a time when there has been a controversial debate on how Mzamo carries out herself in the reality show-house. Right from the beginning, Mzamo has shown some traits that are arguably contested as being un-Malawian. Here is a young Malawian woman who drinks like fish, smokes like a chimney, wears scantily like a beauty-pageant contestant; and above all, allegedly had sex live on television.
Summing up all this, one wonders whether her behaviour truly reflects the country’s overall morality. It is an open secret that morals in Malawi are fast decaying but still, this is not enough reason to forget who Malawians really are on the moral standpoint.
Malawians, and the majority of them are, to a larger extent, well-behaved people who relish in respect, obedience, sharing, harmony, fearing God and unity. If we happen to see cases of immorality escalating then it is because we are living in an era when technology has brought its evils upon us.
To argue that the small percentage of immorality we are witnessing countrywide mirrors the entire population’s moral decay is unfair. Mzamo may just represent this small percentage of immorality. Therefore, to say she portrays the whole trend in the country then that is a fallacy (but rather her bad behaviour will have a wrong portrayal of Malawi).
I would therefore like to totally disagree with all those who back Mzamo on the premise that even many Malawians are not morally upright people themselves. What do they mean when they say that what Mzamo did in the house (by having sex with Lionel) is also what people of Malawi do but only that the setting is different; meaning Malawians do it in secluded places and at night?
Although Malawi does not have a written code of ethics, we know for sure which conducts are regarded as “normal”, “right”, “good”, “permissible” and “desirable”. The opposite is true. So deriving a conclusion from the above, people should not take advantage of the unwritten code of ethics to justify that it is difficult to classify Malawian behaviour.
Everyone who is Malawian knows the “taboos” and other dos and don’ts in the country, only that we are choosing to ignore them by hiding behind the façade of westernization and modernization. It is unfortunate that our BBA representative behaves the way she does because she is our representative on an international level.
What people forget is that even one person can damage the reputation of a country, provided they are exposed like Mzamo. We should not forget that foreigners deem Malawians as honest, hardworking and intelligent people because they saw individual Malawians portraying those traits.
Did they come to Malawi and conduct their research? Absolutely not! It was a simple encounter in faraway lands that people of other countries came to build a positive image of Malawi.
So when people are downplaying the bad behaviour of Mzamo in the house by christening it as a technique and strategy to survive in the house, then they are in a way accepting her wayward behaviour in public as something to be proud of. Why trivialize a very serious matter like this when we all know the gospel truth that what is bad is bad?
I subscribe to a philosophical view that there is no relativism or subjectivity to morality (here morality should mean what is totally acceptable by convention as right, good and permissible).
I believe that any moralist in the country is lamenting the way Mzamo has carried herself out so far. It is true that Mzamo has traveled a lot and stayed in England and South Africa, both of which are developed countries that partly cherish the behaviour of Mzamo like smoking, drinking and dressing scantily.
As Malawians, we should be reminded that it is immoral for a woman to dress in a way that her feminine sensitive parts should be exposed. We should also take note that although women in Malawi smoke, it is not to the level and magnitude of Mzamo.
Mzamo is such a girl who seems to me as a train without control. With her sorry and despicable behaviour in the house, I do not celebrate her but instead pity her. How can I celebrate a person who brings shame on herself and the nation with such inspiring gusto?
What is there to celebrate when a person who was supposed to preach to the world about our good reputable image is raping the very image she is supposed to protect?
To my understanding and expectation, Mzamo was like our ambassador to the world who would show the world who Malawians are by simply conducting herself in a way that is in line with our image. Still, like I have already said, let us not admit that we are a morally corrupt nation, because we are not; but instead we should feel sorry for the immoral acts that have beset us.
As a nation, you do not stand on the anti-hill and shout, “what Mzamo is doing is what we also do”, lest we tarnish our impeccable record and image to the outside world. When someone is going astray let us not follow them; instead we should advise them so that they can take a good road. Like good citizens let us not clap hands for bad acts, whether they be done in public or secret.
A wrong is a wrong no matter the circumstances and context; it does not matter whether you are strategizing your survival in the Big Brother House or you are at home.
The problem of celebrating immorality is equivalent to celebrating failure. When a person succeeds in life by using crooked or dubious means, we must not celebrate it.
If a person fails and you tell them they have passed, then you are writing their doom. It is always good for a failure to reap the fruits of their labour and not the opposite. Likewise, only good people deserve good things; that is the law of nature.
Our problem as a nation should not be celebrating vices as virtues, shame as glory, failure as success, defeat as victory and cowardice as courage. This will bring the country down. Rather we should always be courageous to criticize bad things for the betterment of the motherland.
The problem is, many people who are hypnotized by the idea of Mzamo winning the money do not see or read the shameful tactics she is using until so far (if what she does endears her to the viewers).
If her behaviour is not rebuked severely, surely, we are unconsciously declaring publicly that what matters in life is to achieve victory or goals through book, crook or hook.
No, it is her winning strategy
By ANANIYA ALICK PONJE
As Malawi’s Big Brother representative Mzamose Chibambo is there in the house in South Africa fighting not to be nominated or simply not to be evicted once she has been nominated, most of her countrymen back home are busy castigating her for what they have labeled “her unMalawian behaviour”.
Some have even reached the point of revealing that they are eagerly waiting for the day she would arrive back home where she belongs. Mzamo has been castigated from right to left and back to front; simply for playing a game that she feels has the potential of propelling her to the end of the competition so that she can clinch the ultimate prize.
It is every housemate’s desire to win the prize and each of them has his/her own kind of strategy. And Mzamo’s strategy has been described as unMalawian by some who “have a highest regard for morality”.
When Malawi’s first Big Brother representative Zein went into the house, he had his own strategies and he never spent a more than a fortnight in there. Code too had his own formula and he came close to the end of the competition. Then came Hazel: she also had her own strategy and she reached the end of the competition, even though she failed to clinch the prize.
Mzamo as well has her own survival strategy and that is what she believes would reward her. And why so much fuss over her survival strategy when it is a game that she is playing for her survival, and no other individual’s survival.
One thing that should be put under consideration is the fact that Mzamo has not broken any of the Big Brother rules, which clearly implies that she is rightly within the game. All what she does is acceptable in the house; otherwise she would have faced some punishment from Big Brother, up to reaching the point of being booted out.
The problem is that most people who condemn Mzamo have set values which they want everyone to adopt. They want to brainwash everyone that kissing, boozing and having sex in the Big Brother house, is wrong. Much as it is good to uphold high levels of morality, the Big Brother house is not a place where such an aspect can be practical.
Life there is completely new and the housemates have no touch with the outside world. In fact some people reach the point of arguing that the housemates are not in touch with reality. I believe that the best way to uphold morality is by avoiding associating with aspects that ‘may’ to a certain extent be immoral in nature.
Malawi as a country allows its citizens to participate in the Big Brother show and everything that happens there has to be taken without much as choice. Perhaps the problem is that we are comparing Mzamo with Hazel.
Just because the latter liked cooking and ‘putting things in the house in order’, it does not mean that Mzamo should follow suit. Then the essence of the whole thing would be non-existent. Mzamo is Mzamo and she has to do things the way which suits her. She has to be herself and this is all what it means to be there.
Some people have reached the point of saying “Hazel was quite, did a lot of cooking and cleaning in the house and was pretty much reserved, while her successor is much more of an extrovert who drinks, smokes and swears”.
Yet the fact of the matter remains that they are two different women clearly sitting on two different sides of the spectrum. I fail to come to terms with what it means when one talks about ‘Malawian and unMalawian’ behaviour.
Of course, it is true that morality is something that has to be highly upheld in our country, but if one chooses not to as in the case of Mzamo, is there any legal provision that is being broken? I don’t think so. The moral aspect of a human being largely involves their own self and if they feel they are not committing a crime against themselves, then they are safe.
And therefore, if Mzamo feels what she is doing is not wrong, and she is confident it is a winning strategy, why castigate her when it is her game. There is so much hypocrisy in the numerous comments that have emanated from different quarters against Mzamo’s behaviour.
Malawi is a country that is rocked with many maladies which are but ignored. It appears many quarters have found the Mzamo scenario to be something that can easily push them into the limelight because they quite well know that it is being followed by many people and stakeholders.
Otherwise why hasn’t much been done on the numerous anomalies that we hear; like those of old men raping young girls, men having sex with livestock, child abuse and many more? Perhaps another question has to be asked: why don’t those who feel Mzamo’s behaviour is wrong resort to watching other programmes other than the Big Brother show.
The mere fact that they castigate Mzamo means that they watch the show; and frequently for that matter. There are many other channels that are offered by DStv which involve a lot of ‘moral tidings’. The main aim is to incorporate diversity so that everyone plumps for that which pleases them. No one is forced to watch the Big Brother show.
Some people have even reached the point of arguing that Mzamo’s behaviour may set a very bad precedent for their daughters. Every parent or guardian has their own way of controlling their children. I don’t think there is any parent out there who can allow their under-eighteen daughter to watch the Big Brother show.
In fact, there is a clear demarcation on who is and who is not supposed to watch the show in consideration of age. I am also against the view that girls who are above the age of 18 can copy something from Mzamo.
These are girls who can make their own sound decisions, and after such an age, they quite well know what is good or bad for them. If they do immoral things, it is not because they watched Mzamo, but because their mindsets have dictated it. There is another thing that I fail to come to terms with.
Opponents of Mzamo’s actions castigate her for allegedly having sex; kissing, and boozing in the house. It appears the strong part is the ‘having sex’ one. Yet Malawi’s second Big Brother representative Code Sangala allegedly had sex in the house, with a pregnant wife waiting for him at home, and no one came out to castigate him.
Are there moral values in Malawi that are designed specifically for men and others for women, such that what a man does may not be morally wrong when the same thing is considered morally wrong when done by a woman? Just like Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development, Hon. Patricia Kaliati observed, the only problem with Mzamo is that she is doing those things in full view of everyone, while it is of course, what most people do when they are in secluded places.
I have personally seen girls who drink and smoke heavily, yet they have never been condemned. So why Mzamo? Above everything, Mzamo is who she is and as one cartoon in The Nation pointed out, “is there such a thing as a typical Malawian woman?”
In other words is there some way in which we expect Malawian women to behave? Mzamo is just a free woman who is not restricted by any cultural or traditionalistic views of what it is to be a woman. This is exactly what I pointed out in one of my articles in The Daily Times. We should not be too much stuck in the past with so much stubbornness and tradition.
By Ayami Mkwanda
ON 11 November this year, women members of the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) petitioned the government of Malawi over Big Brother Africa Revolution representative, Mzamose Chibambo, arguing that her sex ‘escapades’ in the house do not reflect the true image of a Malawian woman.
The group met the Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development, Patricia Kaliati in Lilongwe. The chairperson of MCC, Agnes Mkoko, said Mzamo’s behaviour is not portraying Malawi well as a God-fearing nation. So the group asked government to be sending representatives who are morally upright that would not bring the country shame through despicable behaviour.
This has come at a time when there has been a controversial debate on how Mzamo carries out herself in the reality show-house. Right from the beginning, Mzamo has shown some traits that are arguably contested as being un-Malawian. Here is a young Malawian woman who drinks like fish, smokes like a chimney, wears scantily like a beauty-pageant contestant; and above all, allegedly had sex live on television.
Summing up all this, one wonders whether her behaviour truly reflects the country’s overall morality. It is an open secret that morals in Malawi are fast decaying but still, this is not enough reason to forget who Malawians really are on the moral standpoint.
Malawians, and the majority of them are, to a larger extent, well-behaved people who relish in respect, obedience, sharing, harmony, fearing God and unity. If we happen to see cases of immorality escalating then it is because we are living in an era when technology has brought its evils upon us.
To argue that the small percentage of immorality we are witnessing countrywide mirrors the entire population’s moral decay is unfair. Mzamo may just represent this small percentage of immorality. Therefore, to say she portrays the whole trend in the country then that is a fallacy (but rather her bad behaviour will have a wrong portrayal of Malawi).
I would therefore like to totally disagree with all those who back Mzamo on the premise that even many Malawians are not morally upright people themselves. What do they mean when they say that what Mzamo did in the house (by having sex with Lionel) is also what people of Malawi do but only that the setting is different; meaning Malawians do it in secluded places and at night?
Although Malawi does not have a written code of ethics, we know for sure which conducts are regarded as “normal”, “right”, “good”, “permissible” and “desirable”. The opposite is true. So deriving a conclusion from the above, people should not take advantage of the unwritten code of ethics to justify that it is difficult to classify Malawian behaviour.
Everyone who is Malawian knows the “taboos” and other dos and don’ts in the country, only that we are choosing to ignore them by hiding behind the façade of westernization and modernization. It is unfortunate that our BBA representative behaves the way she does because she is our representative on an international level.
What people forget is that even one person can damage the reputation of a country, provided they are exposed like Mzamo. We should not forget that foreigners deem Malawians as honest, hardworking and intelligent people because they saw individual Malawians portraying those traits.
Did they come to Malawi and conduct their research? Absolutely not! It was a simple encounter in faraway lands that people of other countries came to build a positive image of Malawi.
So when people are downplaying the bad behaviour of Mzamo in the house by christening it as a technique and strategy to survive in the house, then they are in a way accepting her wayward behaviour in public as something to be proud of. Why trivialize a very serious matter like this when we all know the gospel truth that what is bad is bad?
I subscribe to a philosophical view that there is no relativism or subjectivity to morality (here morality should mean what is totally acceptable by convention as right, good and permissible).
I believe that any moralist in the country is lamenting the way Mzamo has carried herself out so far. It is true that Mzamo has traveled a lot and stayed in England and South Africa, both of which are developed countries that partly cherish the behaviour of Mzamo like smoking, drinking and dressing scantily.
As Malawians, we should be reminded that it is immoral for a woman to dress in a way that her feminine sensitive parts should be exposed. We should also take note that although women in Malawi smoke, it is not to the level and magnitude of Mzamo.
Mzamo is such a girl who seems to me as a train without control. With her sorry and despicable behaviour in the house, I do not celebrate her but instead pity her. How can I celebrate a person who brings shame on herself and the nation with such inspiring gusto?
What is there to celebrate when a person who was supposed to preach to the world about our good reputable image is raping the very image she is supposed to protect?
To my understanding and expectation, Mzamo was like our ambassador to the world who would show the world who Malawians are by simply conducting herself in a way that is in line with our image. Still, like I have already said, let us not admit that we are a morally corrupt nation, because we are not; but instead we should feel sorry for the immoral acts that have beset us.
As a nation, you do not stand on the anti-hill and shout, “what Mzamo is doing is what we also do”, lest we tarnish our impeccable record and image to the outside world. When someone is going astray let us not follow them; instead we should advise them so that they can take a good road. Like good citizens let us not clap hands for bad acts, whether they be done in public or secret.
A wrong is a wrong no matter the circumstances and context; it does not matter whether you are strategizing your survival in the Big Brother House or you are at home.
The problem of celebrating immorality is equivalent to celebrating failure. When a person succeeds in life by using crooked or dubious means, we must not celebrate it.
If a person fails and you tell them they have passed, then you are writing their doom. It is always good for a failure to reap the fruits of their labour and not the opposite. Likewise, only good people deserve good things; that is the law of nature.
Our problem as a nation should not be celebrating vices as virtues, shame as glory, failure as success, defeat as victory and cowardice as courage. This will bring the country down. Rather we should always be courageous to criticize bad things for the betterment of the motherland.
The problem is, many people who are hypnotized by the idea of Mzamo winning the money do not see or read the shameful tactics she is using until so far (if what she does endears her to the viewers).
If her behaviour is not rebuked severely, surely, we are unconsciously declaring publicly that what matters in life is to achieve victory or goals through book, crook or hook.
No, it is her winning strategy
By ANANIYA ALICK PONJE
As Malawi’s Big Brother representative Mzamose Chibambo is there in the house in South Africa fighting not to be nominated or simply not to be evicted once she has been nominated, most of her countrymen back home are busy castigating her for what they have labeled “her unMalawian behaviour”.
Some have even reached the point of revealing that they are eagerly waiting for the day she would arrive back home where she belongs. Mzamo has been castigated from right to left and back to front; simply for playing a game that she feels has the potential of propelling her to the end of the competition so that she can clinch the ultimate prize.
It is every housemate’s desire to win the prize and each of them has his/her own kind of strategy. And Mzamo’s strategy has been described as unMalawian by some who “have a highest regard for morality”.
When Malawi’s first Big Brother representative Zein went into the house, he had his own strategies and he never spent a more than a fortnight in there. Code too had his own formula and he came close to the end of the competition. Then came Hazel: she also had her own strategy and she reached the end of the competition, even though she failed to clinch the prize.
Mzamo as well has her own survival strategy and that is what she believes would reward her. And why so much fuss over her survival strategy when it is a game that she is playing for her survival, and no other individual’s survival.
One thing that should be put under consideration is the fact that Mzamo has not broken any of the Big Brother rules, which clearly implies that she is rightly within the game. All what she does is acceptable in the house; otherwise she would have faced some punishment from Big Brother, up to reaching the point of being booted out.
The problem is that most people who condemn Mzamo have set values which they want everyone to adopt. They want to brainwash everyone that kissing, boozing and having sex in the Big Brother house, is wrong. Much as it is good to uphold high levels of morality, the Big Brother house is not a place where such an aspect can be practical.
Life there is completely new and the housemates have no touch with the outside world. In fact some people reach the point of arguing that the housemates are not in touch with reality. I believe that the best way to uphold morality is by avoiding associating with aspects that ‘may’ to a certain extent be immoral in nature.
Malawi as a country allows its citizens to participate in the Big Brother show and everything that happens there has to be taken without much as choice. Perhaps the problem is that we are comparing Mzamo with Hazel.
Just because the latter liked cooking and ‘putting things in the house in order’, it does not mean that Mzamo should follow suit. Then the essence of the whole thing would be non-existent. Mzamo is Mzamo and she has to do things the way which suits her. She has to be herself and this is all what it means to be there.
Some people have reached the point of saying “Hazel was quite, did a lot of cooking and cleaning in the house and was pretty much reserved, while her successor is much more of an extrovert who drinks, smokes and swears”.
Yet the fact of the matter remains that they are two different women clearly sitting on two different sides of the spectrum. I fail to come to terms with what it means when one talks about ‘Malawian and unMalawian’ behaviour.
Of course, it is true that morality is something that has to be highly upheld in our country, but if one chooses not to as in the case of Mzamo, is there any legal provision that is being broken? I don’t think so. The moral aspect of a human being largely involves their own self and if they feel they are not committing a crime against themselves, then they are safe.
And therefore, if Mzamo feels what she is doing is not wrong, and she is confident it is a winning strategy, why castigate her when it is her game. There is so much hypocrisy in the numerous comments that have emanated from different quarters against Mzamo’s behaviour.
Malawi is a country that is rocked with many maladies which are but ignored. It appears many quarters have found the Mzamo scenario to be something that can easily push them into the limelight because they quite well know that it is being followed by many people and stakeholders.
Otherwise why hasn’t much been done on the numerous anomalies that we hear; like those of old men raping young girls, men having sex with livestock, child abuse and many more? Perhaps another question has to be asked: why don’t those who feel Mzamo’s behaviour is wrong resort to watching other programmes other than the Big Brother show.
The mere fact that they castigate Mzamo means that they watch the show; and frequently for that matter. There are many other channels that are offered by DStv which involve a lot of ‘moral tidings’. The main aim is to incorporate diversity so that everyone plumps for that which pleases them. No one is forced to watch the Big Brother show.
Some people have even reached the point of arguing that Mzamo’s behaviour may set a very bad precedent for their daughters. Every parent or guardian has their own way of controlling their children. I don’t think there is any parent out there who can allow their under-eighteen daughter to watch the Big Brother show.
In fact, there is a clear demarcation on who is and who is not supposed to watch the show in consideration of age. I am also against the view that girls who are above the age of 18 can copy something from Mzamo.
These are girls who can make their own sound decisions, and after such an age, they quite well know what is good or bad for them. If they do immoral things, it is not because they watched Mzamo, but because their mindsets have dictated it. There is another thing that I fail to come to terms with.
Opponents of Mzamo’s actions castigate her for allegedly having sex; kissing, and boozing in the house. It appears the strong part is the ‘having sex’ one. Yet Malawi’s second Big Brother representative Code Sangala allegedly had sex in the house, with a pregnant wife waiting for him at home, and no one came out to castigate him.
Are there moral values in Malawi that are designed specifically for men and others for women, such that what a man does may not be morally wrong when the same thing is considered morally wrong when done by a woman? Just like Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development, Hon. Patricia Kaliati observed, the only problem with Mzamo is that she is doing those things in full view of everyone, while it is of course, what most people do when they are in secluded places.
I have personally seen girls who drink and smoke heavily, yet they have never been condemned. So why Mzamo? Above everything, Mzamo is who she is and as one cartoon in The Nation pointed out, “is there such a thing as a typical Malawian woman?”
In other words is there some way in which we expect Malawian women to behave? Mzamo is just a free woman who is not restricted by any cultural or traditionalistic views of what it is to be a woman. This is exactly what I pointed out in one of my articles in The Daily Times. We should not be too much stuck in the past with so much stubbornness and tradition.
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