My Take On It: Road to September 16…Time to bring out the youthful candidates, women too!

¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. — Ecclesiastics 3:1-8

Malawians were recently reminded on this column about the way our former president and founder of the Malawi nation, the late Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda used to wax lyrical in calling the young people of the country as future leaders. As such, the former leader advised that the young people must be educated and taught the ways of leadership; a variety of programs were introduced. In the recent discussion, the question was put forward, where are these young future leaders Kamuzu talked about? This week, two aspiring young leaders have been paraded, joining a group of not so young people, although it is pleasing to note that there is a woman among them.

As I was musing about what to write about this week, a Christian friend sent me a message titled REMEMBER YOUR AGE, LEST YOU FORGET. To lessen the Editor’s task, it has been shortened as follows:

1. The Baby’s & toddlers is the supervision age group, born between 2013-2025 are 3 months to 12 years.
2. The Adolescence and studies age born between 2003 to 2012 and are 13 to 22 years.
3. The Commitment & determination age group was born between 1993 and 2002 and are 23 to 32 years.
4. The Decision making age were born between 1983 and 1992 and aged 33 to 42 years old.
5. The Achievements and fulfilment age group was born between 1973 and 1982 and aged 43 to 52 years old. 
6. The Amendments and reconciliation age group was born between 1963 and 1972 and are 53 to 62 years old.
7. The old age (Madala team) were born between 1951 to 1962 and are 63 to 74 years old.
8. The Sunset age were those born between 1932 and 1945 and are aged 75 to 93 years old.
9. Lastly, the Overtime age group was born between 1925 and 1931; they are aged 94 to 100 years.

What these age groups teach us is that as a people, we must avoid pretending that we are still young, we still have what it takes to lead a nation or do certain things we used to do when we were younger. The message continues to advise that we must always remember that time does not wait for anybody, and to think twice about our age and the things we aspire to do.

We should always remember to ask ourselves: What have I really done for my family, relatives, friends, and God since I came to this earth? Is there anything I can still do, or am able to achieve? Be grateful to the Lord; BEWARE OF these 25 “ONE DAYS!”

1. ONE DAY, you will retire from active civil service and start living a private life.  
2. ONE DAY another person will be sitting on your seat and being in your position.
3. ONE DAY you will lock your door, but you will not be the one to open it. ONE DAY you will wash those best clothes of yours and you will not be able to wear it. 
4. ONE DAY your favorite food will be prepared, and you will not be there to eat it anymore.
5. ONE DAY you will eat and drink what you will never excrete.
6. ONE DAY your curriculum vitae and all your years of experience will not matter to anyone anymore. 
7. ONE DAY the person who seems to love you most will never dare to move closer to you.

• ONE DAY you will think of what you can never accomplish.
• ONE DAY you will be regarded as “a corpse.” 
• ONE DAY you will be isolated in a place called “grave.”
• ONE DAY those things and people you love most will come your way, but you will not be able to give any attention to them.
• ONE DAY you will hold your breath and never be able to release it.
• ONE DAY you will become a defendant before The Chief Judge (GOD). 
• ONE DAY houseflies/ termites will come your way, and you will be unable to chase them.
• ONE DAY you will receive a call that you can never decline.
• ONE DAY your name will be called, but no one will answer.
• ONE DAY the assets you cherished most will be taken by another person.
• ONE DAY your deed on Earth will be presented to you like a CD.
• ONE DAY A title will be added to your name “Late.” 
• ONE DAY the Great Allocator will allocate you to an appropriate place. 
• ONE DAY that your beautiful skin will turn to its original nature-sand/dust.
• ONE DAY your entire body will cease operation. The verb will change from he is a good man to he was a good man.
• ONE DAY you will be given an eternal apartment, either Paradise or hell.
• ONE DAY you will not be able to hold nor type anything on this computer, phone, or iPad anymore.
• In summary, DO GOOD, and run from EVIL. Be at peace with everyone, love your neighbor as yourself, and remember that that ONE DAY will surely come when this write-up shall be fulfilled in all our lives.

May God continue to bless land of Malawi, to keep it a land of peace.

Janet Karim

Author, high school Learning Disabilities Teacher, candidate Master of Education Special Education, Mason University; highly organized, charismatic and persuasive Communications Specialist and accomplished Journalist, Editor with 41 years in the communications field, offering expertise in all phases of print, broadcast, telecast, and social media productions. Enthusiastic story teller. Highly-motivated and trained media professional possessing exceptional writing and editing skills with ability to draft engaging and effective content; Opinion column contributor for leading national dailies (Maravi Post – 2015-PRESENT; Nation Malawi – 2015-PRESENT; Times Malawi (2004-2007). Other areas of expertise include grant writing and NGO project management. Highly trained in international, regional and local lobbying and election skills. Collaborates with international companies to initiate development policy change and foster public awareness, with deep commitment to social justice and health care equity; especially in work towards women’s political, economic, and social empowerment; ending child, early and forced marriage; and promoting the human rights of the elderly. Advocate for highlighting climate change its effects on the planet. International development work experience with the United Nations headquarters (10 years, and two years UNDP field work); field experience (Malawi) – Oxfam, UNDP, UNICEF and UNESCO. Superb public speaker who communicates effectively with target audiences through strategic one-to-one or large audiences, expert in event planning and PR campaigns. Conscientious, diplomatic, and tactful in all communicationsg.