Muckraking Extra: C’mon, Steve, c’mon!

What was my veritable senior colleague high on when he suggested that President Joyce Banda – or any president of the republic, for that matter – is not accountable to anyone?

Really, Steve?!

If you missed the news Presidential Press Secretary Steven Nhlane said the nation might whine as much as it can as to who should be in or out of cabinet, but President Banda is not accountable to anyone as to who she chooses in her cabinet.

I think it is high time we disabused ourselves from this animal we call ‘prerogatives’. The last time I checked presidents – and any elected officers – hold office on trust, meaning on behalf of Malawians.

Why should they suddenly become unaccountable to the very people in whose trust they hold offices?

Leaders must account for all their actions to the public, their bosses, good old Steve.

Raphael Tenthani

Raphael (Ralph) Tenthani (1 October 1971 – 16 May 2015) was a freelance journalist from Malawi. Tenthani was a BBC correspondent and a columnist for The Sunday Times. He was a respected journalist in Malawi well known for his popular column, “The Muckraking”.[3][4] He was well known for providing political analysis on topical issues. He had been the subject of controversy for his candid reporting on political issues. He was very critical of the crackdown on journalism during the Bingu wa Mutharika administration. He was also a columnist for Associated Press, Pan African News Agency, and The Maravi Post.