By: Mzati Nkolokosa
Life has a way of putting people in rightful places.
Eight years ago, this time, the media portrayed Jesse Kabwila as a hero of academic freedom at Chancellor College. Peter Mutharika, then Minister of Education, was portrayed as a villain, someone who had failed to resolve the academic freedom dispute.
The media in Malawi judged President Peter Mutharika for a task that did not fall under his ministry. The University of Malawi is managed by Council of University of Malawi and not Ministry of Education. But in a quest to portray Mutharika as a failure, journalists insisted on a lie that he had failed to manage the crisis.
Jesse was a darling of the media, then, eight years ago. Adjectives were used on her to qualify her strength, her fighting spirit. Even primary school children in Malawi knew there was Jesse Kabwila, the hero. Children could recognise her voice.
She spoke as if she was the last authority on matters of life. She acted as if she was some god, with knowledge of the future. She was Jesse, Jesse Kabwila.
Now, today, eight years later, not eight years ago, but eight years later, in 2019, the media no longer interviews Jesse. She is no longer at Chancellor College. She is no longer in Parliament. She is invisible, almost forgotten, while Mutharika is President of Malawi.
Life has a way of putting people in their rightful places.
I used to regard Mzati Nkolokosa as one of the intelligent and seasoned journalists in the country but not until he was transformed into a cadet. I find it ironic for him to describe JK as someone who has descended into oblivion. I wish Nzati knew how he himself sliped into oblivion since he become a cadet as people who respected and regarded him seriouly no longer do so.
Mzati Nkolokosa who has given you the money to write this useless story. So what if Jesseie Kabwila is neither at Chanco or in Parliament????? Does that change her academic prowess? She is still educated and can teach at any University in the World. To be interviewed doesn’t mean anything. Idiots are being interviewed every day in newspapers on radios & TVs but it doesn’t make them clever they remain idiots.
Sure amwene.
Kodi mwamuyiwala galu walemba iziyu?
Dunderhead wachabechabe.