Born and bred in Kasungu the home of Kamuzu, many friends have thought that I would be a supporter of MCP. But while I may have been one during my childhood days by default, I have a soft spot for DPP. I must admit, Bingu WA Mutharika swept me off my feet during his first term.
That is why I naturally feel duty bound to comment when I see that Bingu’s DPP is heading to some cliff. However, recent developments have made me admire the MCP I once supported by default. Caught in between, I have decided to play advisor to these pacesetters of current politics since most likely one of them will win the 2019 elections and lead this cashgate impoverished nation.
I have of late insinuated that DPP seems to have arrogance embedded in its DNA. You just have to read comments from their Facebook hand clappers and you will see what I mean. Apart from a few who bring soberness and objectivity to debate, most are becoming dangerously blind. Whatever happens when people taste power!
The President is not helping matters either. Let us be honest. The only time we thought he was close to making a decision of national interest worthy the salt was when he suspended the MSB sale paving way for ‘wide’ consultations before ‘ambushing us’! Consultation, DPP style.
He has been an absent president where circumstances demanded that he stamp his presence and authority. His strategists have been advising him to act the opposite of JB in presence and travel which unfortunately is translating into executive absenteeism. Whoever said when you have to undo a JB management by wandering about (MBWA) style, you dig yourself into some cocoon, must be ill advising our good old professor.
In general, the DPP government has not fared well during the first one year in office. You do not need some Afrobatometer survey to ascertain that. Perhaps Bingu WA Mutharika raised the bar too high for DPP’s own good. The youthful vice president seems to have run out of steam out of a sudden too. The DPP as a party is direction-less. The party is disjointed from a government that is supposed to advance its agenda. APM himself acknowledged that when he held the anniversary marking his incarceration at Kanengo.
The morale in DPP’s camp is at an all point low. Ignore a few noise makers that will put some brave face to deny this observation in their comments. They will do that while hurting inside as to how I dare put this truth bare the way I have done. Some of them will in fact come to my inbox to pat me on the back for saying it on their behalf. Cowards!
So for DPP to smile post- may 2019, the advice is as follows: The leadership must wake up. Put your disjointed act together. Do away with arrogance in any form including executive arrogance. As one senior minister put in the other day: Fish get rotten from the head. Be sensitive to the plight of Malawians. You de-align with the common Malawian if you celebrate when it is time to mourn. Walk the talk. Whither business unusual?
Turning to MCP, at last you look set to govern. You seem to have finally done away with the bitterness of losing last year’s elections. The stolen elections if I have to use your language. Ha-ha! I must agree, you are doing or saying things that are winning you many souls.
With DPP falling all over the place, you can capitalize on that by doing the following: Continue providing the necessary checks and balances. Continue being sensitive to the plight of the common Malawian. Your stand against the royal banquet was well timed. Take advantage of DPPs disjointed a Capella. Infiltrate its membership base.
There is discontentment in that camp. Recruit them and expand your presence in the southern region. The recently elected southern region committee has its job cut out for them. The tide is now blowing in your favor. The black cock may finally be coming back to rule!
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Maravi Post
