For united we stand, divided we fall, and if our backs should ever be against the wall, we’ll be together, together, you and I…. – January 1970; Tony Hiller and Peter Simons (Brotherhood of Man band

This month of July, Malawi celebrated 61 years of independence from colonial rule; 61 years of national sovereignty. We also celebrate 31 years as a democratic nation. As a member of the senior citizens of our land of the Lake, truth be told, I miss unity that was a celebrated principle of all Malawians. I miss the respect youth gave to all adults – even those that were not related to. Most of all, I miss the fear mixed with love and respect all Malawians had for political leaders, so much so this value system is in out national anthem:

…Join together all our hearts as one, that we be free from fear. Bless our leader, each and every one, and Mother Malawi. (source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/n/nationalanthemlyrics/malawinationalanthemlyrics.html)

These days, the country’s citizenship has, in these days of democratic freedom, made a complete turnaround, to the horrible opposite of the values we held dear. Leaders are no longer feared, respected, nor loved. Adults, even those from one’s family, are no longer respected. And there is no unity, not even at political party levels. O Malawi! My Malawi, what has become of you?

In the absence of unity, our walls in whatever we attempt to do, come tumbling down. The enemies from within the country and from outside the country come in like a flood, and sweep the whole lot of us under the proverbial bus. There were times in yesteryears, one would be walking down a street in Harare or London, and hear someone speaking in Chichewa or Tumbuka, faces would brighten up and exchanges of contacts made. At the village level, helping thy neighbor was a natural thing that has gone out the window.

In the absence of respect for elders, it is sad to see young children or youth disrespecting an elder rampant is such disrespect that many young people look and have accused elders in their villages of being witches; some have sadly been murdered on this baseless score). At school the situation is that chiding a scholar that is not your student is risky since scholars have been known to be rude to teachers. Sadly, this behavior is in other countries as well, not just Malawi.

No fear mixed with respect and love for our leaders, is causing society to raise up disrespectful children, causing the country to have disgruntled I-don’t-care-type of leaders that then commit all manner of behaviors that disqualifies them for continuity in leadership positions; or some tread on for the love of country, in desperate attempt to keep Malawi flame burning.

It has been hard to wipe away from my patriotism, respect to all our leaders, the AI-generated picture on social media of former President Peter Mutharika, or the day Ndirande youth chanted “Yakuba! Yakuba! Yakuba!” as former Vice President (now late) Saulos Chilima, or unsubstantiated articles of former President Joyce Banda, demeaning ones of former President Muluzi. Current President Lazarus Chakwera, is the favorite punching bag, and has not escaped the ridicule in articles and on social media.

I miss the time when campaigning during elections, the country was cautioned against mud-slinging. But as a nation, Malawians have become expert mud-slingers, it is an artform. If mud-slinging was a paid-for activity, Malawi would be a rich nation.

I miss the time when being Malawian meant we were the friendly Warm Heart of Africa, all in unison, respectful, fearful, and loving of all of our leaders, with a healthy dash of respect: all these whether or not one belongs to their political party. Our bonding must be that we are aMalawi, land of the stars on the Lake.

 O God bless our land of Malawi!