But the LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go. — 1 Samuel 26:11
My brother-in-law economist Watipaso Mkandawire recently declared on social media that Malawians will never become millionaires because they are engaged in non-wealth creating activities like complaining about unnecessary issues such as gender balance, the right to do this, or that. I dissent because the whole world is where we are because people stepped out on a limb and debated the merits and demerits of matters such as taxation without representation, women’s rights to vote, political or democratic freedom. However, there is a time for the chatter to end or be exercised with limits. Herein the learned fellows at the Malawi Law Society may wish to push back on its recent critique of President Chakwera’s command that persons involved in the MwK6.2b heist be released from their duties without pay.
The Presidency is part of a three-pillar system of governance with each part having but separate powers. The misappropriation of an obscene amount of money cannot be let go without severe consequences. The past is replete with presidential commentary and directives. As reactions to presidential pronouncements are made, may we be mindful that we respect the Office of the Presidency.
It sometimes is a necessary caution to remind citizens that the executive branch is headed by the President, with full powers to lead and oversee the management of the government structures including the coffers. The legislature from Parliament makes the laws governing the land. The judiciary interprets the laws of the land, in a court of law.
As the country continues its fight against the COVID-19, the report that six billion Malawi Kwacha was embezzled is daunting, especially when there are calls from all sections of the country for help from the government so that people do not suffer or lack basic daily necessities due to the pandemic.
In the past officials that dipped their hands in the government kitty, faced the strong arm of the law. Mayor Chikakwiya stole K400; when found out he was given the boot from City Hall. Former President Bakili Muluzi fired Sam Mpasu who was implicated in a corruption case with Fieldyolk involving pencils; he even spent some time in prison. Another minister of education Yusuf Mawa abused ministry money to the tune of K186,000 for his wedding. Former President Bingu wa Mutharika ordered his dismissal, and a court case followed the directive. Mawa too spent some time in the cooler.
The near-fatal shooting of former government budget director Mpwiyo led former President Joyce Banda to issue an inquiry. This was followed by the President releasing from their duties numerous culprits in the infamous Cashgate scandal that was seamlessly bleeding sums of money from the government cashbox.
In a normal democratic culture, following the President’s directive, the legal and law enforcement apparatuses are unleashed upon the individuals involved. It is sometimes becoming disheartening that as the President speaks, some of these functionaries are pussyfooting about, handling very severe issues with kid gloves. Meanwhile, various voices step in and give their own versions of the human rights of the alleged culprits. And sometimes the media allows them to share equal space with the head of state.
It is of grave concern that after Malawians took to the streets to protest the steal of the 2019 vote, there are some quarters that are manipulating Malawians; now instead of calling for table meetings, are issuing threats of mobilizing street demonstrations if various conditions are not met. This is ruling by the backdoor entry. While it may be an organization’s right to call for and stage protests, it is nonetheless manipulation of ordinary, simple Malawians.
But most of all, the efforts of these others in the public square are reducing the voice of the head of state, causing doubt about his effectiveness to govern, and sadly in some rare instances causing him to retract. This is not democracy. This is anarchy.
In the recent elections, when the former President erred by accepting the marred election result, the current President and Vice President took the matter to court. In the court, judges twice delivered the interpretation of the Laws of Malawi. The people demonstrated. No one manipulated them. They were reacting to their stolen votes through Tippex. This is democracy.
In the issue of the President directing that people be dismissed, there must be consequences. Such is the way people are deterred from copycatting such acts again. Malawi must say no to corruption, no to theft by public servants, no to kid-gloves handling of issues that involve life and death issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The integrity of our country is at stake. Let Malawians come to the democracy table to dialogue how as a nation we root out systemic corruption and thievery and debauchery in every quarter. These acts are synonymous with a person chopping off the hand that feeds himself or herself.
To respond to my in-law Wati, I have probably written over 100 million words in the similitude of a millionaire: like asking Mama Kadzamira to tell the President that Malawi women are not being promoted in their jobs if they don’t give their bosses sexual favors; questioning why President Muluzi only had two and a half women ministers in his cabinet; why he didn’t have women on his foreign trips; arguing with former General Mencken Chigawa to consider raising the pay of Malawi soldiers in peacekeeping missions; requesting that a 13-year-old Mariela should stop dancing kwasa-kwasa; highlighting that after looking at the statistics on poverty, the face of poverty is a woman’s face; ferociously arguing that no girl should be married before her 18th birthday; for two years helping to formulate a global gender entity that has an office in Malawi; and a host of other advocacy and collaborating.
I am not a millionaire, however, these words have moved mountains and brought social and economic justice to Malawians, the SADC region, Africa, and the world.