He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. – Proverbs 13:24
These recent years, as an onlooker of events taking place in Malawi, once a country that adhered to and modeled the four cornerstones of Loyalty, Unity, Obedience, and Discipline, it is surprising to hear, see, or read of the various actions, and utterances Malawians, sometimes joined by foreigners, about the country.
Numerous outbursts make many to wonder is there anyone that is of any good or worth in the country? Is there anyone to defend the land that was once the self-acclaimed Warm Heart of Africa? Will there ever be a leader or political party that Malawians will welcome and support as doing right by and for all Malawians?
These questions must be responded to and give way for the country to progress. Most importantly, the elder Malawians must endow the next generation of leaders with enough love and commitment to carry the country through the next rounds of history as a nation among nations.
To do this we have to love our country, support and work with our elected and appointed leaders that are charged with leading us. For the past 20 plus years, Malawians are failing in their charge to own their country.
A few weeks ago, Malawi’s Vice President Usi on a visit to a health facility advised health workers to polish up their work ethics, have clean environments, treat patients well and a host of other advice leaders make to ensure the sector involved meets the required standards mandated by the laws of the land.
In their reactions, health workers are reported to have flared up causing the nurses in the sector to threaten to report the VP to the Human Rights Commission (MHRC).
The shocking reaction comes as a surprise and many questions were asked. However, before the questions arose, one of the nurse’s chief ire was because the VP rebuked them in front of reporters.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the VP travelling with a band of reporters. This is because moving an entire Vice President requires a lot of money.
This money comes from taxes ordinary Malawians pay to the government; as such, when a government official such as the VP, goes on an official errand, Malawians have a right to know about it. In a democracy, this is called transparency and accountability; it is seen through the eyes or pen of journalists.
The question of what the VP said needs to be answered by the nurses, for the country to determine whether or not the nurses need to change the way they are doing things. If there is any wrong-doing by the nurses and other officials, these must be addressed before running to the human rights body. The nurses need to fix the wrong that was pointed out, before screaming about psychological trauma. The people the nurses serve are vulnerable sick patients, some too old, young, or poor to complain.
Malawians must stop politicizing almost every activity done by the leaders of the land. There once was a time when a visit to a sector of the country led to massive improved changes. Regrettably, these days, a visit by a leader is more often than not, leading to ridicule and call outs of impropriety.
If VP Usi’s visit unearthed some wrong-doing by the health professionals, it is a great opportunity to own up and fix the problem. Health professionals like nurses are part of the service delivery machinery of the country. The sector needs to rise to the occasion and make sure their section is delivering. The VP is an overseer.
I am reminded of one time when Hon. Pat Kaliyati (when she served as the Minister of Tourism) went on a tour of some dilapidated, decayed, and deteriorated tourist resorts on the coastal areas of Lake Malawi. A similar complaint was also noised about her visit; the tourist resorts’ owners of the back-backer tourists population, complained that the honorable ministers brought with her the media.
The former minister’s response has become her signature modus operandi (way of doing/saying things). She asks the owners, “Who did you want me to come here with? My husband?” This response moved me so much, I started following Hon. Pat Kaliyati’s comments. Other Malawian politicians I have watched and learned from them have been the late Rt. Hon. VP Saulos Chilima, former President Dr. Joyce Banda, late former VP Justin Malewezi, and Nancy Tembo.
It is still a vivid scene when Foreign Affairs minister (then minister in another portfolio) gave the department nightmares, because she was all over the place – countrywide, inspecting that the department was fulfilling expected mandates. At one center, she even told them to clean up their act and that she would be back to see if they had improved. All these interactions were through the media.
It is understandable that Malawians may be in a foul mood right now. Many of us are right there with you in this boat. But please, we must not let the rabble rousers, many of whom are being paid from out of country banks. Let us seriously look at the work of the government.
Whether you like him or not, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera is still the President of Malawi. Whether you like him or not, Dr. Usi is still the VP of Malawi. They have jobs to do, tasks to fulfill. In and outside the country. Malawians must start respecting the offices of the two top gentlemen mentioned above; this is a respect that their offices demand. By the Constitution.
Where did Malawians throw away the respect for authority? Where did Malawians throw away respect for the calls of duty of their professions? There is no country in the world that exists or survives under the type of mental carnage Malawi is going through. Almost every article in the paper is of one lone individual denigrating the authority of the land. Amongst them: Chakwera must resign, why is the president making so many trips, why did Chakwera dissolve the entire cabinet (a Constitutional right of presidents – he or she puts you there, he or she can take you out). It is in the Malawi Constitution; and all over the world, the president or Prime minister “appoints his/her cabinet”, Malawi has become a police state (please read the reason – because the police arrested someone spreading false news or impersonating journalists from an opposition media house!).
My fellow Malawians, let us collectively go to the garbage dump where we threw our democratic and national morals. Democracy is not giving yourself the right or power to bring chaos or disrespect to rules and laws of the land. Our elected leaders have a duty to 22 million Malawians (not to chief executives of one-person NGOs). The elected leaders have to ensure that we the people of the land are truly blessed and it is a land of peace.
My prayer is that as Malawians, we should fight hunger, disease, and envy; but let us ensure that we are disciplined, obedient to our laws, and we are united as a country, loyal to our political and national institutions.
This is what democracy is all about!
