Introduction:

I have always wondered as to whether Democracy is really “freedom” as it is touted by its advocates.

My uncompromising zeal of quest on this complex and may be less understood subject developed because of the way these advocates are championing this phenomenon worldwide and which is undoubtedly echoing on the entire planet earth.

America, to me that is, seems to be the custodian of this phenomenon and apparently seems to be winning the hearts of many, especially the so called “downtrodden” by autocratic regimes who have no regard at all for this “now popular buzz-word”.

America’s success in championing this “democracy phenomena” is clearly manifested in the collapse of the cold war. Russia’s dreams of being a global super power, one would assume, are now history worthy the archives.

The 61 Billion Kwacha Question:

In this epic journey of mine, Mr Jacob G Hornberger has shed some light on this seemingly simple subject which also seems to be controversial, at the same time.

One of the core tenets of American foreign policy is the encouragement of democracy around the world.

The implication is that if a country is democratic, the people within that country are free. But is democracy freedom?

And, this is my 61 BILLION Malawi Kwacha question!

America’s Scenario:

In 1787, the U.S. Constitution called the federal government into existence. The document provided that the president and the members of Congress would be elected. The Founders, however, did not stop there.

They proceeded to do something quite unusual – in fact, unique. They used the Constitution itself to expressly limit the powers of their own government officials. For example, Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution expressly limits Congress to the exercise of only 18 enumerated powers. Why?

Why would the Founders create a democratically elected government whose powers were extremely limited? Why not simply give unlimited power to the elected representatives to do whatever they believed was right for the people?

The rationale was twofold. First, the American people in 1787 didn’t trust government officials with political power, not even their own elected representatives. The second reason was more important.

The American people knew that democracy did not constitute freedom and that historically democracy posed an enormous threat to freedom.

Thus, in order to bring a national government, even a democratically elected one, into existence, the Framers of the Constitution had to convince the American people that the powers of their government would be extremely limited.

The underlying concerns were: 

•             How can we be certain that this new government will not infringe upon or even destroy our fundamental rights of life, liberty, and property? For example, what would prevent Congress from enacting a law requiring everyone to attend religious services? Or a law punishing people who criticized the government?

•             What would protect the exercise of such inherent fundamental rights as freedom of religion and freedom of speech from the tyranny of democratic rule?

The way out:

The defenders of the Constitution responded by pointing to the powers enumerated in Article 1, Section 8. They said, since the powers of the Congress were expressly limited to those enumerated, no one needed to fear that Congress would exercise additional powers that were not enumerated.

Since the power to regulate religion and speech, for example, was not enumerated, Congress would not be authorized to pass a law regulating such activities.

Still, the people were sceptical; knowing that throughout history, governments, even democratically elected ones, had ended up exercising tyrannical powers over the citizenry.

Thus, as a condition for approving the Constitution, the people in the respective states required a promise – a promise to enact the first 10 amendments to the Constitution –and this is what is termed the Bill of Rights.

The Bill of “Prohibitions”

The “Bill of Rights” is actually a misnomer. It would have been more appropriately called the “Bill of Prohibitions” because the amendments do not grant rights to the people, but rather expressly prohibit democratically elected government officials from interfering with fundamental (and pre-existing) rights of the people.

For example, the First Amendment reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.”

Still there were those who opposed the express protection of certain enumerated rights because it might imply, they suggested, that government officials would have the power to regulate rights that were not enumerated.

And this led to the passage of the Ninth Amendment: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

And thus began the most revolutionary political experiment in history. Never before had a people called a government into existence whose powers were limited by the very charter that brought it into existence. The American people had recognized – from the start – that democracy is not synonymous with freedom.

Democracy being, simply put: a convenient and peaceful method by which people can change  government officials.

To guarantee freedom, a further step was imperative and this was to use the Constitution to restrict the powers of their (democratically elected) government officials.

Democracy versus the principles of a constitutional republic:

In lieu of the afore-going, shouldn’t American policy makers spend less time extolling the virtues of democracy around the world and invest more in explaining the principles of a constitutional republic?

After all, in many democratic nations, elected public officials have omnipotent power over the lives and fortunes of the citizenry. The only real freedom that people in those countries have is the freedom to elect a new dictator/plunderer/looter-in-chief every so often.  And what can be great about this state of affairs?

(Part 2  reflects on this question based on the Malawi flawed form of democracy)

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p align=”center”>The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Maravi Post’s editorial policy

CONCERNED MALAWIANS IN DIASPORA AND MALAWI

THE HISTORIC MALAWIAN MAY 20^TH 2014 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES OPEN ADDRESS

The Country is Becoming Law-less Under-mining the Nation’s Portrayal as ‘The Warm Heart of Africa’:

Basic & Essential Agendas & Concerns 

1. Enormous killings of citizens in the streets & respective communities; on the other hand, in several cases, the Malawian citizens have taken matters into their own hands therefore underestimating the rule of law & governance which conduce either luck of discipline in the citizens & those residing in the nation or insufficient law & order
2. Massive defections of Political officials & parliamentarians back & forth from one party flow to another without basis & practicing Masanje politics diminishing their political standpoint & undermining their image as public figures to the citizens they supposedly elected to serve
3. Obsessive usage of profanity in the public arena & in congressional sessions during political commentaries & private engagements to tarnish the image of those across party lines
4. Absence of or insufficient accountability in elected officials erupting into various forms of corruption at Senior government officials, Junior level counterparts & Civic colleague (Civil Servants) & luck of policies that foster transparency in governance, public & private assert management in elected officials & civil servants
5. Epidemic registration of Political Parties whose agendas & political standpoint underestimates the basic needs & mental capability of Malawian Citizens, political, social, academic, religious & economic status of the Nation at large & especially when it comes to the time for democratic elections, majority of such parties merges with respective major political parties in showing support as opposed to standing as independent entities with differing policies which questions the legitimacy of political entities with such calibers and motives in acquiring their establishments as independent political parties
6. Appointments of individuals without merit in public & private posts either by withholding democratic elections or apparently favorable positioning of personnel without basic qualifications or lucking standards: This includes posts of influence within the nation & abroad

 Major & Essential Agendas & Concerns:

1. The Border Dispute on Lake Malawi: How will you & the proposed administration tackle the ongoing border disputes raised by The Republic of Tanzania on The Republic of Malawi. How will you & the proposed administration engage those across party lines to resolve & cease the matter once & for all with the neighbouring Republic of Tanzania while retaining the serenity that has persisted between the two nations ever since both countries gained independence from the colonial powers in the 1960s (19th century)
2. The Donor Dependency & Economic Development: What are you & the proposed administration planning to do in minimizing donor dependency for an incomparable economic development & foster an enduring fiscal resurgence processes. What appropriate measures will you & the proposed administration implement to improve the social & economic status of the nation & its citizens while improving the expansion of exporting commodities and diminishing the importing of goods that can by far either be produced or manufactured in the country. During the late 80s & early 90s, Malawi was introduced to the ‘Best Buy Malawian’ (BBM) logo during the Ngwazi, Dr. Kamuzu Banda and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration. The inventiveness escalated into massive improvements of commodities produced & manufactured in Malawi while strengthening the Malawian Kwacha to the point that in 1992 the exchange rate of the Malawian Kwacha to American Dollar was K1 to $2 and later sky rocketed after the Referendum in 1994 during Multi Party System where by the exchange rate initially became K1 to $5, then increased to $7 and then jumped into $10, $15, $20, $25 as time passed by and now over $400 two decades later during successive administrations. What do you think caused such an abrupt modification that redundantly poured into an economic meltdown to the point that most previously long running companies that were established either before or after independence that benefited during the BBM era found themselves downsizing, privatizing & at times completely closing down. Most of all, increased pricing of everyday common goods surfaced in the entire nation for the Malawi consumer whose average cost of living sky rocketed whereas the earnings remained at a standard level. Such companies are the likes of Lever Brothers, Mulanje Peak, David Whitehead & Sons, Bata Shoe Company, Universal Biscuits, Malawi Milk Marketing (MMM), Limbe Leaf Tobacco, Press Produce, Shoe Rubber, etc. What would you and the proposed administration situate to encourage stabilization of the Kwacha Currency against most favorable foreign currencies in avoidance of these types of calamity that has heavily affected trade & industry, the financial status of the country & the livelihood of ordinary citizens who depends on these manufactured products and produce for everyday survival
3. Academic Shortfalls & Advancement: How will you & the proposed administration raise the standard of the primary, secondary & tertiary education & hold these institutions accountable in their failures or reward incentives for accomplishments in providing the best academic environment for the pupils & students in institutions of higher learning and at primary & secondary levels. What is your intake in massive closings of respective academic institutions both governmental & private entities: How will you minimize & change the status that has captivated the Malawian media & hold The Malawian educational system captive of its own mercenaries. What measures will be implemented to resolve the malice of such barren tactics & the predicament of enormous academic institutions without accreditation
4. Foreign & Local Investors & Local Patrons: What policies will you & the proposed administration execute to attract conducive Foreign & Local Investors that will lender support in improving the social, economic & academic status of the Malawian citizens & residents inclusive of infrastructures in the nation as a whole, the proper continual maintenance of such developments and further continuity of current and future initiatives without neither interruption nor ceasing projects that are beneficial to the nation especially commonly observed in cases where the initial initiatives were administered by an administration of cross party lines
5. Recreational Development & Agricultural Scheme: What recreational developments will you & the proposed administration articulate to progress current structures & attract foreign & local investments coupled with intense tourism that will exert a lucrative potential towards the country. What basic & advanced measures will you & the proposed administration advocate for to attain enhanced & competitive Agricultural practices at the world markets. The Tobacco industry worldwide has decreased the buying value of raw materials (Tobacco Leaf) and yet have increased the marketing cost of the finished product (Cigarettes) as a resultant to the health concerns and a worldwide campaign to stop smoking Nicotine for the extreme addictive nature to smokers & non-smokers alike whom risk developing cancerous cells that causes cancer, a chronic disease that has threatened and taken many people’s lives. However, Tobacco remains the number one export commodity in Malawi which brings in approximately over 60% in revenue to the country’s economy together with all agricultural produce besides being the major export for Malawi. Tobacco Farmers in Malawi have suffered tremendously over time as a resultant of this sudden change to the produce that has profoundly maintained the livelihood of emerging local growers and affecting the economic status of the mercantile. What will you and the proposed administration either deter or endorse the superlative technique that would not compromise the advancement of either seasoned gurus or puerile domicile agents either presently or impending to emerge in the industry without drastically affecting their former, current & future endeavors whether in the industry or supplementary avenues
6. Office of Diaspora Region & Foreign Affairs: The Office of Diaspora has been formulated & launched by The Current President of The Republic of Malawi, Her Excellency, Madam Joyce Hilda Mtila Banda: From your stand point together with the proposed administration, how will your office of President & Cabinet & the proposed administration advance the initiative of the Office of Diaspora region & draft a proficient & efficient approach to the targeted audience that would grant mutual benefit with the Malawian counterparts residing in Malawi. How will you & the proposed administration guarantee that the Malawian Embassy Offices & Personnel conducts business in a manner where Malawi is efficiently represented in conducive to Malawians within the Diaspora Region & those residing back home in Malawi.
7. Dual Citizenship: Dual citizenship has been one of the foremost agenda on Malawians residing in the Diaspora Region. There is an assumption that Dual Citizenship could either be of reciprocal benefit to those abroad & Malawians living back home or absolutely detrimental to the nation; What would you & the proposed administration ingest on such a topic & approach a suitable development in attainment to a resolution on the subject matter
8. Unemployment Dilemma: How will you & the proposed administration amend the nation’s growing unemployment rate that is presently escalating appallingly & rapidly and foster a new era to the nation’s over growing youth populace whom either leave or finish the primary & secondary educational systems but cease to proceed for tertiary studies & those graduating from institutions of higher learning and an enormous middle aged group from all walks of life
9. The Healthcare System & Hospital Shortages: What will be the preeminent approach from you and the proposed administration to the healthcare predicament in Malawi which as compared to other nations across the globe have been ranking at an inappropriately stumpy phase for the ordinary Malawian citizenry even with an overflowing presence of pharmaceutical companies manufacturing drugs that could be dispensed within the nation and yet, are improperly exploited as feasible suppliers of drugs to the country’s healthcare crisis in various circumstances for the majority of the healthcare amenities whereby patients are dying at an alarming rate from incredibly frequently preventable diseases. What will be a suitable approach from you and the proposed administration in the case of an overwhelmingly rising capacity of healthcare clinics with incompetence of administering an enormous quantity of outpatients & acute critical care patients, the scarcity of exceptional maximum service hospitals in all Malawian Districts & most of all, adequate facilities
10. Boarder Security & Human Trafficking: There has been a devastatingly increased smuggling of foreigners into the country and an epidemic human trafficking of Malawian citizens across all major borders in all corners of the Southern, Central & Northern Regions of the country which literally threatens the overall homeland security in the nation, the populace & the wellbeing of our foreign counterparts and neighboring nations. The porous boarders apparently conduces a high volume of drug smuggling & cartels, an elevated illegitimate trade of commodities & precious rare excavated goods as natural & mineral resources without proper tariff which bounds to be even more costly to the nation’s progress and development. What will be the most appropriate and conscience measure that you and the proposed administration will considerably anchor to either possibly diminish or intensively cease once & for all the permeability of the entire bordering system for an utmost security of the nation at large and our neighboring countries with integrity and dignity in avoidance of violating human rights

1. Essential Agendas With National Interest & Concerns:

1. The Youth Coalition & Sports:

1. The Malawi National Football Team (Flames) & The Malawi National Netball Team (Queens), their respective technical panels & administrative officials have been obviously underfunded & partially supported by the governing bodies to fully exercise their potential & expertise in the trade. This matter comprises of various facilities & equipment employed for an even more successful competency at an international level and yet are expected to perform beyond their aptitude given less than enough training time & resources
2. Sports is a form of art that could be incredibly beneficial to the youth & an exceptionally lucrative industry if efficiently capitalized & fully furnished by either the incumbent officials or corporate & private sponsors
3. Employment formation for the youth is essential to empower them with expertise in various arenas that would create occupations for the young populace as leaders of tomorrow & the future of the nation who will be influential in shaping the nation & carrying out the state affairs for the country’s impending progression
4. What would you & the proposed administration do to make certain that the Malawians & especially the youth optimize the trades into a complete advantage for mutual benefit to the sponsors, the government, the entire crew members & the country with more appealing incentives whereas ensuring imparting leadership proficiency in the young people for diverse avenues
5. The Quota System Policies in University Selection: The Quota System policies have deprived many young men & women from exercising their potential in life & the system aught to be amended to increase competency in the schools of higher learning & encourage the youth from pursuing their life long dreams & aspirations                 

What would your government & the proposed administration do to modify the Quota System that has presently been situated & deprived a myriad promising adolescent Malawians from pursuing their studies in the Malawian Government academia & reinstate either the formerly or more decent system that would persuade the young Malawians from attaining a more suitable future for besides they are the future of the nation & potential leaders of tomorrow whom once invested vigilantly could contribute & further become an assert to a rather defining moment of the Malawian society & may be the political, social, economic, spiritual or academic structure of the continent of Africa in the new millennium

Jumani Kamuzu Banda paternal Case & His Excellency, Ngwazi Dr. Kamuzu Banda Will:

The Case of Juman Kamuzu Banda is of National interest for Malawian Citizenry as a child whom Malawians in Malawi & the Diaspora Region assess from all physical evidence seem to depict him as an official heir of the Father & Founder of the Malawian Nation & First President of the Republic of Malawi, His Excellency, Ngwazi Dr. Kamuzu Banda

The Case of a missing Will of The Father & Founder of The Malawi Nation is absurd & despicable to the Nation at large in a World stand point & The Government aught to do something to minimize such obnoxious stance

 What would you & the proposed administration do to have a final resolution to these subject matters that should have never been ignored & foster a DNA testing so as to come into conclusion of the status quo without forgetting impending case of the official will which should have been resolved far way back after the encounter occurred which is terrifically unfortunate & should have never lingered

The Madonna Case & Ministry of Education:

The Minister of Education, Honorable Eunice Kazembe came to the Media to denounce Madonna’s Raising Malawi Organization from claiming that they have teamed up with BuildOn to Build ten (10) primary schools after abandoning the original project where there were misappropriation of funds by the Malawian superiors that were in charge of orchestrating the prominent project & suing the singer in return which seems very unfortunate & unwelcoming for those whom would assure fostering development & encouraging pursuits to the economic, social & academic development in the country

What would your government & the proposed administration do to petition a new encouraging message to those whom see the encounter as a setback to their developmental engagements in Malawi & endowments of necessities to the nation

Excessive Presidential Motorcade & Extreme Traveling of The Number One Citizen:

The country has experienced an enormous economic meltdown from the devaluation of the country currency which has affected the nation’s financial treasuries, yet the number one citizen & the current administration and other previous administrations ever since the Referendum & Democratic governance have amassed tax payers capital in excessive traveling abroad & within the country even under circumstances where the project or engagement could be carried out by either our Malawian Foreign Representatives, Diplomats, Malawian Dignitaries or further Public Officials

What would you & the proposed administration do to minimize such excessive roving creating an enormous deficit in the economic governance & business of the nation & depicting a burden in the governmental essential financial reservoirs

 Systematic Electoral Organization to Administer All Major Malawian Elections:

Malawian Democratic elections are a source of pride to the nation & a milestone achievement of essence to the Malawian citizen given the uncertainties of Democracy in various African countries & most parts of the world at large, therefore should be very much respected by the governing body in the nation & should be absolutely free of redundant interference from any political entity & selfish intrusions of all sorts

How would you & the proposed administration ensure that the laws & rules of engagements in the electoral commission organization are being esteemed

 Power Shortages by The Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM):

Power shortages & mismanagement of the main supplier of electricity in the nation, The Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM) is disheartening. The persistence of unprecedented occurrence of unwarranted scarcity of electricity supply in the country is agonizing and repulsive to every nature of investment that would endorse national development & universal progress for the country to be consistently competitive in the global market. There aught to be a practicable resolution to these sorts of negligence

What will you & the proposed administration embark upon in this dilemma to attract foreign benefactor & local patrons & shareholders

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) & Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs):

Non-governmental organizations & non-profit organizations accumulate thousands & millions of monetary donations from the society in good fortitude to assist in the various services & products the respective organizations convey to their relevant audience & have meticulously impacted our communities tremendously in a variety of ways. However, there are numerous human exploitations such as, abuse of power, corruption, racketeering & money laundering, just to name a few, in the name of providing good will services & merchandise that emerge apparently due to inadequate government monitoring & unaccountability practices of these associations & absence of independent auditing entities for such institutions

What standards will your government & the proposed administration implement to restrain such reprehensible practices in avoiding abuse of resources & probably eliminate all together these establishments from taking advantage of the situation & the most vulnerable individuals those whom supposedly benefit from the particular services

To learn more about concerned Malawians in Diaspora And Malaw iVisit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/concernedmalawiansindiasporaandmalawi

E-mail Address: concernedmalawians@gmai.com

Read Part 1 Introduction to Concerned citizens in Diaspora and Malawi

Concerned Malawians in Diaspora and Malawi is a group of Concerned Malawian citizens whose moral values have been shaken by politics of self-enrichment and business as usual governments at the expense of a common Malawian citizen.

  Various issues of national importance have been apparently left unattended or ignored all together by our Elected Officials and Civic Personnel whose duties appropriates them in decision making of respective Agendas of both national importance and international interest.  After commemoration of the 49^th Independence Day, Saturday, July 6^th, 2013, from the British Colonial Power, the Warm Heart of Africa has unfortunately been deprived of progress crippling the image of the apparent meaning of a Free State with Sovereign Laws and Order.

As concerned patriotic Malawian citizens with strong affiliations in the Republic of Malawi, living both abroad and in Malawi, we as a group felt compelled to address the concerns facing a common Malawian Citizen.  Moving forward into a progressive direction as the country celebrates its Bi-Centennial Anniversary of its separation from the brutal rule of the colonial masters who practiced the Thangata System of governance during the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, group believes our Elected Officials and Civic Personnel owe every Malawian citizen to exercise their private and civic engagements accordingly.

Concerned Malawians in Diaspora And Malawi is a non-partisan group comprised of Concerned Patriotic Malawians Citizens whose conscience and belief in GOD compels us to address our next President of the enchanting beautiful land of the Republic of Malawi, the most profound question at every patriotic Malawian’s foremost Agenda which would be, “why should Malawians feel compelled to choose you among all other candidates running for presidency during the Malawian Historic May 2oth, 2014, Tripartite Elections?”

On a daily basis, Malawians have been currently challenged with irregularities on major issues affecting their livelihood and putting the country at the most trying moment in the history of the Lender of Sunshine ever since independence.  Concerned Malawians in Diaspora And Malawi have compiled Malawi Citizens Agendas and Concerns that the Presidential Candidates can address as they run their campaigns for Md alawians to disseminate the information accordingly and vote for a rightful candidate with their best interest at heart in the next May 20^th, 2014 Historic Presidential Elections.

NOTE: Most of the May 20^th, 2014 Historic Tripartite Elections Presidential Candidates have not amassed an Official Party Manifesto detailing the Administration in question basic practices and its Presidency Principles and Goals for the Malawians and the country besides having contended in the respective Party primaries and national campaigns for comparatively an extensive period now.

Concerned Malawians in Diaspora And Malawi intends to foster elimination of ‘Who Knows Who’ type of politics customarily practiced  in most of the countries in the entire Continent of Africa and merging an environment of ‘Who is Who’ in the Malawian Political Arena and the Emerging Leaders.  As proud Africans, we believe the Malawians most of all should set the standards even higher for the entire continent of Africa to follow in voting Elected Officials into government for mutual benefits of the citizens and the continent.

Read List Of Concerned to be addressed by Candidates here

 Brief Bio on Lucy Chitembeya:

Lucy Chikumbutso K. Chitembeya is a Malawian who resides in the United States of America in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta, Georgia.  She considers herself as a Global citizen.  Ms. Chitembeya commenced primary education at the modest Kasungu Local Education Authority Primary School in Kasungu District and attained PSLC in 1987 at the prominent Nambuma Girls Boarding School in Dowa District where she furthered her elementary studies.   After attending the prestigious Phwezi Girls Secondary, she obtained JCE and achieved MSCE, equivalence of O Levels.  She then progressed to Central State University, a historically black institution (HBCU), for tertiary education in Wilberforce, Ohio, where she triumphed with the Bachelor of Science Degrees in Biology Pre-Medicine and Chemistry.  Central State University apparently obligates a powerfully meritorious connection to the Republic of Malawi from whence the Father and Founder of the Malawian nation, His Excellency, Ngwazi, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, trace his academic heritage.  The First and Former President of the Republic of Malawi inherited his intellectual pedigrees at the then Wilberforce Academy which presently embraces the contemporary privately preserved HBCU institution, the Wilberforce University and one of Ohio State funded HBCU, the conspicuous pedestal academia, the Central State University.  His Excellency, Ngwazi, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, proceeded his studies at the enchanting Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and University of Chicago where he attained the Premedical Degree, Economics and History Bachelor of Arts Degrees, respectively.  He then succeeded at the expounding Mehary Medical College in Tennessee where he obtained his American Medical Doctorate Degree.  His Excellency, Ngwazi, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda at this juncture flourished in the sentiments of the prestigious University of Edinburgh where he acquired another Medical Doctorate Degree from the United Kingdom after being repudiated of practicing medicine with an American Medical Doctorate Degree. 

Blantyre, Malawi, Jan. 20 (MaraviPost) _ The High Court in Blantyre Monday started hearing a case whose outcome may determine the future of Malawi homophobic laws.

Centre for Development of People (CEDEP), a civil rights group that campaigns for minority rights including those for sexual minorities, took government to court to review the conviction of three men who are serving long jail terms for their homosexual acts.

In 2011 by a lower court, the Blantyre Magistrates’ Court, sentenced Amon Champyuni, Mathews Bello and Mussa Chiwisi to between six and 12 years imprisonment with hard after falling afoul of Malawi’s tough homophobic laws. Under the southern African country’s laws unnatural acts and buggery can earn a convict a maximum of 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.

Gift Trapence, CEDEP’s Executive Director, said the activists want the court to declare the laws that criminalise homosexuality in Malawi unconstitutional.

“As long as same-sex relationships are consensual and done in private, no one has business to get bothered,” he said.

A number of civil rights groups, including the Malawi Law Society, have rallied behind CEDEP in fighting for the nullification of the country’s homophobic laws.

But Chief State Advocate Zolomphi Nkowani argued that the three men flouted Malawi laws as they are at the moment.

Justice Dunstain Mwaungulu, one of Malawi’s liberal judges, is hearing the case.

Malawi’s homophobic laws gained global notoriety in December 2009 when the country’s first openly gay couple, Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza, were arrested for performing a public wedding engagement ceremony. They spent five months in jail without bail until in May 2010 when they were convicted for ‘unnatural offenses’ and ‘indecent practices between males’ and were subsequently jailed for 14 years imprisonment with hard labour in what presiding Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa famously dubbed as ‘scary sentence’.

The conviction and long sentence got worldwide condemnation. It had to take no lesser a personage than United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who flew to Lilongwe, to secure a grudging pardon from then President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Despite that case Malawi’s largely conservative society is still homophobic so much that when President Joyce Banda, who took over power after Bingu WA Mutharika suddenly died of heart attack in April 2012, was roundly condemned when she called on Parliament to review the country’s homophobic laws in her first State of the Nation address in May 2012.-maravipost

As Malawi gears up for elections in May 2014, the politicisation of the cash-gate scandal, house and money deals by the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) threatens the elections and have become major electoral issues. This is due to the long standing rivalry between the PP and the DPP and then the DPP and the United Democratic front (UDF).

There has been a significant debate in Malawi on whether or not an alliance can save Malawi from her political, economic and social predicament.

This article seeks to answer the question as to what would be the implication of Peter Mutharika, presidential aspirant of the DPP giving up his presidential ambitions and teaming up with Atupele Muluzi of the UDF. What would be consequences of a Joyce Banda win for Mutharika’s political life.

Bravery

It would take an exceptional act of bravery to give up ones presidential ambitions and take up a junior role. But if this would sustain ones political life why not go for it.

The act of bravery being discussed here is that of Peter Mutharika forming an alliance with Atupele Muluzi of the UDF. It is not a secret that the relationship between DPP and UDF is lukewarm. Former President Bakili Muluzi (Atupele’s father) stage-managed the Presidency of Bingu (Peter’s brother).

When Bingu became President, he dumped the UDF and formed his party, the DPP; he then started persecuting Bakili to the point of arresting his son, Atupele. Peter is Bingu’s brother who was a cabinet minister in his brother’s government.

Taking into account the Kenyan model, which both DPP and UDF should like, Mutharika and Atupele should lock themselves into serious talks.

Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, two bitter political rivals shelved their bitterness to form an alliance that has seen their political lives change forever.

 Background

“We have agreed we are uniting on behalf of the people of Kenya. Our alliance is not for fighting anyone. We are uniting for the sake of the people of Kenya”. (Uhuru Kenyatta, speaking at a rally in Eldoret )

This was just political rhetoric from Uhuru, the truth of the matter was that had the two bitter political rivals not come together Raila Odinga was going to win and it was then for certain that they were going to rot at the Hague. Odinga could have twisted the arm harder for them.

In 2007, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto were in two opposite camps. Then the elections ended up into an ugly scene that saw some 1200 people killed and 300 000 forced from their homes.

Kenyatta and Ruto operating from opposite camps were accused of orchestrating the violence. Both men deny playing key roles in the violence, which followed the 2007 elections.

Marriage of Convenience

Having realised that the only way to champion their political ambitions, Kenyatta and Ruto buried the hatchet and settled for a deal-and it is this deal that made the two political rivals to become best friends and are now ruling Kenya.

It is this alliance that threw away the hottest presidential favourite, Raila Odinga out of the political window.

And this is how Kenyatta and Ruto sorted out their differences, they organised a rally, which was also attended by large number of Kikuyu (Uhuru’s tribe) and Kalenjin (Ruto’s tribe) members of parliament. It was then announced that a committee drawn from members of parliament from the two communities would be formed to bring peace between these two communities, which had occupied antagonistic positions during post election violence. They marketed their alliance in a very powerful way and soon won the hearts of Kenyans. Over time the working relations between Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto morphed into an ever-expanding alliance.

Today, they are both happy.

 Advice to Peter Mutharika

A Joyce Banda victory, which is most likely without an alliance, will see the end of Peter Mutharika and DPP.

If there is anybody telling Peter Mutharika that he will win the elections h/she is just after your money (mind you, its not an impossibility).

The Timau crew is offering you free advice just as we did with your late brother Bingu. After May, Joyce Banda will see you off. If they are talking of confisicating your houses , freezing your bank accounts now what more after May 2014? The only solution is to go into an alliance. There are many reasons for you, Mutharika to do that, Atupele is young and fitting in today’s political arena, Atupele has got a likeability factor, Atupele has got no crime anyone can point at, in short, he is neat as a new pin.

The people who were advising Bingu to listen to his own words are now with Joyce Banda…busy advising her to squeeze you (Mutharika) come May 2014, Mutharika, you will be a dead man walking after being squeezed hard. Joyce Banda will stop at nothing for her to fulfil her ambition of ruling Malawi for 10 years.

Fact: Malawi will be a hostile place for you, Peter Mutharika to live in if Joyce Banda wins in May. Sorting it out now is your only solution hence the alliance with Atupele.

 Negativity

If we waste time looking at the negativity of the alliance it will not help anyone.

The blueprint is already there and this is the Kenyan Model.

Don’t even waste time to think, it worked with Kenyans, talk to them.  Go for a 50-50 representation. Have trust and faith in one another but above all it is for DPP’s own safety.

 Conclusion

It is for real that the Kenyan political model is a blue print that will change Peter Mutharika’s political career forever.

Advice when adhered to and followed can be beneficial. A more day-to-day example would be,  “Aids kills-use protective measures”, “don’t drink and drive”, if this advice is adhered to we can see that the benefits can outweigh the consequences.

Next: Is an MCP/DPP alliance good for Malawians?

sembegondwe@yahoo.com

“Political necessities
sometimes turn out
to be
political mistakes”
George Bernard Shaw

 It seems the People’s Party took its ‘open lock’ symbol a bit too literally.

What was the ruling party thinking to open up its primaries to all and sundry? It beggars belief what political strategy the party had adopted.

Look, the essence of holding party primary elections is for delegates or party members to express themselves as to which person best represents the party, its policies, ideas, ideals, principles – or to put it simply – its guiding ideology.

For instance, delegates of the Democratic Party in the US had to choose who between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton best represented what the Democrats stood for. That is why it was not every Jim and Jack who called himself a Democrat who was allowed to make this choice on behalf of the party. It was the ‘delegate’ who formed the ‘electoral college’.

Those who form these ‘electoral colleges’ are office bearers of the party like constituency chairmen, secretaries, women or youth representatives and such like. These delegates are deemed to have sufficient knowledge of what their party stands for so much so that they can “judge” who, among the aspirants, would best serve their party’s interests.

It is, therefore, mind-boggling what PP strategists were high on to allow every constituent, regardless of party affiliation, to vote in its primaries.

So you would have a person who had no clue what the ‘open lock’, the ruling party’s symbol, means on its flag voting for an individual to represent the party in Parliament. How can that be?

Look, when one is campaigning for primary elections, or indeed any elective position at a party convention, one does not hold open mass rallies to woe voters. One visits party delegates who will vote at the primary elections. So one would go to an area within the constituency and literally meet only four or seven people in the area committee as these are the only people allowed to vote.

Have you ever seen a person conducting a mass rally wooing people to vote for him in party primaries? Only a lunatic would do that because not all the people at the mass rally may be delegates or even that person’s party members.

Primary election campaign must be targeted at – and be exclusive for – those that form the electoral college. So for PP to allow all and sundry to vote at its primary elections is really madness of the highest order.

But, that said, why would a party with very respectable people in its rank and file who are not schizophrenic make such a mad decision?

Several factors may be at play here.

Firstly, perhaps most importantly, the orange party had no clue as to how to constitute an ‘electoral college’ because it has no structures on the ground. So, with no structures and no office bearers, the party could not think of how to come up with an electoral college since everybody would dispute it.

In that case, a lesser evil would be to open up – true to its ‘open lock’ symbol – hoping such fishing expedition may yield a desirable candidate.

After all, so the thinking at the party headquarters at Manase could have gone, the next party too does not have a mechanism of recruiting and registering members any way. All parties in Malawi, Wakuda Kamanga could have whispered to Paul Maulidi, do not have members, but rather supporters.

So why not just open up the primaries to each and every registered voter in the constituency and hope that each one of them will vote the same come May 20?

Or may be it was not such a crazy idea after all? May be PP was doing a ‘dry run’, some kind of a ‘mock general election’ so as to check how strong or weak it is.

But PP must be ruing such a crazy decision looking at how the mighty in its rank and file have fallen. Look, you cannot have whole party spokespeople, campaign directors and secretaries general, to say nothing of cabinet members, falling by the way side. It means something did not go right somewhere.

By literally actualising its ‘open lock’ policy PP opened itself up to infiltration from other interests.

This is how I mean: DPP, UDF or MCP have their preferred candidates in all constituencies across the country. Given a chance to vote in PP primaries, shrewd DPP, UDF or MCP types will surely rally behind weak ruling party candidates who would be mince meat for their preferred candidates during the actual national vote.

Did the PP strategists and backroom staff not think about these things when planning for the primaries? Just look at how the ‘mighty’ have fallen in the primaries. PP has scored an own goal for trying to be clever.

Now, less than five months to D-Day, the ruling party – accidental as it sadly is – has to strategise how to clean up the mess. Some of the crème la crème in the party have tumbled during the primaries because of the ill advised, if not – excuse the crude term, stupid ‘open lock’ policy.

The bigwigs that have tumbled will not go without a fight. They will take their route to Parliament via the ‘Independence Drive’ if you get my drift.

This, ask one Bakili Muluzi, will spell doom for the ruling party.

The party’s has belatedly realised that it was being stupid all along and has belatedly abandoned the ‘open lock’ policy mid-stream. But this may not benefit it anything. Changing the system mid-stream is disastrous for all those who have lost with the ‘open lock’ policy will – justifiably, I dare say – demand re-runs.

Look, they will be justified to claim that they lost due to a faulty process and therefore demand ‘justice’ or go solo should Manase reject their demands.

The party has boxed itself in a ‘lose-lose’ situation because rejecting to re-run the primaries or doing them will still leave the party bruised. If they re-run the primaries and those who won during the faulty first round lose they will not accept the results and go solo.

So whatever decision the party will take it will still come out wilth egg all over its face. Whatever may have been the reasoning behind this ‘open lock’ madness the results are a train wreck, trust me.

PP strategists must stop procrastinating and accept that they goofed big time. But they can still salvage the situation if they handle the ‘losers’ properly.

Statements by the party CEO Paul Maulidi that the primaries sieved chaff from wheat are not helpful for they will only succeed in angering the losers even more. To prove that they are not chaff they will not be talked out of going solo.

Ask Bakili Muluzi what independents can do to a party.

As news of the controversial Nigerian law banning same-sex marriages continues to make headlines worldwide, renowned Prophet T.B. Joshua has spoken out on the contentious issue.

Through a new initiative on his ministries official Facebook page in which the cleric responds to people’s questions in an interactive session, he addressed the much debated question on same-sex marriage.

“Judge not, so that you will not be judged,” Joshua began, citing Matthew 7:1 for Scriptural backing. “We should talk to people to be saved and not to die. I mean, we should talk salvation, not condemnation. The Bible is my standard,” he continued in the post to almost 900,000 fans.

“If my parents were one, I would not have been given birth to,” he proceeded poignantly. “Those that are asking this question – if your parents were one, you would not have been given birth to. You that are reading me – if your parents were one, you would not be reading this today. God bless the reader and the hearer.”