In most cases, Malawians distort history while it is made, especially about politics, because they are usually prejudiced against truth that does not endorse their political opinions. Malawians usually want to be told what they want to hear, and when they are told something different, they tend to stick to what they think is the truth, even if it defies every logic and available facts.
I read an article yesterday on Maravipost entitled, “Solution to Allan Ntata Vs Ben Phiri: Malawi Politics,” which was published on Sunday, May 31 2015. The article is a very good example of how Malawians deliberately distort the making of history in our politics, reject available substantiated truth and opt for speculation that best feeds their unguided curiosity and suspicion.
The author of the article stated that there is a political problem between Allan Ntata and Ben Phiri, and the problem requires a political solution which must address the root cause. According to the author, the root cause of what he thinks is the problem between Ntata and Phiri is that Phiri is a greedy guy who wants everything for himself, and that President Mutharika lacks cultural manners of appreciating those that helped to put him in power. On Ntata, the author asserted that Ntata criticises Phiri because he needs a job which Phiri can get for him from the President. The author concluded the article by suggesting that Phiri should have secured a diplomatic post for Ntata somewhere far away in order to silence him.
The article is a sad example of distortion of truth, and history while it is made.
Before I get to my business, let me make it clear first, that I do not agree with Ntata continuously calling President Mutharika a Puppet and Phiri the Puppet Master because while these two may in some way relate in such type of a relationship, such titles are considered personal insults and demeaning of the Head of State. Ntata is entitled to his opinions and has the freedom to express them in every manner he deems right. I however, feel he needs to choose his words carefully, considering how Malawians understand certain type of words, unless he intentionally chooses such a word – which of course does not change my opinion that it is improper.
After giving my free advice to Ntata, let me now set the records straight on Allan Ntata and Ben Phiri to discourage erroneous sentiments that some facebookers, columnists and propagandists so dearly hold. I believe that both, Ntata and Phiri, would love the nation to remember them by truth of what really happened, and not by distorted facts.
First, Phiri is not greedy for failure to give Ntata a job neither does President Mutharika possess uncultured manners for failure to reward Ntata, because Phiri was appreciative and generous enough to consider Ntata for the post of Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), but Ntata himself turned down the offer. Ntata himself is on the record to have confirmed that Phiri told him that he had him considered for the post of ACB Director, and that it was out of his own will that he turned down the offer, because he was not interested to secure a job with government. It is therefore, illogical and a deliberate choice of ignorance to accuse Phiri of greed and failure to offer Ntata a job.
Second, Ntata’s criticism against DPP government are not a cry for a job as the author of the article I mentioned and some propagandists assert, because apart from turning down the consideration for the ACB post, it is a well known fact among interested parties, that Ntata has a job which I believe pays much better. Ntata works as Company Secretary for RAK Gas which is one of the oil companies in Malawi from the United Arab Emirates. Apart from that, he also does consultancy services for international organizations such as Transparency International. It is thus clear that the assertion that Ntata is only frustrated and needed a job from Phiri and Government can only come from individuals that are prejudiced or are lazy to research on individuals before they write or comment on their lives and motives.
Third, my observation is that there never was anything like “Allan Ntata vs Ben Phiri,” because while it is very true that Ntata has persistently criticised and attacked Phiri, something which I personally acknowledged in my previous article, Ntata’s main war is against mediocrities of DPP government in general. Phiri’s behaviour just happened to be one of the mediocrities that DPP needed to sort out. To appreciate that the interests of Ntata stretch beyond Phiri, we need to consider for instance, that Ntata was one of the first whistle-blowers on the sale of MSB and exposed the mysteries and evils surrounding the sale. Ntata also criticised the Public Service Reforms and recommended reducing the Presidential powers. Ntata also recommended on netting the big fish in the Cash-gate investigations and the need for Cash-gate criminals to return the stolen wealth to government. Ntata has shared a lot of issues of national interest which had nothing to do with Phiri.
Fourth, it is highly imperative to always remember how Malawian politics work. After Elections, the new governments always reward those that contributed remarkably towards a victorious election while throwing away liabilities. The new ruling party also employs those that it considers assets to its party and government, even if they were members or supporters of other Parties during campaign. Ntata is both, an asset and a remarkable contributor towards DPP success since the very first term of DPP Bingu’s regime; the late Bingu wa Mutharika, entrusted Ntata with strategy and several leading capacities on the ground and in the media during the 2009 Elections campaign which DPP won with a landslide victory. Again, Ntata’s contributions towards DPP 2014 campaign still linger fresh even in our short- term memories. Ntata did a great job, and that is the reason why some believe that he ought to have been rewards by Phiri and Mutharika.
Now, with this knowledge in mind, about Malawian politics and the history of Ntata with DPP, it is very easy to appreciate that Phiri and DPP could not have left Ntata out of the new government. Therefore, if Ntata does not have a job in government, then he definitely chose not to have the job, because that’s the only politically logical explanation and of course the truth.
Finally, having put the record straight on Ntata and Phiri, let me appeal to the DPP leadership, to put its house in order. The truth is that DPP is breaking and falling from inside. President Mutharika need to personally address the matter and heed the many voices whether from Cadets, Ntata, or anybody who has sense in what they say.