By Lyson Sibande
The official communication from Nkhoma Synod exposing fake reverends that visited Page House paints a very worrying picture about Peter Mutharika’s ability to execute sound judgment.
He was shamefully deceived by his Vice President for the Central Region Alfred Gangata and advisors.
They arranged a meeting for Mutharika to meet with over 40 fake reverends, allegedly, from Nkhoma Synod. Not just one or two, but more than 40 impostors made it to Page House under Mutharika’s watch.
This incident, while unbelievably shocking, portrays the reality of what happens when a leader gets too old to lead. His leadership gets increasingly undermined from within.
Instead of doing the donkey work of taking Mutharika out of Page House to meet and interact with community leaders and potential voters on the ground, which is understandably too difficult for the frail Mutharika, the inner circle has resolved to maintain optics by staging meetings that deceive not only the public but the former president himself.
This situation is characteristic of what happens across the world when political leaders age and begin to lose grip on the reins of power.
History has shown that once a leader crosses into advanced age, mostly beyond 80, they often become vulnerable to manipulation by those closest to them.
Instead of being eased into retirement with dignity, many are forced to remain in power just to be used as figureheads by ambitious younger politicians or family members seeking to rule from behind the curtain.
Malawi is no stranger to such dynamics. When Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda grew old, he was no longer in control of the administration.
Key figures like JZU Tembo and Mama Cecilia Kadzamira were making crucial decisions on his behalf.
During the Mwanza Murders Commission of Inquiry, Kamuzu himself admitted to being unaware of critical actions taken in his name, and he issued a public apology to the nation.
Across the border in Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe’s twilight years saw his wife, Grace Mugabe, amassing political power and influence through her proximity to the presidency.
She manipulated her husband to cling to power for her personal ambitions and interests of her close allies in the G40.
Sadly, the same warning signs are emerging within the DPP. Mutharika is no longer seen actively engaging with the electorate.
Frail and largely homebound, he is unable to conduct whistle-stop tours or interact with local communities in the way a vibrant leader would.
His advisors have opted to create false narratives of engagement to cover up his passiveness.
This raises a pressing question: if Mutharika is being tricked and getting manipulated now, what would happen should these same individuals accidently find themselves in government?
In his best years, Mutharika could have detected that the reverends brought to him were impostors.
Malawians must reflect deeply and ask themselves serious questions.
Mutharika is not the problem because age is a blessing from God.
But incompetent and crooked people surrounding him and manipulating him for their own interests and ambitions are the problem.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor
