MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-In the week just ending, the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Zangazanga Chikhosi, released, on behalf of President , Dr Lazarus Chakwera, boards of directors for 67 parastatal organisations. The names thereto appear to have been drawn from virtually all the layers of the technocracy.

Thanks, Mr President, for the appointments! We could not wait any more to see such technocrats playing oversight roles in such entities on your behalf. As a matter of fact, the release of the names was long overdue but we understand how backbreaking such a task is! It involves a lot more of thoughtfulness, consultations and note sharing.

However, it was no surprise at all, barely a day or two, to hear some of the appointees declining the offer based on some valid reasons.

According to one Charles Kajoloweka, who was offered the job as a board member for the National Youth Council of Malawi, taking up such a position is more likely to compromise his full obligation of fighting for human rights and good governance. Kajoloweka further feels a human rights activist should not take up a government offered position because activism needs impartiality.

This sounds intelligent! It is said that experience is the best teacher. Previously, the teacher experience has shown that political leaders surround themselves with all barking dogs just to ensure they easily throw bones at them and shut their mouths as they are busy munching the stake that otherwise belongs to their subjects. This, in a way, atrophies the muscles of the watch dogs and in the end, it is the weak and the marginalised who continue to wallow in acute poverty.

Since President Chakwera ascended to power, he has really been busy with appointing technocrats into critical positions. It is undeniable that most of these appointees are very suitable ones, but then they are also the better known staunch critics of the previous administration.

Of course, we are not saying the incumbent president is appointing such personalities to silence them before he displays his true leadership styles, but we are only saying sometimes, experience teaches better!

Whilst Mr Kajoloweka is only declining his appointment on the account of his civic space activism, we cannot rule out some speculations that he is smartly dogging being dragged into a dungeon where he will be unable to voice out his resentments, on behalf of many Malawians who do not have such a space to do so, for his tongue will be tied to speak freely.

One other appointee is still sitting on the fence as to whether she should take up the job or not, because she is convinced that the President has flouted some gender based selection criteria.

During his campaign trails, President Chakwera used to promise Malawians that during his tenure of office, he will make sure that women should be given equal positions as men. That is in terms of ranks and numbers.

However, in the recent appointments, the number of women is conspicuously overshadowed by that of men. That is the more reason someone finds it more arguable that unless the president reviews that discrepancy, she will not take up the job because it is more of a mockery to women.

This is virgin truth, anyway! The President and his henchmen then, fed Malawians to indispensable hope that when they are entrusted with the political leadership, Malawi will never be the same. In fact, Malawi will be a new one!

Such decline of the appointments is testimonial enough that the appointing authority deliberately sidestepped some nitty-glitties here or there. Actually, it is another form of activism aimed at highlighting it to the appointers that they should see beyond! And it is never too late to make Malawi new in all aspects by simply walking the talk!