Kaliwo; Said to be working round the clock with mercenary Lawyers to vacate injunction
BLANTYRE—Despite Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Professor Lazarus Chakwera extending an olive branch to a rebellious faction to bury the hatchet and join hands in rebuilding the party; this rebbelious faction, led by the party’s Secretary General Gustav Kaliwo and former spokesperson Jessie Kabwira, are both in words and action, not willing to retreat and work for the common good of the party. Continue reading Exposed! DPP sponsors Kaliwo to attempt to vacate MCP’s Chakwera injunction against convention→
Mia (L) with Tanzania President Magufuli and to the Right is Jessie Kabwira
General Background:
Speaking to his fellow Muslims on this year’s Eid al-Fitr, the arguably Lower Shire Political giant Sidik Mia, assured his fellow Muslim faithful that gathered at his Chikwawa Nkombezi base, that he will continue to walk with them. For starters, Mia is one of the wealthy business men in the country and as a practicing Muslim, he believes in sharing with the poor—both Muslims and non-Muslims— the blessings that God bestows on him. Stories are told of how Mia orders slaughter of tens and tens of goats and cattle and share the meat to his fellow Muslims to celebrate together on such an important day in the Muslim Calendar. His Mia foundation—a charity organization— is also another success story to the less privileged across the country. Continue reading Malawi road to 2019: Why Mia is an asset & Kabwira a liability in MCP→
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) Publicity Secretary Jessie Kabwira this week, welcomed the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) olive branch that was extended to her by the MCP President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera last week. The olive branch extended at a NEV meeting, is for the building of the Party ahead of 2019 elections.
The main opposition Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) Vice President Richard Msowoya has come out of the cocoon on the rumors of Former Transport Minister Mohammed Sidik Mia vying for his post saying only the convention will decide presidential candidates for 2019 general elections.
Msowaya who is also Malawi Parliament’s Speaker sentiments comes a few days after The Maravi Post carried an article that the Lower Shire political giant was planning to join MCP.
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost) – Former Transport Minister Mohammed Sidik Mia, is bouncing back from the four-year political hibernation with the announcement that he is joining the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ahead of 2019 general elections.
This confirms rumors lingering in political circles of his comeback after resignation in 2013, when he was served as cabinet minister during the Joyce Banda’s administration.
There are reports flying around that former Speaker of Parliament, Chimunthu Banda is planning to come out of retirement and re-join the DPP with the objective of becoming that party’s running mate to Peter Mutharika in 2019.
Other reports indicate that Sidik Mia, formerly of UDF, DPP and the PP has now crossed his heart and sworn total and unadulterated allegiance to the Malawi Congress Party, also with the ambition of becoming that party’s running mate to Dr Lazarus Chakwera in 2019.
Without equivocation, let me declare openly that the idea of these people still believing they can still contribute to the Malawian political scene is as disgusting as the Malawian political framework that allows for such political prostitution to happen, and as pathetic as we, the people who allow these political prostitutes to continue ruining our country with their lack of morals.
These people are essentially failures; political harlots that have no other objective now but to glean as much personal financial gain as possible from the Malawi government coffers before they die.
Personally, I stand with Marcus Cicero’s observation that “Greed and corruption in old age is foolish; for what can be more absurd than to increase one’s provisions for the road, the nearer one approaches the journey’s end?”
What more does Mia or Chimunthu Banda got to offer Malawian politics?
To be totally frank, I don’t even believe that ageing warhorses like Peter Mutharika and Lazarus Chakwera should be the people we bank our national hopes on in 2019.
Let us think carefully about this. Why on earth would we want another five years of Peter Mutharika? And what has Lazarus Chakwera done in his time as opposition leader to demonstrate that he could be the next, Malawian Magufuli? I will tell you the answer. Nothing!
So, what is this suicidal love we have for geriatrics in our politics? Is it not clear that these old guys are ruining the country? Peter Mutharika? Has anyone sat close to Goodall Gondwe in a meeting lately? Are you sure the old man is not senile? Do I even have to say anything at all about George Chaponda? Shouldn’t these grandparents be at home enjoying retirement?
Surely there must come a time in every politician’s life when he must recognise that the old wineskins are no longer good enough for the new political wine. It is important when such moments arrive to accept respectably the inevitable and go out with dignity.
This is the mark of true statesmanship. Is it not curious and even tragic that failed politicians like Mia and Chimunthu are continuing to cling on to the political podium and refusing to accept their call to statesmanship?
Why do they prefer, instead, to paint ugly blemishes on their sometimes-distinguished career walls by clinging to a political career that is clearly past its sell-by date?
It is sad to see obviously clueless politicians Like Goodall Gondwe and Peter Mutharika still believing they can contribute their old and out-dated ideas to the contemporary and rapidly changing political agenda particularly when those politicians have been tried on the Malawian political scales, and found desperately wanting.
Sidik Mia and Chimunthu Banda and all these other old and recycled politicians need to stop trying to be in every political administration that forms government and follow the dignified example set by such luminaries as Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, and even our very own Justin Malewezi or the late Aleke Banda.
Malewezi retired from active politics to become an advocate on HIV/AIDS related issues. Veteran politician, the late Aleke Banda, who could just as easily have decided to follow the example of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, or Bakili Muluzi of Malawi who vehemently refused to quit in the face of growing scepticism about their relevance in contemporary politics, decided to take a road less travelled by most African politicians. He retired and set a commendable example which some of these political prostitutes need desperately to follow.
Besides the obvious financial benefits, it is very hard to see why ageing politicians disdainfully turn their back on statesmanship and the joy and responsibility of grooming younger politicians to take their place.
Why do we as Malawians make it acceptable and so easy for these immoral and amoral geriatrics to trade in long-term honour and legacy for an immediate financial mess of pottage?
Why should tired and spent politicians continue to grace the corridors of power when it has always been an accepted that power and strength are essentially virtues of the youth?
The crucial but often overlooked fact is this: In clinging to politics after they have had their day, these clueless politicians compromise the development of the nation. They have no grasp of current issues in world affairs and national macroeconomics.
Further, intelligent young men who would otherwise have taken their rightful places in the corridors of power are prevented from bringing their fresh and innovative ideas to the political table.
The result is that the country is deprived of novel and original ideas, and ends up recycling old notions that lost their efficacy sometime in the last millennium!
The only justification a veteran politician can have for remaining in politics is if they can point to a track record of performance and achievement in the rapidly changing economic environment.
Mutharika cannot do that. Goodall Gondwe cannot do that, and certainly neither can Sidik Mia nor Chimunthu Banda. So let me ask the question again: What do these people want in politics?
Even an ageing war general must sooner or later come to terms with reality, admit his time for close combat is over, and surrender his rifle. Likewise, the true political patriot must accept when it is time to put down the microphone, step off the podium, and take an advisory rather than a leading role in politics.
The example being set by Mia, Chimunthu and all these geriatrics still clinging to politics in their old age is a dangerous one, and an ominous omen for the future of our country.
Veteran politicians need to realise that even in politics, there is always an expiry date to one’s political usefulness. There are better causes that they should dedicate their time to instead of clinging to politics.
As Malawians, it is our responsibility to send a strong message to geriatric political prostitutes. We do not want clueless old people, most of them proven failures, joining political parties to cadet handclapping and women ululations as if this is some kind of great achievement for any party.
No, Chimunthu joining the DPP is a sign that the DPP is not progressive and is desperate for some credible names to be on its letterhead to provide an illusion of relevance and validity.
The same applies when MCP moves heaven and earth to accommodate a proven disloyal and perfidious Sidik Mia in its ranks.
Is there really such a bankruptcy of fresh-minded, credible people to join politics in this country?
If these political grandpas want to remain in politics, they should be allowed to to stay only on the peripherals of politics, advising and assisting the younger generation, or pursuing altruistic causes, they would ensure respectability and would eventually go down in Malawian history as true patriots.
I believe it is our responsibility as Malawians to demand political temperance. The place to begin is by rejecting political prostitution, especially that being practiced by these old people who have nothing but only self-enrichment in their minds.
Chakwera; told to tread carefully else he may be heading for disaster
Since the multiparty referendum of 1992, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has struggled to garner meaningful support in the Southern and Northern regions of Malawi.
With time, its stronghold, the Centre, has become increasingly accommodating to other parties and independents.
On the other hand, the 2005-born Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – MCP’s current nemesis, has up to now managed its stronghold very well. Save for a few independents, no other party wins seats in the Lhomwe belt but DPP secures seats in the Centre and North.
Get me right Blue Orators, I am not implying that MCP cannot break the jinx. Holding all things constant, MCP can even win the presidential election.
To lend weight to this, the legendary Raphael Tenthani (MHSCRIP), in the run-up to May 20, consistently argued in his Sunday Muckraking column that the 2014 elections were for Chakwera to lose.
In theory, MCP just needed to marshall all eligible voters in the Centre to turn out on polling day and secure over 90 percent of their votes.
What happened, however, is that protecting its stronghold, let alone persuading people to turn out in the numbers necessary to attain the critical mass needed to tip the scale in its favour, proved difficult.
And Tenthani’s forecast notwithstanding, whether it was the fact that MCP had no parliamentary candidates in 39 constituencies to serve as the party’s local champions and custodians of its presidential votes or the fact that the North did not reward Chakwera for Richard Msowoya’s selection as running mate because it already had ‘Nkomwana’ in Joyce Banda or that the elections were rigged, Chakwera lost.
Once beaten twice shy, the saying goes.
As we speak, MCP is reportedly ‘rebuilding’ via a strange combination of controversial district elections, point less suspensions, problematic expulsions, and of late, courting Muhamed Siddik Mia presumably to run alongside Chakwera in 2019.
It appears that rather than work with the North – where the party faired badly in May 2014, or harness the Centre, including Chakwera’s home district, Lilongwe, where the party lost some parliamentary seats; MCP thinks romancing the Shire Valley is its best manoeuvre to counter the ruling DPP’s and United Democratic Front (UDF)’s collective supremacy in the populous South.
Blue Orators, let us weigh in and unravel the maze as best we can.
The first issue is that among the major parties, MCP, although endowed with assets like the National Headquarters and other buildings spread across the country – plus plenty of goodwill, is as cash-strapped as a church mouse.
And this, Blue Orators, is where MCP’s problems begin.
Because, whether MCP fixes whatever went wrong in 2014 and sticks to the Chakwera/ Msowoya ticket or whether it dumps Msowoya and the ‘ungrateful’ North for Mia to cash in on his reportedly massive war chest plus the Shire Valley votes that abandoned the party with the exit of ‘Mbuya’ Gwanda Chakuamba, an empty stomach is the worst adviser.
Talking of empty stomachs, Nobel prize-winning scientist Albert Einstein (1879-1955) said: “Reduced to a formula, one might say simply that an empty stomach is not a good political adviser.”
He continued: “Unfortunately, the corollary also is true – namely, that better political insight has a hard time winning its way as long as there is little prospect of filling the stomach.”
Although Einstein was speaking about a specific political situation when implying that desperation does not make good politics, this theorem – like his many others – has since gained traction and proved its worth, over and over again.
My advice to MCP strategists – assuming there are any – is: before endorsing Mia as running mate because of his money and supposed Shire Valley following, they should soberly look at the numbers, which, when the votes have been cast, are all what matters.
For a start, having not being picked by Joyce Banda as a running mate, Mia, in a ‘chikuwawe’, endorsed Atupele Muluzi.
The questions they should ask are: “How many Shire Valley votes did Mia’s endorsement of Atupele translate into? Didn’t Atupele, with the money, name and the supposed Eastern Region popularity come a distant 4th in the presidential ballot?”
Secondly, with regard to Mia’s fortune, which could potentially bankroll the MCP’s 2019 campaign, the question they should seek honest answers to is: “Assuming that Mia’s bottomless wealth were available in 2014, would it have made a difference? How?”
Plus: “If Mia joins the MCP but is not given the running mate position he is after, will MCP manage the ensuing confusion?” Can it afford yet another crisis?”
They should, finally, consider whether: MCP lost the 2014 election due to lack of funds; or the failure to feature candidates at all levels in all the constituencies and wards; or hiring incompetents as election directors and monitors which aided the alleged rigging; or a combination of all these factors and address the causes, rather than seek the very same ‘quick-fixes’ which Chakwera is on record bantering the DPP government about.
And by embracing Mia, who has openly declared he is returning to politics for something ‘big’, MCP strategists should consider the consequential backlash, at the 2019 polls, from the Northern Region that will feel cheated for dropping thei r son, Msowoya, especially after the dismissal of a convention-elected Deputy Secretary General, Jimmy Chatonda Kaunda.
Whatever the mathematics the MCP gurus are doing, the numbers of voters in the Shire Valley, plus the porous Central Region cannot dent DPP’s and UDF’s superior numbers from the Lhomwe and Yao belts.
The Northern vote could, in fact, be the decider in 2019.
The stone that the builder rejected, all the above notwithstanding, is the ‘prophetic’ letter by the beleaguered Secretary General – Gustave Kaliwo, whose contents are now turning out to be true.
You may recall, Blue Orators, that it was Kaliwo’s letter that first announced the Mia Factor, and raised other pertinent issues that should not have been quickly written off as ‘childish’ by Msowoya or any sober party member.
The issues raised, if immediately addressed, remove the need to recycle the Mias of this world when there are a lot of capable Malawians who – if given space and not quickly branded ‘nkholokolo’ – could elevate Chakwera to the State House.
Unfortunately for Kaliwo and his counsel, Einstein’s corol lary that : bet ter political insight has a hard time winning its way as long as there is little prospect of filling the stomach, applies.
Kaliwo was, however, right.
MCP needs to move fast on Mia so that it has enough time to manage the inevitable fallout which will come after his inclusion or exclusion in the party as running mate.
To close this discourse, going against Einstein’s advice is an option for Chakwera. The only problem, going by MCP’s constitution, is that 2019 will be Chakwera’s last and final shot at the Malawi presidency.
On your behalf, Blue Orators, I wish Chakwera the best of luck as he prays on how to circumvent the conundrum posed with Mia’s ambitions and interest in MCP.
Strategists or no strategists, advisers or no advisers, nkholokolo or no nkholokolo, this is Chakwera’s ultimate litmus test in his sojourn towards the 2019 elections, which will determine if he will ever be the state president failing which, he will have to step down so that the MCP, a party never short of presidential aspirants, can move on under new leadership.
Is it too early for MCP members to start scouting? This is none of my business but they too should know that an empty stomach is not a good political adviser!
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