Malawi, a country betrayed by the educated
Betrayal–the state of letting and/or being let down–is a sickening piece of reality that cherishes visiting those least suspecting it. It breakfasts in love relationships, lunches on business ventures, and dines with sadists.
Betrayal happens in all areas of life. But it is encouraging to note that betrayal only wakens the weak into action. Here in Malawi, it is nauseating to realize that most of educated Malawians are giving the nation a raw deal as most of them have betrayed our dear country by choosing to change the processes of government business from the outside.
In this modern day and age, a country’s true potential and hope for progress lies in the heads and hands of educated individuals. These are persons who, among other things, are truly prepared to change stopping stones to stepping stones and harness the greatest of humanity’s neglected resources to opportunities.
It is widely accepted that university education prepares individuals with the skills to confront the challenges of the day head-on with confident calmness and sharp focus. Expectedly therefore, those privileged to have drunk the university holy water are generally believed to be the cornerstone of almost any meaningful development.
It is upon realizing this fact that governments and non-governmental organizations everywhere in the world invest their energies and resources uplifting the mental and intellectual abilities of the learned.
Malawi, being no exception to education-as-savior philosophies, has invested a lot in education sector in the recorded history. There have been positive developments in the education sector ranging from the increased university intake to the provision of health student-and-lecturer friendly learning environment.
In a twist of expectations, however, those graduating from the university have largely tended to leave their governments in the cold. This may be a mere probability elsewhere, but it is a certainty here in Malawi.
Malawi is rich in two things, namely; human and natural resources. It is the former that controls the latter. Since the former is clueless in managing itself, it is not surprising that the latter is left to fate–Paladin Africa got this wisdom long before Malawians did.
Perhaps you would nod to the assertion that learned Malawians are the regrettable crop in as far active participation in key nation-building business is concerned. Perhaps you would agree that most of Malawi’s celebrated intellectuals like hiding in their cocoons and think that they can change things from the outside.
Accepted, not all educated Malawians can be state/political party president neither can they all be in government. Again, not all have the gut to stomach the ugly side of most of public positions. But it is true that most of them, if not all, have the skills, abilities, and competences to bring sanity in political parties and government departments.
It has thus been always expected that these coveted lot of educated Malawians are the microscope of the nation and the initiators of developmentally-sound practices, processes, efforts, and activities. It has thus been expected that these people join these very state institutions and establish measures that change the systems from within.
All what our dear educated fellows know is wash government dirty in the press. It surely does not help or do the nation any good to play referee to improper conducts and retrogressive thinking in state institutions in the media.
The media better be left to those that live it, and that our grand graduates become active players and an integral part of the whole change needed in government and public institutions. This, so it is emphasized, should not be a big deal since these people have always been willing consultants of government and public institutions.
Examples substantiating the foregoing are just numerous to mention here. Suffice it to say that seventy percent of Malawians, those that have sailed in the troubled waters of university education, are, for lack of a better word, cowards. For this reason therefore, it is highly unlikely that Malawi will register any tangible gains.
Reaching this far, it is proper that one hastens to acknowledge that educated Malawians have made profound contributions to the development of the nation. However, it would be more appreciated if such contributions would be made from inside as that would be more meaningful and effective.
*Henry Chizimba–Interim Director, Walking With The Youth–The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not the youth organization.
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