Malawi first female minister Rose Chibambo urges politicians to be servants not masters

Malawi’s first female cabinet minister Rose Lomathinda Chibambo has pleaded with the current crop of Malawian politicians to put at heart the wishes of Malawian citizens and stop acting as bosses but instead be  servants of the people if Malawi is to develop.

Rose Chibambo
Rose Chibambo

Chibambo who is now 87 and was appointed minister by late Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda during the one party rule in the 60’s made the plea in an exclusive interview with Yoneco FM .

The former Malawi minister said she feel sad to see Presidents, Members of Parliament and ward counsellors boasting to citizens and treat them as servants while in actual sense, the politicians are employed by the citizenary.

In her remarks, Chibambo also asked politicians to continue meaningful developments started by their predecessors once they take over leadership for the sake of continuity.

” Whoever comes in do not carry on what his predecessor left hence there is no continuity in developments. Such leadership cannot bring development and seriously Malawi is trailing back” said Chibambo.

Honouring fallen heroes

She however expressed sadness on how the freedom fighers who are still alive are being treated.

Chibambo said heroes are supposed to be honoured while they are alive sighting an example of former presidents (Bingu wa Mutharika and Bakili Muluzi) whom she said at times used to invite her and others during national functions.

“Bingu used to send me transport (from Mzuzu where she is based since returning from exile when Malawi attained democracy in 1994) and I feel he is a man who understood the history of our country and knew the people who did what. Muluzi also used to invite me during his tenure,” she said.

She further faulted the current Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership for failing to bring over heroes who are still alive to join Malawians in very important functions such as commemorating 51 years of independence on 6th July, 2014.

“During the 50th Independence they never invited us the people who fought for this country’s freedom and who are still alive. Such mentality cannot improve the history of this country. The history of Malawi is being distorted and maybe we will be recognised when dead,”mourned Chibambo.

Way forward
Meanwhile, Chibambo has asked all Malawians to collectively work hard together and be passionate enough to develop Malawi since no one can come from somewhere to develop the country.

“Malawians are praised all over the world that they are hard working but am surprised Malawians have become lazy in their own country. Hard working spirit is lacking which is a sad situation” she concluded.

Chibambo was arrested and imprisoned in 1959 and gave birth to her fifth child while in prison.

She was accused of organising Malawian women in their political fight against colonial rulers Britain.

Chibambo later went into exile where she stayed for three decades after falling out of favour with Kamuzu Banda.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
16 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mzeé Ben
Mzeé Ben
8 years ago

Thats the fact,continuation of dvt policy iz needed.osat amene angabwere kumanyoza policy ya wina kuiwala kut mukhala pa mpandopo 5yrs yokha.

Winston Msowoya
Winston Msowoya
8 years ago

Malawians are now trying to grasp with the political history of their country,otherwise our children ,grandchildren and the generations to come,will reside in a cacoon of self deception,it is true,Rose was the first woman to serve as a Cabinet Minister in post-independence Malawi in 1964. Rose was the first woman in the forefront battle against colonialism and on 3 March,1959 she was arrested amongst mens’ folk while expecting her second born baby whom she delivered while in prison.It is very unfortunate that the present obsolete leadership do not even remember or give the respect to the first Cabinet Ministers who… Read more »

pwefu
pwefu
8 years ago

A Cecilia nanu, ndi Joice Banda who made her face printed on one of the bank notes, not mathanyuks uyu.

max nsani
max nsani
8 years ago

She was put on the currency by Bingu not Peter….get your facts straight people. The ones who don’t invite freedom fighters are the likes of Peter….

Malipeya
Malipeya
8 years ago

MCP mmesa munawamanga amaiwa mpaka anabeleka mwana wotchedwa Prison / Guard. Mumverenso pologalamuyi akamabweleza lowelukali 2:00 pm masana muzamvetsese. Ndiponso ndi Bingu amene anaika khope yamaiwa pa K 200.00 osati Pitala.

Cecilia Mapila
Cecilia Mapila
8 years ago

But at least Prof APM remembered to honour her by having her face printed on one of the Banknotes! Having a face on one of the “Kwacha” while you are alive is the highest honour one can receive while alive, unseen in any other country that I know. Am sure this surpasses the invitations. We must learn to appreciate some of these great gestures.

Malawiboy
Malawiboy
8 years ago

At the venerable age of 87, whatever she says is going to be the truth.
Life is too short to lie or toe a party line.
She is giving an elders valuable advice to a country that sorely needs good advice.
Listen and learn Malawi.

Gwape
Gwape
8 years ago

Only MCP can be servants not masters, not matchonawa

wa ku Mitchesi kujaaaaa!!!!
wa ku Mitchesi kujaaaaa!!!!
8 years ago
Reply to  Gwape

MCP is the mother-of-all-masters Party. Never a servant Party at all. Since the dictator, Kamuzu Banda, snatched the realms of the party from it’s rightful owners, that Party has been known as the “abuser party” of this country. And the current office bearers of the party in the now incarnation have made no attempt, whatsoever, to distant the Party from its brutal history. It should be emphasized that Rose Chibambo and other progressives were chased away by MCP; aka Chipani cha Magazi (the Party of Death). It was either run or die for those people. It must have been devastating… Read more »

kumangoni
kumangoni
8 years ago

(bona a bath befana ne uDosi)

kumangoni
kumangoni
8 years ago

You are looking so decent than Dosi the recent ex cabinet member,you are very super we Mama. Ubanikize infundo bona befana new uDosi.Haaa ngiyakubongela wena, uyazi ngijabulile kanti

Read previous post:
Phyzix drops new gospel hip-hop single

He is lively, creative, energetic and relevant in the game. Certainly, he knows how to keep his audience entertained and...

Close