British envoy’s tweet triggers reaction as flood victim kneeling on Chilima feet trending picture draws mixed reaction
A picture of a flood victim in Karonga kneeling on the feet of Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is also Minister responsible for Disaster Management Affairs, in appreciation for relief food and other items he presented to him and other victims is trending in social media and drawn mixed reactions.
British High Commissioner to Malawi Holly Tett said the an unidentified flood victim should have just said thank you to the Vice President instead of kneeling on his feet.
In a tweet, Tett said: “What’s wrong with the traditional way of just saying thanks accompanied by a smile.”
There was reaction from Malawian social commentators on Facebook who schooled the British envoy that some traditional culture in the country demands that people kneel before an elderly person or a leader in a show of respect to such personality and this is not unusual.
Former British High Commission worker, Lewis Kulisewa, who is now at Competition and Fair Trading Commissionon as Director of Consumer Welfare and Education, took his reaction to Twitter.
He tweeted: “If I were@HollyTett I would realise that no culture is more superior than the other. I would also recognise that demeaning other cultures is not part of the diplomatic brief.”
Outspoken writer and social media activist Stanley Onjezani Kenani also rebuked the British diplomat for her tweet.
Wrote Kenani on Facebook: “To the British High Commissioner, Holly Tett: every country has its culture. Respectvit.”
He posted two photos to buttress his point, one of King of eSwatini (Swaziland) showcasing dresses see topless in traditional wear.
“Imagine is some ambassador there were to say such a thing does not sit well with her,” he wrote.
Kenani also posted a photo of an official in Britain kneeling before Her Majesty the Queen.
“Men in Britain kneel for the Queen, nobody says a word. We expect better from someone at the level of High Commissioner,” he wrote.
Chilima has been criss-crossing the country visiting those struck by the latest floods in Nkhotakota and Karonga, giving out food, plates, cups, cooking oil, roofing materials, mattresses, blankets and others.
In Karonga North, Chilima brought with him relief items for 750 households, but assured the remaining people that government will swiftly send more aid.
He visited camp sites at Kasantha and Kaporo, both in the area of Traditional Authority Kilupula.
As at Monday, the heavy rains had also displaced over 130 households in Nkhotakota, while in Nkhata Bay, over 20 households and 45 hectares of crop fields had been affected.
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what every one is forgetting is that VP Chilima did not ask the lady to do that. Look at his gesture people!!!! he humbled himself. There are no golden wheel barrows, gloves or red carpet like APM and his wife would do
Thanks to Callista – the overblown Chilima has shown his true colours. He is obsessed with power. Not fit for office of president.
Her Excellency Tett is okay to get surprised with this kneeling tradition. However she need not be shocked. Rather she needs to understand that this kneeling as in the picture here is only reserved for those highly respected in our society.
The swift response to these disasters by Chilima is very remarkable, and perhaps never seen before in Malawi. You know pretty well how slow moving Malawian authorities are on issues that require speed. Trust me if any government official or Mutharika himself was entrusted with that undertaking, it would have taken ages before the victims were visited upon.
Chilima’s quick response is so moving that is why the lady there found it befitting to give proper respect where it is due. No body would have knelt for Mutharika and criminal cabinet minister Chaponda thus far.
Please, Chilima is not a traditional authority. People should not kneel before him and he should NOT allow such stupid cultural gestures because he is a public servant not a traditinal leader like the Queen or Mbwelwa. His swift ŕesponse to disasters is because the DPP government has ensured that resources are there for people affected.
Who said people should kneel before traditional authorities? Lay lady choose how she wanted to show her appreciation and this is how she did it. why are the rest of you being bothered?.
Ohooo,what I have discovered is that, all those who are condemning the gesture by e woman in Karonga are Thumukaz.Even the way Dr Saulos Chilima gestrure in exchange from the old woman,he belittled himself too,to show he respected her.So you wanted him to kneel!!!If it was a Thumbuka here there was no word of say!!!Kodi mtundu wakudawu ngati makala unakhala bwanji??????
as usual the big headed azungu who thinks there can decide for us how to behave these people are a problem there think there better than all of us no wonder there are always under threat from terrorist
Our cultures also demand respect for elders. I would have given that woman a hand and told her to stand up and just shake my hand. That man kneeling before the queen is being knighted which requires the queen to put a sword on his shoulders. Its a function. But allowing an old woman to roll on the floor because of a bag of maize from govt is plain stupid. Just don’t say culture culture. Culture my foot that’s why we had that fisi defiling kids in Nsanje as part of culture.
I reported the stupid white bitch’s tweet to Twitter. They removed it.
Nobody asked this woman to do this it was spontaneous. It was her way of saying thank you.. azungutu pena mumayenjeza. if it was Bingu he could have thrown you out you silly cow.
The queen Knight knighting a man, who kneels and she conducts the ceremonial knighting with a sword, that’s all culture or a practice of a kingdom, same as Swaziland.we are not a kingdom.. The queen is not a servant of the people, the country belongs to her it is their kingdom, the VP and the govt, the president here are servants of the people, the people are doing this as they are desperate and in dire need, they could or could not kneel to MCP leader or UDF leader if he was to visit and clearly publicising that they will donating nothing when they arrive. I support my mother I earn a decent income, she has servant a var and a house, she is 78 ,she cannot kneel to any politician as long as she is still in a financially stable condition, alto ugh she is a very well cultured and mannered traditional mother, mother’s are respected in malawi, we don’t kneel for food or money as part of our culture and we don’t love to be praised and show off as part of our culture however for beggers to get help many of us Malawian wouldn’t mind them kneeling to us and calling us boss, and if u can’t help them they can even swear at you after kneeling..it is not culture when they’re desperation.. It is culture when it is to a chief or a family patriarch or parents in-law etc, or when poor people to it to each other or when rich people kneel to each other..expectations and desperation much first be eradicated then anything you do is sincere, this picture is inhumane, demeaning, and showing lack of heart or kindness, again this is not culture, I know many well cultured professional women who would kneel to their parents in-law and uncles to great them but would not kneel to a politician. Desperate people do or allow others to do desperate things, if taught how to fish this woman would be as proud and as self reliant as my mother or Jess Kabwila who doesn’t kneel a lot but still respect others without compromising her principles.
Britain and Swaziland are kingdom, men kneel when they are being given a chieftainship by the queen or king that’s culture..young girls shoeing their briest to nswati is culture maybe not very great practice.. However there’s no poverty involved or natural disaster victims involved or any desperation in the queen men kneeling when being knighted or Swaziland scenario. Our leaders unlike the queen are servant chosen by use to serve us , we pay them taxes they have a duty to stop stealing the taxes and effectively deliver services and effective policy to the poor people who feed the govt officials. In Malawi’s scenario VP is the servant or the flood victims he is the one who is “little” as he benefits from poor peoples taxes the poor people work hard for a living to afford him a living and hope to get good service from government. Culture is when my child knees to great my uncle or when my wife knees to great my father..culture isnnot when a blind begger knees to great my uncle or when my child is begging in streets and kneels to beg from an Asian business man. Most Malawians and most other lowlife minded backwarders enjoy to be called “boss” been by people whom they are not boss to, we also enjoy being thanked and praised, this is similar to other Africans too, we like an air of pomp and respect, from those who are seen as social or economic below us, that’s why they put carpet even when visiting villages or burial ceremony, they also drive very expensive fuel gazzlers and corruptly enrich themselves with dubious govt contracts and foreign travel, this is all supplemented by praise, dance and songs by those who are desperate.. Again my son and wife are very polite.. Cultured but we are of gonna kneel to chilima..and we hope his children and himself will not gona kneel to us, culture is two ways not one way. This picture is shocking..if this woman was showing her culture to a white man this could have been understood that it is not culture please understand it now, if she had same means and no desperation she would kneel to a chief as that’s the respect for chiefs or kingdom I.e culture ..to govt officials..politicians..doctors..teacher etc our culture doesn’t demand us to kneel is just to people elderly and respected who are close anf know to us usually within the family tree or chiefs enjoying praises and respect and worship from desperate people to feel a sense of power is not culture Mwamva aboss, bwana wanga , this is an example of someone who isn’t respecting you bcoz of culture but rather people they know u live to be treated like that and that you are likely to softn up and release some help as you enjoy the conquest and feel of being praise. Please remember culture is obliviously unwritten and is just common practice and assumption which evolve, when you say ” this is according to our culture or not in accordance ” we just show daftness because there’s no written guidelines or rules. Watch when an average Africa pastor or politician help someone, u will understand how they love the show.
No no no and no!!!!this must stop. Do not worship leaders like this. Chilima did not make the donation out of favour as if it’s for his own. He was giving the help on behalf of the rest of Malawians . We all have the donation. But even if it was from Chilima… the tradition of worshipping g people must stop with immediate effect.
Looks like the so-called young leaders are actually taking us back t the dark ages. Why did Chilima do this?
Dont defend silly things. Its not right for the woman to dp what she did. Chilima didnt give from his pocket it was vovt resources which the woman deserved because its her government. Chilima should have said mama please just stand up instead of behaving like a king. Is this the man you want to lead Malawi? Leadership goes with humility not arrogance. The British envoy is right. Kneeling before the queen of england and prostrating before Chilima for a handout are different. Its demeaning and utterly stupid.
U fucked up mdala, pipo kneal for the queen have we ever say a shit….u n ur fucked up white bitch called ambassador are full of shit…u better just watch some of these things….fuck u both
It is different because the othernone is white and chilima is black?
Iwe ndiwe wovuta. Iwe sukuziwa kuti anthu amakakamila kuthokoza?
I simply agree with you suzgo, well spoken.
We all know that the MD of ETG bowed down and touched the feet of a very senior Malawian during the inauguration of Nsanje port a few years ago
Let us not go back to the days of the ngwazi who demanded almost worship like praise, and was flattered by the idea that he was better than Jesus. Only one, the maker of all things, deserves to be worshipped!
I thought all diplomats go through a cultural sensitivity briefing before they are assigned to a specific country??? Did this retarded diplomat miss the briefing? Please shed off that colonialist mentality, you colonized us once, we won’t let you do it twice , so go tell your masters that!
I see nooooo problem ! you we still clap in thanks giving … we still do that that that … its our culture mum !
Chilima has been unmasked as someone who enjoys being praised and worshipped, of course, a product of people bleating about his name and inflating his ego. There he was looking over an old woman kneeling under his feet. PATHETIC. What a shame from the so-called young generation. Probably Callista knows a thing or two.
There is no unmasking here. What wrong has he done? That was the woman’s way of showing gratitude.
This practice is wrong.
So are the naked girls in Swaziland.
Also the men kneeling before the Queen in the UK.
Just because people of different skin colours do it, does not make it right.
Kneeling before anyone, whether Queen, President, or Prime Minister is showing excessive deference to authority.
All these people are simply humans.
Same as the rest of us.
So hiding behind the excuse of ‘culture’, and pointing out it also happens in the UK; this is a silly excuse.
It is a negative cultural practice, whether it is black people in Africa doing it, or white men in UK, or people in China.. anywhere.
Let us stop hiding behind ‘culture’ for such issues.
Early child marriage is also a ‘traditional cultural practice’ in some parts of Africa, Middle East and Arab countries.
It is still wrong. Plain and simple.
Some cultural practices are positive, and some are not positive.
We should embrace the positive sides to our cultures and not embrace the less positives sides.
This applies to all cultures, whether we are African, Asian, European etc.
That’s right. People should not promote dehumanising other people through these primitive cultural gestures. Kneeling in front of the Queen and President is plain wrong. Chilima has hurt himself by not asking the woman to stand. He should have shown that he did not deserve that type of misplaced gratitude.
If its wrong in all cultures, then the british high commissioner lack moral ground. The way she present the tweet was in a holiar than thou. Which is a demonstration of imperialistic tendancy. Also know that you can not run away from culture. And it is pathetic that some sections of our country believe that anything from the west is the best not from within ourselves. Its wrong
There are so many ways of showing gratitude and in most instances it will depend on how grateful a person is to someone for what he/she has done. If to the honorable ambassador the gifts presented by Chilima are not worthy the gratitude then she should go and donate what is the best,but for us Malawians we are grateful even to the smallest things someone may help us with. Just shaking hands and smiling might be the way to do it England but in this land we have our ways of doing things just because we are poor does not mean our cultural values are poor as well.at this point let me ask for your resignation for showing dictatorial threats to our young Democracy.
Totally agree, Chilima has goofed. People should not kneel for politicians because they work for the people and serve us using our tax. People can kneel in front of traditional leaders because THEY (traditional leaders like Mbwelwa, Kyungu, the Queen) represent the last vestiges of tradition and culture, which unfortunately, is defined by backwardness, oppression and unwarranted honour which only fools will not question.
What she is saying is true but as a diplomat she should have known better…you don’t talk like this because this is not “diplomatic” culture
Holly Tett has said if it was herself and not if it was the British! To me that suggests that she as an inndividual has reservations with both what the British and Malawians do!!
Malawians, I personally believe that culture is never static, rather it changes and the practice under discussion can easily change particularly if we the young ones can start changing whatever we believe could be termed “too much” to take and or practice. This is a small issue and big issue depending on the angle one is using when looking at it. Lastly, I suggest it might be good not to include personnel stereotypes in the issue……………………………………….! Ena mukumveka kulusa kongwira nako munthu pakhosi ndi kankhani kang’onong’onokatuuuuuuuuuuuu ……………………………….. uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu abale pali nkhani yothela mau apaaaaaaaaaaa!
This British envoy is a heap of arrogance her queen is pleading with the leadership of the Commonwealth to crown her son as a club chair watching closely the Chilima is responding to this lady there is that reciprocal gesture through a humble clasp of hands. Hardly available amongst the Brits, I am pleased that SKC is rooted in the African Malawian culture moreover it is highly possible that this British envoy was just given the foreign post to Malawi because of family connections in her home country SKC has responded beautifully bayete zikomo yewo
My fellow malawiana from Karonga, please take this British girl to a Ngonde funeral to see for her self the meaning of such rolling.
Its important that we understand her clearly; this woman is against kneeling down not only in Malawi, but even in UK, or anywhere. Some of us are critcising but how many of us are kneeling down like this to say thank you. While there is nothing wrong with this kneeling down, many of us are not practically taking part in this culture of kneeling and we are not far from what titte sees not sitting right with her.
Nothing wrong with kneeling. Am from karonga north myself.it is just a way of appreciation nothing else.so it a caitural norm.it has nothing to do with human rights.my grandmother neeled before me to show her appreciation of what I did for her
We glorify politicians too much .Misonkho yathu.Atibere makobiri.Kenaka tiwagwadirenso.Tisiyanitse ulemu wa kwa Mafumu ndi wa a Ndale.Amalawi sitichedwa kuyiwala.Mwatoyiwala kuti timagona mma filling station mafuta atavuta muno@Okwiya.
She is only saying it does not sit right with her, not everybody. So that’s her opinion, its according to her.
We really don’t care what sits well with her, what matters is what is culturally acceptable in our society! That is what is important here. Someone needs to school this diplomat.
and the bastartd brought in wigs and robes that everweight our judges and lawyers and parliament still puts on heavy suits despite our hot weather. the british men put on skirts. tent should shut her stinking mouth and leave us alone with our culture,. that is the way we express gratitude.
Can CSO’s organisation kodo-kodo to see the said High Commissioner PACK & GO to her country? At 54 yrs of independence, we no longer want to be puppets to these big noses white faces things!
Chilima has been pampered too much to the extent that he thinks he is a God. I can understand the people’s uproar and the comparison between backward kneeling culture in both Malawi and Britain. But, the fact is people are misleading Chilima, that is why he allowed the old woman to kneel in front of him. So, if he was to be president, we will be walking with our knees.
Umo, you might be foreigner in this country. Kneeling in Malawi, especially in the Northern region is and will remain their culture. Mind you Chilima didn’t ask the grand to kneel. Your presentation clear shows what you personally hate Chilima. Wadya zambiri zakuba iwe eti. You can research even in UK people kneel before the Queen.
Culture is dynamic not static. Why aren’t you living in the bush James – eating unwashed mangos for lunch, dancing in the village arena almost naked, being forced to marry? Go and stay in the village so that you can enjoy these primitive beliefs and gestures as Chilima is doing.
Actually, taking a good look at the picture, the woman did not kneel. Her whole body is on the ground. This is more that kneeling. An Angel refused Daniel to kneel before him. He said only God deserves such reverence. Chilima is good and I respect him, but we need to avoid him turning into a god. He could have refrained the poor woman from such act.
Agreed, Chilima should have stopped the woman. The problem is that Chilima is becoming big-headed because people are glorifying him. Now at least people can see that he is big-headed.
Inu inu ndimene amapangira kukaronga chilima has nothing to do with that….
Another way of looking at it is that Chilima is trying to get people hero-worship him. Not good from a public servant like Chilima because he is not a traditional ruler. The Queen, who in my view is an outdated traditional position, has men kneeling and women bending their knees. It’s utterly stupid. But lets take it with a sober mind, Chilima has erred big time – he should have offered the elderly lady a hand to show that he does not deserve that type of honour.
Ever read in the Bible the story about Absalom son of David? Absalom was buying cheap popularity from multitudes for political gains and this earned him reproach.
Nanu inu: don’t take stories in the bible sooooooo literally!
I believe you have never been in karonga so i understand you..
I beg to differ.We can kneel before Mbwelwa,Lundu ,Ngolongoliwa etc if its part of that culture. Its part of some African Culture to kneel before Queens and Kings .I don’t think its part of African Culture to kneel before Politicians. In England men kneel before the Queen not Theresa May.Let’s not confuse the two.When did Politicians ,Presidents etc became Kings/Queens in Malawi?
Join the discussionOnce upon a time there was High Commissioner Cochraine-Diet.He disappeared mysteriosly becoz of his foolishness.
Who are you poor Holly Tett to school us? remember if you don’t play your cards well you will face the music!!!!!! this should be the last time to tweet like this ok.
She’s just following Prince Trump’s lead: tweet first; think afterwards. Who cares what she says? She represents today’s Britain – a ‘has-been’ state of very little consequence, and declining in significance every day – the land where ‘cheap, shallow, and nasty’ meets ‘ greedy, selfish, and stupid’.
No wonder our former President Bingu wa Mutharika (MHSRP) wasnt reluctant to chase big headed people like this ambassador. Thank God the one on throne is moer lenient. However, mind your own business I am sure you were sent here to assess our culture! moron
This is the problem with these colonizers, neoliberalists, imperialists, capitalists……. They don’t know that we are tired of them. They should pack and go. They are not our patrons. They ahve been here for so long and are just rooting our resources. Why dont we give her a 24hour packing. She is also a “persona nano grata”
She must understand that culture is relative. Its not one size that fits all like the IMF, DFID, WB, UN thinks. Respect out culture please!!
Azipita
I don’t think poverty is a good thing, guys do we really need to be told when to kneel or stand up. Do we even have freedom to express ourselves culturally? Who brought this colonialism that it should be passed on to us with such stupidity across generations. Please take this stupidity back home, where ever it belongs.
Tell this High Commissioner girl not to be big headed. Don’t English men bow before the queen and women bend their knees ? Even Teresa May bends her knees before the Queen. Has she not seen bishops from her country kneel before the Pope and kiss his ring ? Just do what you were sent to do here madam and not insult us
First of all, How does your people greet the queen? You guys literally worship the queen but here you are telling us that our cultural way of saying thanks is wrong. There was a time when your own queen knelt before HAILE SELASSIE as a sign of respect, was that wrong? Even we as men we kneel before our elders,chiefs or presidents as way of showing respect or when thanking them. We see nothing wrong here and you go on saying this can block development! How? Do you not develop when yuo worship the queen? Should we bring all our cultural practices to your office for evaluation? We appreciate your help but please don’t just talk for the sake of talking, Know your lane and stay there ASISI!!
This has penetrated my heart…for sure, these neo-colonialists need to be schooled on pluralism and diversity! they want us to be like them? them like us? For once they better embrace cultural diversity. No wonder China’s economy has overtaken them.
We need well read diplomats willing to understand and learn other cultures. Able to restrain themselves. I hope she will learn and not be adamant in her narrow view.
Holly Tett is an idiot infact if it was Bingu era you would have retract your stupid tweet. That’s our culture nothing wrong with that.We Africans have our culture and customs. Go to hell
What the explanation from Holly Tett for men who kneel before the queen? Waiting…..