By now, I am confident that you have heard the good news from Malawi. I will just emphasize and confirm that it’s true: We, the people of Malawi, now have a new leader, and his name is Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.
President Lazarus Chakwera acknowledges cheers from the crowd.- photo (C)Govati Nyirenda (2)
Our journey has not been easy. We fought tirelessly and with resilience to get to where we are. Kicking the outgoing president, Peter Mutharika and his cronies, was not an easy thing.
When we went to the polls last year on May 21, the election was marred by so many irregularities. Our fearless opposition leaders then led by the President elect and Vice President Saulos Chilima challenged what the African Union, SADC and even European observers described as a “free and fair election”.
These untruthful reports weighed heavily on us since they hugely misrepresented and undermined the tragedy that the 2019 presidential election was. That is when we realized that perhaps foreign observer missions are useless. They are tourists who fill our hotels, drink coffee, sleep with our women, drink Malawi Gin, eat our Chambo (Tilapia) or go sightseeing to our beautiful lake, then pull out report templates from their computers, where they substitute Senegal or whatever country’s name for Malawi, leaving the rest of the report’s wording intact.
We are grateful to our very independent military and the judiciary. Throughout the demonstrations that took Malawians months of protests in streets, the military actively provided security cover that deterred the police force from unleashing hell on us. The police was captured by the ruling party and were doing everything in the interest of the party than the rule of law.
And after months of hearing the case and examining evidence brought before the constitutional court, a panel of five Judges unanimously nullified the elections and ordered a fresh one to take place within 150 days, and that is what we achieved on June 23, 2020.
The process was not an easy one. We were fighting not on plain ground, but against certified crooks and a mafia network, which had grabbed Malawi by the balls.
The people who took to the streets to demand justice were led by our vibrant civil society organization that champions human rights issues and good governance. The leaders of this organization remained fortified in the cause despite surviving attempts on their lives and property. They chose to stand with the people for the sake of their liberation and it has finally paid off. The world watched.
We, as a nation, do not claim an entitlement of world intervention, but we know that the global village has a vested interest in a democracy that also resides in our nation. Whilst we do our part to take care of the democracy, we believe the rest of the world had a duty too towards it. Lest we forget, they are the ones who forced democracy on us.
Today, our terrain is full of joy and satisfaction as people are standing glad and proud that they finally kicked out the despotic regime which tried to force itself on us through a rigging scheme. Now we have set up, in Malawi, a government of the people led by President elect Lazarus Chakwera and Vice President Saulos Chilima. We now invite you back to see how we will progress.
International policy lied to Malawians in May 2019. So why were they in Malawi in May 2019 then??
Tutu
3 years ago
The good thing is that donors know that last years elections were credible but that a bunch of power-hungry politicians ganged up to wrestle power. Let’s wait and see whether Malawi can stand on its two legs without donors who Chilima and Chakwera has called names and abused. Billions have been used on a useless election when the country is in dire need of resources.
Last year’s elections were shambles, period. Awo ma donors akagwere for being complicit. And your mentality, just like the booted nkhalamba is not helpful. We should be striving to stand on our own feet, osangokhalira kupemphetsa. That’s embarrassing and let’s hope this leadership takes us out of these chains.
Rakhishana
3 years ago
Katundu anabwera ku Malawi opanda china chiri chonse lero is RICHER wathawira ku nyumba ya boma ku nyanja .Bwino ma file ku Court uko munthuyu ndi MBAVA
Well articulated letter. Though am not a fun of Chakwera or MCP, am a proud malawian, and thanks to everyone who helped to kick out Mutharika and DPP. Long live Justice and genuine democracy.
Amenewa asadzabwelenso, in Julius Malema’s own words,and I quote,” African Union,Sadic, there is no such a thing,it’s a group of old people who protect each other,they don’t protect the interest of their people, it’s a club,a gentleman’s club,they don’t point out to each other, that ur wrong here”
If Sadic was not a group of old people I believe they could have advised Peter in his second year as president when things started to get out of had, but now Zimbabwe’s president is congratulating Our president, really,Mnagagwa, please sort out ur problems first before you can congratulate our leader
Good job Kelvin. I share your sentiments!!
Too early to point fingers at AU,SADC and EU
You will need them one day.
International policy says don’t interfere with domestic policies.
zakuvuta ukhaula
We will need them for what?
yes adad will need them, not these wonderful developmental strikers.
Says a man who lives in America mxi
International policy lied to Malawians in May 2019. So why were they in Malawi in May 2019 then??
The good thing is that donors know that last years elections were credible but that a bunch of power-hungry politicians ganged up to wrestle power. Let’s wait and see whether Malawi can stand on its two legs without donors who Chilima and Chakwera has called names and abused. Billions have been used on a useless election when the country is in dire need of resources.
zakuvuta zinazi kumangopenya
why too early? kuzolowela kupembeza ndi kupempha
Last year’s elections were shambles, period. Awo ma donors akagwere for being complicit. And your mentality, just like the booted nkhalamba is not helpful. We should be striving to stand on our own feet, osangokhalira kupemphetsa. That’s embarrassing and let’s hope this leadership takes us out of these chains.
Katundu anabwera ku Malawi opanda china chiri chonse lero is RICHER wathawira ku nyumba ya boma ku nyanja .Bwino ma file ku Court uko munthuyu ndi MBAVA
agwidwe osapita kunyumba kwake, munthu wanji ameneyu osamanga nyumba
The letter to the World indeed?
Beautiful article. We need to see change in Zimbabwe and zambia too. May the youth of Zimbo rise to rescue their nation
Well articulated letter. Though am not a fun of Chakwera or MCP, am a proud malawian, and thanks to everyone who helped to kick out Mutharika and DPP. Long live Justice and genuine democracy.
hoeeeeee
Well written Mr Kelvin Silungwe , these foreign observers are just coming to our nations for holiday and not observer mission.
From now on wards these foreign observers should stay away from our election activities coz they failed us not just once but many times.
They are the ones heaping praise to the rigging candidates that they have won fairly while it’s not true .
full of CHIGOLOLO
You should have also told them that we don’t even need them in the next elections.
VINKHUNGU
They can go to hell.
Amenewa asadzabwelenso, in Julius Malema’s own words,and I quote,” African Union,Sadic, there is no such a thing,it’s a group of old people who protect each other,they don’t protect the interest of their people, it’s a club,a gentleman’s club,they don’t point out to each other, that ur wrong here”
If Sadic was not a group of old people I believe they could have advised Peter in his second year as president when things started to get out of had, but now Zimbabwe’s president is congratulating Our president, really,Mnagagwa, please sort out ur problems first before you can congratulate our leader