After February 3 judgement, is change coming to Malawi? 

January 31, 2020 Ephraim Nyondo -Nyasa Times 45 Comments

There are specific days, in the history of any nation, that are more than just figures and numbers. These are definite days that scars memories as a watershed; yes, that day when the old met its fate and the new took over.

President Peter Mutharika, MCP leader Lazarus Chakwera and UTM Party president Saulos Chilima: Election dispute to be settled Monday when the Constitutional Court delivers a ruling

You can think of January 23 1915, that day when John Chilembwe and team revolted against a colonial oppressive system and, in its stead, put in place a system of racial equality.

You can think of March 3 1959, when Malawians rose against white colonial rule, demanding self-rule and independence.

You can think of June 14, 1993 when Malawians took to the polls to end 31 years of one party dictatorship for multi-party democracy.

Or, recently, you can think of July 21 2011 when millions took to the street and put a stop to President Bingu wa Mutharika’s impunity.

In all these dates, one thing is central—the oppressive old dies off and the hopeful new takes over. That is why whenever these dates are invoked—either through memorials or commemorations; they inspire the hearts of the nation to soldier on against all odds. They are watershed because they remind nations that, whatever happens, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

Will Monday February 3—the day the Constitutional Court will deliver its verdict on the elections case—be another watershed date in the history of Malawi?

What’s critical with Monday 3 ruling is the quest for people’s voice to be respected.

You know what? Democracy thrives on the voice of the people; their wish as in how they want to be governed. That wish is expressed through a voting process managed by an electoral system that is supposed to accountable, fair, transparent and free.

The May  2019 elections had its challenges. Reports of manipulated ballot papers, gross use of tippex, miscalculations and contradictory results points to a flawed electoral process that stifles the will and the voice of how people want to be governed.

Monday 3, therefore, is another watershed day in history because, on this day, the ruling will be able to show the nation if, in this country, we have a functional or a dysfunctional electoral management system.

If the court upholds last year’s elections results, what will become of all the anomalies that defined the voting counting processes? What will be the impact of such a decision on subsequent elections? Will Malawians have faith in our electoral system to encourage them to stand on queue and cast their vote again?

If the court nullifies the results, will that decision restore Malawians’ faith in their electoral management system or it will deepen their dislike and disdain of it?

These are key questions that the Monday ruling needs to answer—its more than just having fresh elections. It’s about the quest to have an electoral system that respect the voices and wishes of the people.

Democracy, I repeat, thrives on the voice of the people; their wish as in how they want to be governed.  So Monday’s ruling is about two questions: Do we have an electoral system that respects people’s wishes or we have one that disdains?

Welcome 3 February in the annals of Malawi’s watershed dates.

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45 replies on “After February 3 judgement, is change coming to Malawi? ”

  1. Iwe Need Change, Bingutu anaphedwa ndi m’bale wake uja anabisa maliro uja n’kumati Bingu ali moyo mpaka kuulutsa mtembo kupita nawo ku South Africa kufuna kunamiza mtundu wa aMalawi ndikusakaza ndalama zathu! Remember midnight six? He was at the centre of it all. So shut up your filthy mouth!

  2. Phwisa, yes, the new MCP will bring the change we want because the old MCP which you hate ceased to be as those who used to cause havoc, the likes of Nicholus Dausi, left and are doing their trade in DPP. Iwe ukhalira kuphwisa komweko ndi mbuyako Chaponda!

  3. Mbava zokhazokha ngati anaba mzimayi ndiye amunawo titchulepo ndani apa wabwino ndimulungu basi kukanganirana kuba ine msomkho Nje agaru munya john chilembwe di c
    Chihana anamenyera ufulu odyera achete ena mwawaphesa mabanja awo akuvutika mumu dziwe yesu

  4. I ne ndilibe chipani koma ndingoti wakuba saopa khothi chifukwa amakumana ndi makhotho ambili ndipo mazakhalanso wakuba sikuti amasiya kukhala kuti past tense

  5. Nice article, the truth is that the judgement on Monday February 3 has its own history for the constitution Judges and the judiciary as a whole.And also has a history of corruption and bribes either ending these two evils or continue with them . Another history Will be on the opposition strength in the country, If the court oppose what MEC did then corruption will end and new kid in town is coming, meaning good developments are on the way.If the court upholds what MEC did it will be a disaster for the country and for the future generations,with all the tippex that the MEC itself did not supply to the poling stations.I don’t think so . What MEC did will not upholds.

  8. It appears many of us had a wrong trial perspective, we had our own different from the one concourt had buy with same petitioners and respondents.hence we are expecting a wrong thing.concourt is only going to answer the questions CJ put to them after looking at the evidence tendered.please stop the hype and sensational attitude of the Monday concourt verdict..it only another step forward on our democracy..we make noise because we have the platform,but there I a silent voter out there who speaks with ballot and we all get stunned by the outcome …don’t be naive ..change should begin with an individual who advocates for I instead of accusing others of not changing a system or themselves..are you a changed individual compared to last time you wanted things to change? Ask yourselves first.

  9. Overall, whatever the outcome, it was a good struggle. Leaders are shaped through through great battles. Congrats to Dr Chakwera and Saulos Chilima – the brave, opposition parties of the Malawi Presidential Elections of 2019. May the best man win.

  13. Yes change will come after February 3. Chrocodiles will celebrate to feed on human flesh.Thats very stupid thinking when you talk about people kicked out Bingu .Yet you are the same fools who say Bingu was better. You changed Bingu by killing him and you brought a better change called Cashgate Joyce Banda.. Where are we now.
    CHANGE IS COMING FOR Chrocidiles to feast.
    Gadama,Matenje,Sangala Chiwanga,change is coming to refresh the hand axe wounds you sufferrd on that day on the road to Thambani on that fateful day Malawi and your relatives will never forget.
    Devil bless Malawi for the better change after February 3

  14. Thanks Mr Editor,Like you hint we rely need change but the question is will the change we need be good to maintain or not.I feel personally we need a rusting change e,g for all impunities.This has nothing to do with political parties but our laws and policies.Even if we give chilima,chakwera or any other the presidency seat but this will not end.Please lets advocate federalism basi.Fact kaya wina wa ku mpoto timupatse u president he will do the same….what Malawi need is a sanity government…..the answer Fedralism

  15. Mpoloni and Kiswa Kuswa, why did you read the article in the first place. You should have just left the article to Nyondo himself. By reading, you thought it would favour you but unfortunately you see that the article is objective and favours no party that’s why you’re angry.

    1. The article is clearly insinuating a judgement against MEC and DPP is what must take place because in the opinion of the author the election irregularities were gross to an extent that the election result as announced did not reflect the will of the people. What the author is insinuating albeit very subtly is exactly the what the court will rule on. The author has taken sides. To say this is a neutral and balanced view is not QUITE true. All that said I wholly appreciate the style of his writing. Excellent analysis. In future try to leave your reader to take sides. Do not betray your side.

  16. This is what everyone wants to hear at this point in time regardless of which side of the divide one stands. Not speculations but objective points .

  19. Mutharika family, the worst in leadership. We have tried two of them but have both miserably failed. Sad the current one didn’t even try to fix things for his family. Some people are not able to learn

    2. I think you must be the next president. May be you will perform better than the Mutharikas. I believe you are a good president to your wife and children.

    3. How could be one called the worst and yet was voted into power by 62%(bingu)? kungoti basi ppo thats what we are. Go in all the constituencies we elect MP and we say is good but just few days we find mistakes and push him/her away come the next elections koma zifukwa zake zosamveka ndiye tiyeni lets wait for monday other than kulubwalubwa apa

  21. Malawi will never change regardless of who is in power unless Malawians themselves change their attitudes. They need to be willing to pay for education so that the standards of education improve. ( This is one area every president is afraid to tackle lest he lose the next elections). Maybe its high time well meaning organisations e.g churches and ngos really drum this into the masses. Only when the quality of education improves for the masses will this country change. It is KEY to changing everything.
    A properly educated population will check democracy. Will provide a skilled labourforce. Will bring about creativity and differentiation. Can export labour which sends money back home. The list is endless.
    In the absence of this, it’s just unfortunate.People need to know that they have the power to change their wellbeing by themselves and not necessarily wait for government. If Mr Napoleon Dzombe is making it in the same country, surely there must be a way

    1. It’s not only paying school fees that will improve or bring about quality education in Malawi, I mean we have so many private schools that people pay school fees but does not translate into quality education. It is a political wheel that is lacking in our education system. Unless or until our politicians stop politicizing our system and put in place relevant people to revamp the system, then we’ll sing a new song

      1. in a population of 19 million. how many go to private schools ndi bodza lako. Malawians Love free stuff. Within our own families even kuthandiza makolo ena amati athandiza ndi akuti because they are better off. Azibale anthu akumudzi saafun a kulipira kanthu amati ” ndife akumudzi”. However in real terms, some of them are much better off than those in the city. This mindset works at a large scale and brings the nation down. Everyone has a role to play in development and for as long as the free loaders are many, this bus won’t go anywhere.

        1. What causes people to pay is the policy in place at that moment. Currently the government is the one propagating lifestyle of getting things for free and this was started by politicians. We used to pay fees at government primary schools, who stopped it? – politicians. Who is refusing to scrap off FISP? – politicians. Who has scrapped off tuition fees in Secondary schools? – politicians. You can imagine even zomadya phala kusukulu pali munthu wakumudzi amene analemba kalata yopempha?. People in the villages are ready to pay for a good service. However, politicians are the bottlenecks because they are afraid of loosing votes and they also benefit from it through corruption. Currently, even the educated are behaving like fools hence one wonders if what you are talking can really work.

          1. @Tadala you didn’t read well. The truth is no president, be it Chakwera, Peter, Chilima will tackle it because its in their interest to be in power. Maybe on their last term. Otherwise that person will remain unpopular. It will probably be shot down in parliament by our greedy MPigs too. The masses do not know how good it is for them. However there are other avenues that can be used to tackle it and make Malawians more receptive. Maybe then, will they open up. Our Politicians are a greedy lot and expecting them to do such is virtually impossible.

    2. Correct. Our leaders are a reflection of the people who put them in power – We are a tribalistic, nepotistic, greedy, corrupt, incompetent, hateful, stubborn and thieving nation

      1. Yes such a nation federalism is a solution whether one want it or not.period.Otherwise troubles will continue until the end of time.Sorry

    1. That is total ignorance palibe za better apa. We had Kamuzu ppo said watiwombola ku a tsamunda but was booted out in 1994 then came Muluzi we said zinthu zisintha for the better but we booted him out in 2004 and Bingu won 62% the first president ever to scoop such huge votes but we rose against him and God just saved him from the hands of evil men and women(MHSREP) and came Joice Banda we said things will go better but came 2014 we booted her out and then APM what are we saying? So my friend and others out there never be cheated kuti things can change you have to change your mindset thats all

      1. Facts only Kamuzu achieved 1 kwacha to 1 dollar.1 KWACHA TO 10 RAND .ECONOMIST.WHO WILL ACHIEVE THIS NOONE.

  23. It’s clear in your article Ephraim that you have a judgement of your own. Let’s wait for Monday and hear what the learned judges will say. Keep your opinion to yourself.

  24. What are people’s voices in the case of your article? Are they the silent majority in the South? The vocal chewa supporters of MCP in the central who we often saw coming from the areas surrounding Lilongwe to march, burn and loot the city or those from the north of solar mannerisms and supported the party of Zeze? Who are they?

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