Analyst, Malawians condemn MCP MP Chilapondwa for calling active citizens ‘frogs’
Social and political commentator Wonderful Mkhutche has described as unfortunate the post the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) member of Parliament for Ntchisi South, Ulemu Chilapondwa, has made on his Facebook in which he has likened Malawians to frogs.
In the post, Chilapondwa calls the voters ‘ochule’ (frogs) for questioning the controversial bills the Tonse Alliance government brought in parliament in the just-ended session.
Chilapondwa, in his post on Facebook page, likened Malawians to frogs who are whining over the controversial decisions President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his Tonse Government are making, which others have described as a departure from their promises before the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election (FPE) on June 23, 2020.
The power-incensed legislator challenged that no matter how the frogs croak, they cannot stop an elephant from drinking water from a well in which they (frogs) live.
“Kulila kwa ochule mmadzi sikungalepheretse njobvu umwa madzi,” said Chilapondwa in his post.
His post could loosely be translated as: the croaks of the frogs cannot stop elephants from drinking waters.
But Chilapondwa’s post has not amused many Malawians, including social and political commentators, who are demanding explanation from the MP on what he meant by it.
Of course, a Blantyre-based social and political commentator, Wonderful Mkhutche, admitted that it would be difficult to deduce what Chilapondwa exactly meant by his post as such sayings can have several meanings.
However, Mkhutche said putting it into the present political context and knowing that the author is also a politician who belongs to MCP; the post could mean the general public’s reaction to Tonse Alliance government.
“There have been controversial bills advanced by government in Parliament. Recently, President Chakwera has appointed his daughter on a foreign mission in Belgium. Malawians have been talking over these issues and Hon. Chilapondwa may be saying that what the general public thinks will not distract government in any way,” he said.
Mkhutche emphasized that Chilapondwa’s post is a ‘an insult to Malawians’ if it was intended to defend Chakwera on his controversial bills and appointment of his direct children and relatives into top government positions.
The commentator said the public deserves a decent explanation and not mockery through parables from the leaders they elected into office.
“We are a democracy. The citizens will always opinionate on public issues. The best way is for government to explain on why and how some decisions are being made,” he said.
Ordinary Malawians have also taken to various social media platforms, including WhatsApp fora, where they have criticized Chilapondwa for ‘insulting us’ with the post.
The Chakwera-led administration is under public scrutiny for introducing repressive legislations, which others have argued that they are a replica of the legal provisions the old MCP used to oppress critics.
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To my surprise, I see someone bringing Chinua Achebes book here “Things fall apart!!This reader is right to bring it that way.But I would take it the other way ,Tonse Alliance is falling apart indeed.Lets wait and see the end of them.God is in Control.MCP will never change.
This is just the beginning to hear of such naughty comments from such a legislator.He will fill the gist of it in 2025.Or soon God will swipe him away from this land.
Koma mmene nidziwila ine chule samalira akava mgugu kapena kanthukali konse kamene kapanga phokoso. Tikamaoloka dambo usiku nthawi ya nvula a chule akasiya kulira timadziwa kuti kwaterelera mwina kuli choopsa. Timakhala duu mpaka ayambe kulira ndiye umo zikhalira. Popeza madetra ochokera o chewa timasiyana koma kumangoni dzimatero.
Mukawerengenso miyambi ndi zining’a. Those who have read “Things Fall Apart” by Achebe will agree with me that miyambi added value to that book. Uyu Chilapondwa is from Ntchisi and very good at Chichewa. Did he say ndinu achule?
He is not . The guy is humble . I know the guy. Zanu izo bola mbava zidachoka
Chilapondwa is desperate for a Cabinet position. He is deep into debt and is looking for a way out…
Executive arrogance.Time will judge you one day
I see nothing wrong because the use of proverbs and idioms is part of any language. But as usual Malawians are good at looking for faults. It’s true we just cry like babies bola a baby because that’s how they communicate. Malawians cannot work hard these days and kubereka timabereka tokha but at the end we want someone to buy a coffin. Let’s encourage our people to work. Let’s stop fault finding.
Grasshopper mentality
Mulekeni awawona achulewo in 2025 zomwe adzachite paja yathu nkhondo timamenya through votes that’s why we in democracy unlike in one regime where we could not have any say and be heard but now whether one choose to listen or not it’s not an issue we then use VOTES to show that we too are powerful and important. Ayenda womwewu awa sakuwadziwa ndani and remember APM used to tell Malawiwans that please vote wisely because if you make mistake then you will choose oppression and you shall regret forever or choose DPP for progress so ndi zimenezi Malawians chose oppression but one thing i know is that God never make a mistake it is fine that Malawians will now understand how MCP was like in 31 years of power.
But seriously speaking,, this is not what it means, people are just angry with something, coz the way I see and understand this proverb, he meant that even when we makawians are crying of what is happening in government, people won’t stop stealing coz we have no direct power to stop them, and it’s the same as when animals go to the river, no matter how loud the frogs can cry or sing, the animals will still drink water coz they frogs have no direct power to stop the animals, and for you our anylist to liken us as frogs, it means you Don’t understand this proverb, please stop creating a mill out of a ….…………
Koma mcp mmmm mavuto
This myopic thinking Chilapondwa is looking for a return favour from Chakwera in a form of ministerial position. His only aim, at any cost, is status. What a sycophants of an MP!
not surpring Chakwera calls some Malawians as rubble or Nyansi. and now Chilapondwa calls them frogs. The picture of him looks like he is a frog himself. This governent is very stupid with a very stupid leader.
This is the problem MCP has because it is in its DNA to talk carelessly, possibly that is attributed to their cultural background (DAMBWElism). Total disregard of humanity is normal with them. The literal meaning of what the MP said is a challenge to those who are opposing their ideologies, that nobody can challenge anything MCP. But one thing they are overlooking is that we are in a democratic dispensation where rational arguments/debates is encouraged in order to arrive to a consensus. According to them a health debate is punishable, hence the many lives that were lost when they were in a one party era. They intend to take us back to those old dark days, which unfortunately will not be possible. Surprisingly, as I said earlier, this is in their DNA because you will see that mentality and reasoning coming from even educated people as long as they are in MCP. What a shame.
While you have a right to your opinion, I think it’s best to talk about MCP and not bring in cultural issues including (Dambelism as you have put it). You wish to know that Dambwe is for the Chewas, Nyanjas and some other African tribes. This comment of yours is not different from what is purportedly coming from Chilapondwa.
Confirming that Tonse Alliance government is arrogant and cannot listen to anyone. “Chosadziwa anawombera mfiti manja”
He is obviously being quoted out of context for political reasons…..ma cadet finger pointing syndrome.
Wasting time on useless matters whilst your fellow human beings are flying to space. He hasn’t mentioned any names. Why would you want to translate it literaly? And why only worry about the Chule part not the njobvu part? Let’s think big and worry about big things too Malawians.
But why do we Malawians and complain on everything? So it’s wrong to be using proverbs now? He has mentioned of frogs and elephant, why not crying over the name elephant. Change mindset is very important.
Do not take people for granted, they are not embiciles like you. Such arrogance if unchecked will one day make the entire Tonse Alliance pay the price. Osatengela zinthu pagong’o ndi umbuli winawu
Munakakhala ozindikila u could have respected the fact that I have the right to my opinion. Tonse sitingakhalale ndimaganizo ofanana ngati aiweyo, kusazindikila Ufulu wa munthu wina ndiye umbuliwo. Yet u don’t know kuti ukupanga umbuli
Me! Frog? Ok I heard you. The higher you climb,the more nakedness you show…
Let me remind chilapondwa my be he was a baby, MCP long time ago said said abongololo, then someone draw abongololo on the all street that the sweeper could not manage clear them all becoz they were so many; 2025 they will more frog in water that the elephant will not drink water, It will die by thirst; do not wory.