Comedian Manganya blasts Malawi ruling PP politicians: ‘Kale movie being suppressed’
Malawi’s renowned comedian Michael Usi has taken a swipe at unnamed governing Peoples Party (PP) politicians for delaying his ‘Kale’ movie shooting project.
Usi, popularly known as Manganya, said he was surprised with the officials who are blocking him saying they just fearing the unknown.
The movie combines traditional dances and drama depicting Malawi’s founding President Ngwazi Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda era, driving citizens down memory lane.
Speaking on the ‘Agenda’ programme on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Radio 1, Usi said it was unfortunate that the movie was failing to see light of the day because of politicians’ fear of the unknown.
He said despite being permitted by the city authorities to shoot the movie, some government officials are repeating what the previous government did by denying him to shoot the movie in other designated areas.
For instance, Manganya mentioned Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital where he went to shoot the movie but was surprised when he was sent back by doctors who said they had received a directive from top government officials not to allow him have access to the facility.
“In the movie Kamuzu Banda wanted to cheer the patients but l was surprised to be told that there was a directive from some top politicians that l should be allowed,” explained Usi, stressing that Kale was apolitical while urging the politicians to stop fearing the unknown.
He hinted that it was unfortunate he was facing exactly what the previous government did when police detained with top politicians influence for parading through Masauko Chipembere Highway in Blantyre with his mock convoy.
During the shooting of Kale, the motorcade carrying Usi took Malawians on the road from Limbe Market to Gogo Chatinkha Maternity Ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) with all the ceremony typical of the fallen leader.
There were dances by mbumba, the party women garbed in cloth emblazoned with Kamuzu’s portrait; traditional performances by Sambang’oma Dance Troupe, sights of bodyguards, police officers and other symbols of power characteristic of the one-party era.
And the pintsized Usiclad in a black Wilson hat and khaki coat stood majestically in an open-roof white Land Rover, waving a fly whisk and surrounded by gyrating mbumbas as well as grand mimics of the defunct red-shirted Youth League members and Malawi Young Pioneers.
“By documenting the life of Kamuzu, Kale will set the record straight and ensure children born during the multiparty dispensation know where we are coming from,” said Usi.
Kamuzu is the poster face of the self-rule fight that occasioned the hoisting of the rising-sun flag abandoned by the late president Bingu wa Mutharika two years ago and reinstated by Parliament since President Joyce Banda took over power.
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