Malawi political litmust test: Congrats MCP, DPP time for self introspection
Events of the past two days have ernomously changed Malawi’s political terrain and people’s perception of local politics. The events are a serious pointer of what the future holds for Malawi politics.
The three (3) ward councillor and three (3) parliamentary by-elections held on October 17, 2017 in Lilongwe, Dedza, Blantyre and Nsanje were considered a big ‘litmus test’ for both the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ahead of the crucial 2019 general elections.
As it turned out to be, MCP ‘passed’ the litmus test. The main opposition party trounced the ruling DPP of president Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, winning all but one seat. The DPP won in Dedza Mayani ward. Predictably, the MCP retained the Lilongwe Msozi South constituency and won the Lilongwe City South West constituency and Mtsiliza ward. The MCP also won in Ndirande’s Makata ward and Nsanje Lalanje constituency, both considered as DPP’s strongholds.
The by-elections are behind us. MCP president, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has issued his ‘victory’ statement. Largely, the statement depicts him as a democratic statesman who is advancing unity and reconciliation. He used this opportunity to cut a unifying figure and sounded more a national leader than political party president. Well, Reverend, congratulations!
The DPP, on the other hand, seems to live in denial that they have miserably lost. The governing party must quickly come to terms with the reality that Malawians have spoken and may speak again in the near future if no corrective measures are done as a matter of urgency. It is simple; Malawians are crying for uninterrupted electricity and running water, equal opportunities in all spheres of life, including public university education, public sector appointments, business opportunities and, generally, better living conditions.
President Professor Peter Mutharika must quickly come out of his cocoon and address the nation, publicly acknowledging things were not right somewhere. Great leaders in history have conceded things were not right and acted quickly upon the consensus demands of the people. Malawians care far more about bread-and-butter issues than anything else and that must be the priority of government.
President Mutharika must decisively deal with corrupt public officers who live in opulence and continue to ransack public coffers; indeed taxpayers money. Malawians are tired of praise-singing sycophants who act on the dictates of their pockets and only specializes at telling the Head of State what he wants to hear and not the plight of the people on the ground. The president cannot continue relying on advice from politically rusty advisors. The DPP cannot rely on old and tired people like Francis Mphepo, Nicholas Dausi and Hetherwick Ntaba who are simply unsuitable for modern political strategy to lead political election campaign.
Surely, the president must be seen to be keeping a reasonable distance from the likes of DPP secretary general Madame Jeffrey wa Jeffrey, who is simply a disgrace to modern Malawi politics and womenfolk. Her foul mouth has done more harm than good to DPP, president Mutharika and the entire nation.
The results of the October 17 by-elections were more of a protest vote than a major political shift and that there is still room for the DPP to improve. But this might turn into a major political shift if the current challenges are not adequately addressed.
In his concession speech, one African ‘defeated’ president said, “I have learnt that not all those who criticized us hated us. Sometimes the best way to express your love for someone is to be critical of their actions. If I should ever return, I will not display a ‘dead-goat syndrome’ towards disaffection of the masses.
“When those who opposed us cried foul, we retorted, “hate can’t win.” Tonight, however, I am the first to admit that some hate can win. This election has taught me that the hate of corruption can win. It has taught me that hate of incompetence can win. Our defeat has taught me that hate of impunity can win”.
Borrowing a leaf from the above, president Mutharika and DPP must realize that sometimes when PAC demands some radical changes in policy formulation and implementation, it is not just out of hate but goodwill. When columnists and the media generally criticizes some aspects of perceived bad governance, it is not envy but goodwill. These are voices of the voiceless; voices of the voters.
The president must reconnect with the people of Malawi and be seen to act on the people’s grievances. The challenges are enormous but with a total re-think of policies, the challenges can can be significantly overcome. It is time to go back to the drawing board.
The just-ended by-elections, Mr. President, were simply a referendum on your policies. It was a measure of the president and DPP’s popularity. It is not too late to positively reflect on what the harsh verdict of Nsanje, Lilongwe and Blantyre voters means to the governing party and Malawi as a nation.better than cure. — Follow @thomchiumia
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indeed we have to admit that the government has to do something. but the problem is does Malawi have the capacity to deal with our problems within the shortest time. electricity problem is not asimple problem . billions are being invested but the issue it seems we overlooked the problem for along time. planning as anation we are always reactive not proactive. we will keep on changing regimes but we will be singing the same song. we are poorest nation and our needs are many that the state can not manage to satisfy that why despite the issues like cach gate affected our economy still more we need to look at long term solutions for our problems.
on the by elections DPP has the time to look at it self and see where things are wrong to correct although idont believe the issue of equity in education has a role on this result unless it was being conducted in area that believe the system is not working for them. the writer just wanted to advance his own ideas and I think he does not support the equity system. let us have sober minds when discussing these issues. another issue about by elections is that sometimes pple vote for personality and not parties. for example the win of DPP in Dedza doesnot mean it is popular in deza but the candidate was the one pple wanted not the party and the same can be true in other areas as well. but congrats to MCP atleast they have something to show off. for the people of soth have demonstrated that they love all the parties not as other pple thing that we only love parites whose presidents are from the south.
SANTANA, you are the biggest fool who lives in his own unknown world of stupid -blind-loyalty and denial. Do you honestly think those so called Lhomwe belt can resend your president back to state house? You talk like you know but you don’t, in 2014 elections, what was the margin difference by percentage between these two top contenders? It was only 7_9% ,that means 61_63 % of Malawians rejected and are still rejecting Peter today, only that they voted for some leaders not Peter and now have realized they are useless. And if the electoral laws were like in some other countries Peter didn’t qualify to be a president and rule the majority who didn’t vote or like him as their leader. So if I were you I couldn’t talk all the nonsense you utter here, after all what development dpp, or Bingu and Peter combined have done that can surpass what Kamuzu did in 28years even if we devide by 2?
I have said it before and I will say it again, president Mutharika has surrounded himself with opportunists as ministers, advisors and party officials who are quickening the downfall of both Mutharika and DPP. They are arrogant and selfish. People are also angry with the use of MBC to bluff the people by painting a rosy picture yet the people are suffering on the ground.
When you find time please give advice to UDF as well……..they failed beyond recognition. Kufela mkwapa mwa DPP
A very good piece of advice to APM. But since he doesn’t listen to advice, he will still maintain the likes of Jeff Wa Jeff, Ntaba, Nankhumwa, Henry Mussa, Chaponda, Jappie Mhango and the Kasailas. These will just help APM to live in dinial and later be denied by Malawians come 2019.
My question to the reporter is this: If these bye-elections were held in the Lhomwe built would you expect MCP to win in any single area? The answer is an emphatic NO. The reasons you are giving for the loss are not true because people in the Lhomwe built feel the same pinch as all Malawians do. However despite all the miseries felt, they would still vote for DPP if these bye-elections were held in Thyolo, Mulanje, Chiradzulu and Phalombe. So your reasons are not true Mr. Chiumia. Secondly, if the reasons given are true, are these miseries not felt by people of Mayani in Dedza? I would personally take out my heart for MCP if these elections were held in Lhomwe built areas so that we would be saying MCP yalowa kuchipinda kwa DPP. In the areas where elections took place there is no single area which can be called DPP stronghold. Strong parties like UDF, DPP and recently PP have once or twice claimed to have considerable support in Blantyre and Mwanza but the strength of that support can not be turned to be a stronghold unless you don’t know the meaning of this word. The Lhomwe built, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, and part of Zomba is the stronghold of DPP. Machinga, Balaka, Mangochi, and part of Zomba is stronghold of UDF. Kasungu, Lilongwe, Dedza, Salima, Mchinji is stronghold of MCP. Districts like NKK, Mwanza, Nsanje, and Ntcheu are unpredictable. They can sway to any part which has played its card well, So in this bye-election the only area which has produced surprises is Mayani in Dedza which happens to be home area to once MCP strongman JZU. MCP should explain this loss. In Nsanje we know that the Lower shire has the blood of MCP since the time of Chakwamba but recently lost direction because there was no one to lead them to MCP. Now they can see a relief in Mia. So no wonder this response in the bye-election. But this does not mean it is MCP stronghold. Better call it Gwanda or Mia stronghold because the area can switch to any party the guy wants unless otherwise. Aloss in Ndirande of 59 difference is not something to worry DPP. The guy who stood for DPP was just handpicked by one guru in the party just because he was his relative(mpongozi,) and DPP supporters warned Ndix party officials to withdraw the picked candidate otherwise they would not boycott the voting but vote for MCP in a CHIKUWAWE style, not that they like MCP. So you can see that this cannot be repeated in any election. The question remains why a loss in Mayani? When answering this question try to connect it to why Gwengwe did not feel okay to contest from the same Dedza but went to LL? This will direct you to the question why Joseph Njobvuyalema once JZU’s righthand man is totally silent in party activities since the retirement of JZU.
Stop living in denial Satana. I haven’t bothered to read your full essay here though
so called Santana go to Hell!