Dzonzi-at-large: Ras Chikomeni brewing Malawi revolution
In 1984 I was in Jos Nigeria. We were driving to church that morning, ahead of us was a VW Wagon. As we came close to it we read the words” PASSION WAGON”, Then we came closer and read” DON’T LAUGH”, We came closer and read”YOUR DAUGHTER MIGHT BE INSIDE” Sigh!
Was Ras Chikomeni Chirwa a joker?
No, he was a REVOLUTIONARY. Listen to his words after his nomination was turned down:” Ndinayesesa. Koma chandivuta ndi umphawi. This should be a lesson to Malawians. No matter how hard you try. No matter how much love you. But if you are poor, the system will always make sure you remain poor and the rich get richer.. This is my story.
Tomorrow it might be you. Not in the political field but maybe in the educational field, where you are intelligent but can’t pay fees. Maybe in the health field where you can’t get treatment. Don’t laugh at me, let this be a lesson. We might all be Malawians in the eyes but we are divided. Some are poor like me and some are able to buy their way into everything. I still love those that supported me despite my financial state.”
These are the words of a revolutionary not a joker?
1. He wore a shirt inscribed ETHIOPIA. This is not Ethiopia as we currently know it. It is ETHIOPIA the ancient, the true name of the continent known as Africa.. Why did he put on that shirt? He was pronouncing his political philosophy. He was saying; ” I am a Pan-Africanist, I believe in the total emancipation of the African people and I am committed to the decolonisation of the African mindset as it currently stands.
2. He choose, note choose, because he later read in English with an above average fluency, to speak in Chichewa, a widely spoken and known language. He rejected to use the language of the oppressor. He used the language of the people. He was fully identifying with them.He used the language of inclusion.
3.Ras Chikomeni Chirwa represents a community of people that feels marginalised and excluded from taking part in the mainstreams of Malawian life. It is a growing group. It meets in exclusive places mostly along rivers of squatter communities of our cities and in mountain areas of our rural areas. You might ask, Why did he seems to be a sole sojourner? It is because he is a visionary who sees far ahead of his community. His action will open the eyes of his compatriots. In 10 to 15 years time, this will be a community to contend with. It is time the rest of us Malawians begun to listen to their voice.
4. From his statement above he also belongs to the community of those that are called poor, and they make the majority of the population in Malawi. One day these will be mobilized, God forbid, not into a Revolutionary Movement that will be ready to die for a cause. The message from Ras Chikomeni Chirwa is simple” Pay attention to the plight of the poor, we will not be patient for ever, none of you are our representatives.
5. The question is ” Didn’t he know he will be rejected for lack of payment of the fee?” The answer is, he knew very well. Why did he then come anyway? To demonstrate on a national platform that ” this is an exclusive society, we the poor remain the downtrodden and scum of the earth. This is not a simple message. Those who have studied Liberation Theology should understand this. This man is thinking at a higher plane that most of us see and conceptualize.HE IS NO FOOL.
In conclusion, was Ras Chikomeni Chirwa a laughing matter? Fellow Malawians “Do not laugh, this might be a brewing revolution whose fire we might fail to extinguish. I am not laughing. Ras Chikomeni Chirwa has communicated a serious message. It calls for meditation.
- The author is a diplomat and former Insoectir General of Police
Iwe Loti Dzonzi: Put your money where your mouth is. In other words, if you believe in what you have written, then subscribe to the Rasta philosophy, at least. And, at most, become a Rasta.
How about that?
HOW CAN SOMEONE CLAIM TO HAVE WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE OF RUNNING A COUNTRY WHEN HE HIMSELF IS FAILING TO MANAGE HIMSELF ??? CHIKOMENI HAS FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE SOME ASPECTS OF A GOOD LEADER WHICH MALAWI NEEDS.HE NEEDS TO BE A GOOD RESOURCE MOBILIZER .HOW HAS HE FAILED TO SECURE EVEN SIGNATURES .HE WAS BUSY MAKING NOISE INSTEAD OF MOBILIZING FUNDS. WAKE UP MALAWIANS .BECOMING A PRESIDENT IS NOT AN EASY TASK EVEN IN EUROPE OR USA.THOSE WHO GO FOR IT SACRIFICE A LOT. HOW DID HE NOT ASK FOR HELP IN THE FIRST PLACE.WE HAVE SEEN SOME PEOPLE DOING BIG… Read more »
it only takes one courageous man to change the world,to the ruling elite you can only ignore this message at your own peril the winds of revolution are blowing a voice from the wilderness has spoken Chikomenj has dared only where the elite dare with a clear message
i should comment to this gentleman this story has made us to understand that here in malawi there is unequal distribution of resources where by those that are higher links they just want to leak the government hence typical malawians that are staying in remote areas are even failing to meet three basic needs as our first president said last years ago.chikomen chirwa is not laughing matters but this is lesson in life that there is indeed large gap between the rich and the the poor.
Bravo Bravo Ras Chikomeni, Listening to his speech, he is telling the truth. MEC is the cause of all this akanaika mtengo woti anthu akwanitse ku pereka not 2 Million the figure is 2 much, that means amafuna olemera okhaokha kti apikisane, not fair kulakw’. For those with money help him to register because its better to vote for a poor man who knows all our needs who has never been in politics, adzatithandiza . Enawa anali mu zipani zina pano ayambitsa zipani zawo kma mitima yawo ndiyomweyo coz amaba ali kuzipani zinazo panopa umboni woti anasiya kubako uli pati?… Read more »
this is why weed is controlled elsewhere. nonsense plus nonsense
Iwe nde wabwino? Nzeru ulibho
2 million fòr what then? So osauka koma wanzeru olo atafuna kucota contest nao ngoolephera? But acina dr soso dr soso Mec team.
FUCK
Munthu asauka bwanji ali ndi nzeru.Munthu akulephela kudzitukula yakha nde angatukule anthu 17.5 million.
Every game has rules, and aliyense participating akuyenela kupanga follow. Just imagine popanda rules ndi angati angapite kuti akayime nao, even myself and you titha kukatenga ma forms.
From my knowledge of the constitution, the electoral commission has not been given powers to raise fees for nomination of candidates. Chapter VII section 76 and 77 and Chapter VIII section 80 (6) and (7) does not give powers to the Commission to raise fees inorder for a person to be nominated, so which rules are these where did MEC get these rules
Bravo Ras Chikomeni for those who have eyes have seen and ears have heard ngakhale Ku Miyambo kuli Verse imene imatiuza kuti anthuwa
amanyoza nzeru ya osawuka koma akanakhala kuti ali ndi kwacha bwenzi a kuti ali ndi wa nzeru Keep on revolution
A lot of Malawians are very very shallow minded maggots. YES! you read it right…MAGGOTS. Poverty has infiltrated every scope of their lives to the extent that they have accepted it as the acceptable fate of their destiny. They think the rich were sent from Heaven to rule over them. No ways! The rich go to palaces to continue enriching themselves and not for any benefit of the poor man. THE MEC IS STUPID AND A BUNCH OF THIEVES SO INCAPABLE OF ADMINISTERING ANY FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE ELECTION IN OUR LAND.
I don’t know why people are laughing at this guy.I agree with whatever he is saying its sad that he is poor and could not afford the fee.I wish him all the best