Has Chilima’s manifesto humbled Chakwera’s Hi-5 message?
In the beginning there were two different political parties—Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM; each with its own message to woo voters.
The MCP led by Lazarus Chakwera, had a catchy HI-5 phrase premised on: servant leadership, prospering together, ending corruption, rule of law and national unity.
On the other hand, Saulos Chilima’s UTM had it all ‘Tsogolo Lathu Lowala, Labwino, Lafika’ mantra of transformation leadershp premised on specifics such as: 1 million jobs, cheaper fertilizer, free connection to utilities, rooting out corruption, etc.
However, today—when these two parties came together through a Tonse Alliance, it is becoming evident that Chakwera’s non-specific HI-5 message has been swallowed up by Chilima’s specific issue-based campaign messages.
Just look around.
In almost all the rallies addressed by Tonse Alliance, messages that props up are those about 1 million jobs, cheap fertilizer and rooting corruption.
Seldom does Chakwera’s catchy HI-5 being expressed—perhaps is it because of Covid-19?
Does People’s Party (PP) have message of its own? What about Khumbo Kachali, John Chisi, Kamuzu Chibambo, Enoch Chihana—do they have a message for Malawians or they are just riding on the backs of their alliance partners?
It is becoming evident that Chilima’s campaign message is giving Tonse Alliance a considerable lease of life than any party to the alliance.
Arguably, on message wise, it wouldn’t be an understatement to advance that Chilima is propelling Tonse to victory.
What is critical in all this is the mastery of message creation to help appeal to the voters without hustle.
Chakwera’s HI-5 message, despite being catchy, is generic. It doesn’t have those quick take home messages—sharp and memorable promised that can easily move a voter.
Lazarus Chakwera’s phrases such as ‘rule of law’, ‘servant leadership’, ‘prospering together’, ‘ending corruption’, and ‘national unity’, are abstract and lifeless. They do not connect with voters as they are deemed bookish.
On the other hand, Chilima’s phrases such as ‘1 Million Jobs’ and ‘Fertilizer at K4500’ have life and are to the point. They speak direct to the common needs of a voter and, as a result, a voter connects easily.
This could be debatable but, let us face it; Chilima’s campaign messages are giving Tonse a strong appeal to the voters. The 50-50 sharing deal is quite appropriate.
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In the beginning, God, after creating Adam proceeded a step further, “And the Lord God said,”It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him”. Genesis 2 vs 18. In order to achieve His divine plan for man to replenish the whole earth with mankind, the woman, Eve, was a brilliant divine act of creation. There is so much power in unity, hence ‘THE TONSE ALLIANCE’, just like Eve and Adam were given different features and functions, strangely today we are talking of billions of mankind populating the globe. My conclusion,”IT IS… Read more »
Guys lets just talk about “kumyatitsa DPP pa 23” other issues later
Hate the WRITER BUT WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN IS TRUE…….
So what
The writer seems not to be political. I feel to the learned, the H5 is more achievable than 1mil jobs and 4500/bag fert. Chakwera has gone into lies of UTM to gain votes as you said rightly than people want 1mil jobs
Crying for 5 minutes of my life I have wasted reading this useless article. I will never recover them again.
akamati mu umodzi muli mphamvu it is because aliyense brings his best and also shields the weakness of the other. Pailbe mwalembapo apa. Mgwirizanowo meant kuti anthu asakanize zinthu and they have done that. iwe vuto lako ndi chani?
Mike Fiko, your observations are correct. Most comments here are very emotional and they don’t read between the lines to see your point of view. However, good leadership is not about knowing it all. It is about choosing the best people and advisors around you. And Chakwera, by accepting Chilima to partner with him has shown good leadership. I come from mvula zakale. There used to be a popular pop group called the Beatles. It was a four member group. But the key song writers were only 2. Paul MC Cartney and John Lennon. And yet the group is what… Read more »
Don’t mislead people, the Hi-5 message is still being shared. It should be understood that the Hi-5 are the guiding principles through which the fused manifestos will be implemented. All tonsevalliance partners are giving out their messages within the -hi-5 framework. By the way, have you noted that MCP manifesto has cheap (low cost) fertilizer for everyone? So does the UTM manifesto. And have you noted MCP has “creating jobs for the youth through the Natiobal youth service? – UTM has 1m jobs. This is why the manifestos were merged seamlessly. Nde ukuti bwanji adha?
WHAT MATTERS IS TONSE ALLIANCE BOMA AAAAAAAAAAA…….. KUTI NYADU! NYADU! NYADU! NYADU!