If Mutharika doesn’t step up, expect a people’s revolution! Malawi at political crossroads
Malawi is back to 1959. In that year, on 3rd March, the then governor [the equivalence of the President today], Sir Robert Armitage, declared a State of Emergency after a series of demonstrations, popular resentments and agitations by Malawians regarding how they were being governed.
At the core of these popular actions was a mass discontent among Malawians who felt Armitage’s government was deaf to their prevailing social and economic needs.
To them, they felt the solution was supposed to be political—let’s change the system of government, from being ruled by whites to ruling ourselves.
Look at what is happening around you, today.
President Peter Mutharika, just like Armitage, is facing a series of demonstrations, popular resentments and agitations from various pockets of the country.
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) is unwavering in its wave of protests demanding the chopping off MEC’s chair Jane Ansah.
In the north, citizens are up in arms, uncompromising with street protests, against a system of selecting students to public universities.
Opposition parties are in court asking for a rerun of an election that Mutharika won. In Dedza, citizens are up in arms against government’s decision to transfer a district commissioner whom the people feel is fighting corruption.
From a distance, you would think that the waves of protests being witnessed are, principally, a show of post-electoral conflicts challenging the legitimacy of Mutharika. Far from it.
Just like in the years leading up to 1959, what we are witnessing, today, is summer discontent emanating from the prevailing social and economic challenges facing most average Malawians.
Just look around. Poverty is deepening among Malawians, especially urban dwellers. Hunger is refusing to let off millions every year—despite billions invested in subsidies.
Corruption is stinking and there is a stagnant perspective that the State is protecting those involved.
Besides, there is a strong feeling of strategic marginalization from people of other regions—something which is breeding feelings of regionalism and ethnicism.
All these variables sums up a spirit of discontent which results in a wave of frustrations and anger in the hearts of the governed.
Often, as read in history, when a nation is angry, people tend to vent such feelings either through capitalizing on immediate mishaps of the incumbents or resurrecting unsolved historical injustices. In fact, this is what we are witnessing today—Malawians using elections, quota system and corruption in councils, to stage large scale demonstrations that are violent and unwavering.
These protests, seen from history, aims at seeking redress from the State. People want engage the State regarding the continued dissatisfaction of how they are being governed.
Unfortunately, just Armitage, Mutharika is trying all he can, evading these voices either through confronting them with a heavy hand or just acting indifferent as if everything is rosy. Its poor leadership at its core.
Historian John McCracken sums our times quite well in the book ‘Malawi in Crisis: The 1959/1960 Nyasaland State of Emergency and its Legacy’.
He writes: “Yet if the 1959 Emergency is notable for the amount of suffering inflicted on Malawians, it also marks a notable victory for the forces of nationalism, a victory that compelled a fundamental reassessment of colonial policy.”
Today, we can say that, though these demonstrations and protests are having a dread on Malawians, there is a great amount of victory being won by Malawians in exposing deep weaknesses of Mutharika’s governing style—something he must stand up and address. If he doesn’t, 1959 remains a red flag for politicians. Step up or they will step you aside.
I do not understand these people Atumbuka. You see them very busy developing our Southern Region with big mansions all over locations in Blantyre decorating the City and when you visit their home in the North for instance Mzuzu its so pathetic. They say they are highly educated but why can you not go back home and use your knowledge to construct mansions and develop Mzuzu etc KOMA ATUMBUKAWA ANGOLIMBIKIRA KUNO KWATHU KU BLANTYRE kkkkkkkkkkkk!!!! WACHIBINGIRANGA KU THENGERE kkkkkkkkk!!!!
Thats is foolishness my brother,stop your nonsense ethinic sentments,does APM have a house in Thyolo???Before you accuse the educated Tumbukas ask your educated dull professor to show you his house in Thyolo.You are very dull and stupid.
Point your own thing you idiot. Developing ku South kwathu, don’t you know you came from Mozambique around 1900s. Ask your Ngongoliwa for facts.
Tikamati mbuli you are an excellent example.
this is the very reason why we want federal system of government where resources would be first be used where they come from. and share the little to those areas who do not have like your so called Blantyre. You have colected all our resources from our places and think you will use them in exclusion.
We have no reason to be in Blantyre and if you have observed many people are levaing Blantyre in favour of Mzuzu and are selling the so called mansions
The old man either doesn’t know what to do in the present crisis, or he is happy to let things play out under the forceful control of the Police and MDF. He is either burying his head in the sand or he is trying to tough it out. Either way he is shirking his responsibilities as President.
Dementia at its peak.he is not in this world
I see it raining until all the putrid blue colour in north and central region is completely faded.When are next demos taking place,they turning out to be so lovely to the majority of Malawians.I adore demos,can concourts please rule in favor of prof.madzalamphuno so as to keep us enjoying demos.Willingly given permission by our bosses in the offices to attend demos,a sign of both public and private sector discontent to this putrid lomwe dominant regime.IF you see cadet just give him/her a lesson with a petrol bomb.
Federalism is the only solution for Malawi pamene zafikapa kuti tribe ina isaoneke ngati yanzeru kwambiri kuposa ina. Lets share the cake tonse osati misonkho yahu izigwira ntchito dela limodzi ayi. Look at Lilongwe Jenda road ati chifukwa ndikuchipinda cha opposition zoona yet inunso mukudutsa momo. Look there is no mention of 4his road in this years budget why? Anthu mwatikwana inu.
DEMOSTRATIONS WITH POLITICAL AND REGIONAL POLITICS WOULD NOT MATERIALISE ,MUYISOVA
Charlie,I think something obnoxious is in your ugly HEAD that disturbs you.Come what may,Mathanyula will never complete his last term.He has shawn drastic failures which will drastically deepen the country’s move to develop the poor nation.Mathanyula has no love for our country.Malawians,get united and block the fool to destroy our respect and characters.LONG LIVE BELOVED MALAWI!!!
You are joking!!!!
AN OPEN LETTER TO PARLIAMENTARIANS —-PLEASE DISCUSS FEUDALISM ISSUE
WITH SOBER MINDS —–LET IT PASS —DON’T CONFUSE IT LIKE 50+1 VOTE —–THESE LOMWES WILL NOT HELP MALAWIANS WITH DPP
Feudalism or federalism?
You will never get this government .mukuvuta mahala tilipo ambiri osapota APM ndale zakukanikani dikirani 2024 kut mudzayese mwayi wina .kulibe mgwiliza wogwiriza zisankho zitatha shame utm and mcp
try again 2024
PITALATU ALIBE POLOBOLEMU —- KOMA INUYO !!