In Abida Mia, Chakwera has awarded sacrifice, loyalty, hard-work and excellence: It’s not nepotism
President Lazarus Chakwera can be lambasted with every word available regarding his Cabinet choice but, let’s face it, appointment of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) lawmaker Abida Mia as deputy minister is a mark worth celebrating.
It is worth celebrating because, to a larger extent, it symbolizes Chakwera’s resolve to reward sacrifice, hard work, loyalty and excellence.
Let us face it.
The only crime Abida Mia committed for being bunched in the nepotistic-driven appointment is because of who she choose to love: Mohammed Sidik Mia – the MCP first deputy president.
Beside being Sidik Mia’s wife, Abida, over the years, has lived a life of a politician committed and loyal to struggles of political change in this country.
She has, over the years, fought so much and so well to finance and implement movements that have had so much to take Malawi to where it is today.
Truth be told, we all know and we are self-evident of the fact that, showing extreme levels of loyalty and sacrifice, Abida Mia stepped down as head of her successful business empire to promote MCP in the Southern Region.
In stepping down, Abida wanted to prove to all and sundry that he understood the importance of separating her business venture and politics.
Further, we all know, again, that Abida sold off some of her assets just to raise more money to help finance MCP party operations for 3 years.
She didn’t just finance the party and stayed in boardrooms; no, she went full-throttle on the ground, criss crossing every part of this country to campaign for Chakwera.
Not only that, Abida became the symbol of MCP in the Southern Region, organising mass rallies to single-handedly promote MCP in the Southern Region.
The price of her hard work paid off when, in 2019, she campaigned vast and wide for MCP to a point where she won a parliamentary seat.
Besides that, Abida has over years proved being more than a politician sitting in boardroom: She has been on the ground, crying with people as an activist.
Hope Malawians haven’t forgotten how she uncovered tampered ballot boxes in Nsnaje that led to the landmark court ruling to have fresh elections Malawians just had recently.
Hope Malawians haven’t forgotten how Abida’s life was threatened countless times to desist from promoting MCP.
Hope Malawians haven’t forgotten how Abida was always on the frontlines of political protests, demonstrating against rigged elections.
The point is: in Abida, there is a story of sacrifice, hard work, excellence, resilience, passion and loyalty to the cause.
It’s a serious demeanor to her character to reduce her appointment as Minister because, one, she is a women and, two, thanking his husband’s support to the cause.
No.
I put it to Malawians to give Abida a chance of service and, from there, she can be judged if she is worth the salt or not.
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mkathawira dala school kuti mzipanga nsanje zanu izo ife tikuti viva mia family
Congratulations Hon. Abida Mia…. keep on representing us well.
A DPP musadandaule muchira ndithu.
Ndiribe naye chifukwa, kudzipereka nsembe kwake lero kumwamba kwamusekelera
Dziko ndi la Mia ili kkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Abida or Sidik will not be stepped down by the President and no matter what. Kondwani Nankhumwa and his wife were all in Parliament and by then Kondwani doubled as Minister and nobody shouted the president including Dpp and Mai Babra Banda. We have noted you.
What a lazy journalist. It is clear Abida Mia drafted it and spat it onto the journalist with a khaki envelope. Poor journalism.
Its all about jealousy.These two loyal servants of MCP they deserve to be in the cabinet.Our arguments should on merit not just because we like arguing NO.As a matter of facts,why you were not against it when the two were campaigning for a change?Remember,you leap what you sow and this is what has happened to the family.Are these two not capable of working and developing our country?Whats wrong with you Malawians?Give them a chance to transform our country.Let not DPP find advantage of this silly argument.
Kolako chasa 🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝 some of us are simply busy on social media draining our data yet others are on the frontline advocating for change sacrificing their lives and property. Let them continue the energy and momentum demonstrated during campaign as they now serve in the cabinet.
To all those Monday coaches out there, go on the frontline and prove yourself then you can be entrusted to run affairs of government not simply making noise on WhatsApp and various social media platforms.
Good PR for Abida… How much have you been paid by the MIAs for articulating this story Mr. Fiko?
Cadet bakha 🦆 phweeeeeeee mwauponda
Well assuming we accept your arguments for this lady, what about the other family connections in the cabinet? And didn’t the opposition condemn similar set ups with DPP? You think DPP didn’t have royal, hardworking people who were in the cabinet but people protested just because they were of a certain tribe?
This article is not about the other family connections in the cabinet. Cadet, uchila..easy
This racist must stop pls,why are we against only this family what about Kandodos brother and sister then Gospel Khazako.
Quite frankly, none of that matters.
Abida, Gospel, and Gaffar may be the most amazing people ever.
They may be highly qualified, hardworking etc etc etc.
In fact they may be exactly the BEST people for the positions they have been given.
None of that matters.
A critical, crucial part of governing is PUBLIC TRUST.
If the public doesn’t trust the government, the government will fail to achieve its goals.
So, in such cases, sometimes you can even settle for ‘second best’ or somebody less ‘hard-working’ in appointment cabinet.
You will still be able to do a great job.
Occasionally in some countries ministers will resign just to avoid the *appearance* of corruption.
That is, they have done nothing wrong, even the public and media will acknowledge it.
But in order to avoid implanting doubt and suspicion in people, the minister will resign in order for the government to govern with PUBLIC TRUST.
That is how important trust is to government. Chakwera really should know this, seeing the way he talks.
These ministers may be amazing, but it creates doubts in peoples’ minds, as well as creating opposition and taking up a lot of media discussion.
Why not avoid that and appointment someone else. They are plenty of equally hard working people.
And then we would be talking about Chakwera and his policies, instead of wasting time on cabinet appointments.
That would be good for Chakwera’s own government.
I hope , but doubt, he realises this.
plus ça change
Yes all valid points .. does her fight and sacrifice then deserve to be rewarded as a deputy minister? Well she is an MP already her hubby is a minister… how many have actually died fighting for the country and never had the chance to live and contribute to this new government… all this arguments are valid except that they do not justify husband and wife becoming cabinet ministers… Malawians ought to sacrifice for this country without excepting rewards it defeats the purpose…
Cadet bakha wakumdima BWANJI Makhumula Nkhoma?
Its disappointing to note such comments from someone who claims to be enlightened, the issue is not about rewarding but it is about capability instead of stressing on her sacrifices the auther ther should have concentrated on her qualities, on what she can bring on the table for the Malawian people and not for the party.Cabinet positions are not meant for rewarding hard party workers or money contributors these are important national posts that will determine life and death of Malawians hence they require qualified people. I am not saying Abida is not qualified but I am saying if she is then the writer has done her diservice by going off tangent and justifying completely wrong issues that should qualify one’s appointment.
We might excuse Chakwera on the Mias but how does he justify the inclusion of Roy Kachale, the son of the cash gate queen. We have people like Moses Kunkuyu, Chianti Malunga etc who made sacrifices yet Roy mother was doing the biding for him. I knew from the start knowing the charm that Joyce Banda has that she will manage to cast a spell on him and it is not surprising that Chakwera is behaving that way. Monica Chakwera should not allow her husband to be in constant contact with this jezebel because before she realises it she will have bedded him.
Get the facts right, the issue is not about Abida Mia, its the whole cabinet in general, Gospel Kazako n his sister in law what’s that???
Malawi does not owe Abida or anyone anything. If you get into politics get in because you want to help develop the country not being paid for loyalty to an individual. Those kinds of politics are gone, should be gone!
Mtima wa chimwenye opanda manyazi ndi kuba kapena kuchitika za unve. Viuto lalikulu ndi ndi sukulu. Koma seriously apa a chakwera ndiye sizidakhale bwino. Tipatseni ulemu. Ndiye ndi mchacha tasitana pati?
Apart from the flowery CV for Abida, even if it was me I was going to appoint both Mias. Be honest people. The Mia family made huge sacrifices. There were times their offices in Blantyre and home in Chikwawa were torched by you DPP thugs. The Mia family even sold their property to raise funds for political campaigns. There are Malawians who put more than many of us into the struggle to remove the criminals from power.
Agreed!! 🤝🤝🤝🤝Surely they proved themselves capable of serving the interests of this country. They were right in the frontline. If anyone chooses to look at their appointment as a reward then let it be but the Mias have proved that they have the welfare of Malawians at heart as evidenced by their sacrifice in the frontline.
Agreed 💪🏾🇲🇼
Let’s forge ahead Malawians 🇲🇼
Its all about jealousy nothing else
With Sidik Mia appointed Minister, the wife Abida could have been rewarded for her hardwork to MCP differently, the same applies to the Khumbizes, Gaffars,the new President Chakwera could have avoided all this noise.The Presidents advisors have started on a very bad note.
Ai
Sometimes its not what it is but what it looks like. The Mia’s, the Kandodo’s should have displayed wisdom by telling the president, “thank you for honoring expectations.but we think it will not be well met by the public for all of us to be in cabinet, perhaps you can use some of us in other areas outside of cabinet”. Board chairs etc…
That would have been patriotic whilst at the same time helping the President to manage expectation
Otherwise it just looks like selfish greed.
What about Juliana Lunguzi, chidanti Malung a . Nkhani ndi ya ndalama
Either Abida or Sadik but not the 2 as that is 7.5 percent of the cabinet. Just 1 not 2 also Daudi out.
Daud wakulakwira chaninoo
THIS WOMAN SHE VERY STRONG AND HARD WORKING BEAUTIFUL LADY… THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE A RIGHT CHOICE.
ITS UP TO MRS MIA TO DELIVER HER BEST TO THE NATIONAL.
Khokhokho 💪🏾🇲🇼
It’s not only her who fought for this change. Some lost their lives..she hasn’t lost a relative at all. People got burnt..raped..beaten…that’s sacrifice to me. Tonse has messed up. We back on the streets. Muwona nyekhwe
Munaluza wanu ali kunyanja mukamuone ndi abakha m’manja 🙆🏽
This is just paid journalism. You cannot justify heaping national cake to a single family.
Cadet bakha 🦆 phweeeeeeee 🦆 phweeeeeeee 💪🏾🇲🇼 lost elections 😭
The problems Malawians have is they see money on the position before they see the service.leave Abida Mia alone, time have come for him to harvest
Malawi has 18 Million people.2 merrits can not only be found in one family. More over Malawians should not also forget that Kazako and Agnes Nkusa Nkhoma are in laws. And what about Harima Daudi and Mia relationship.
Talk to Trump about this first
That is the very definition of cronyism. I am sure DPP felt the same when in power. Malawi has no time to reward anyone for anything. Malawi needs people who can deliver and pull it out of the abject poverty it has been stuck in for years. The Tonse Alliance campaign cry was that Malawj does not belong to a few families. What is different now? Same old song just new singers.
Kulira kumrnrko. How many people did the same? Are they all rewarded? Was she doing that for position? Either her or her husband not both!!
I concur.
Abida is a lady of good character and exceptional principles.
Congratulations Mrs. Mia
Ministers from South
Usi mulanje.
Kaliati mulanje.
Kachale zomba
Gafaar Blantyre
Abisa. Chikwawa
Sidik Chikwawa
Nancy mangochi
Gospel nsanje.
Ministers from North.
Agnes ngalonje
Very kamtukule
Timothy Mtambo
Kenzie msukwa
Kalamula kanyasho
Titus mvalo.
Chaola Mdoko.
Attorney general is North
Reserve bank Governer North
NIB north.
Malawians should not waste time listening to Dausi and his bafoons. Akulira amene aja.
Nankhumwa comment about the cabinet shows the stolen certificate he is using. We know he has tarred roads in his village using tax payers money from people of other districts. He benefited a lot from macra
The author should refresh his memory with what Chakwera and Chilima promised. Look at what these two hypocrites criticised APM for? Then judge Abida Opportunist Mia against Chakwera and Chilima’s words.
Azinabasa nyaya ndiyakuti Malawi is not one family. Kodi mukati she deserved this kuli ambiri amene akupanga deserve sanavote yeka iyeyo
Malawians didn’t like this idea of 5 families controlling 40 % of ministerial posts. Chakwera should tread carefully, the dream of third Republic turn into three Republics, North nyasa, maravi kingdom and south Malawi.
Bravo Chakwera and Team kumeneko nde kubwera from now on wards it should be families…osasonkha mmemo asadye …amati chipani chimayenda chokhah opanda ma funds …a china Mia aluza zawo its their time now abwezeredwe…osasonkha asadyee.Barvo Chakwera nafenso Achewa tisangalaleko nafe …gule kwawo
Ndi iyeyo yekha hardworker????Tiyenazo ife tizikuwonerani uku mukugundana mitu.But me I was doubting about the future of this Tonse Liars.Within two weeks and some days people are losing hope with this Government.
We commend Abida for her sacrifices and for choosing to step down. Indeed to accept reward would render her sacrifices meaningless. Soldiers fight for the land, planners plan for the land and engineers build on the land. Each phase of the battle for our nation requires different types of heroes and visionaries. Our brave politicians need to make way for our learned technocrats to do what they are continually being denied to do.
We dont have problem with Sidik or Abida but chakwera shud drop one from this family. If he offer ministerial position to Sidik then its ok or if he feels would like to go for Abida then its ok but not both thats what we are against. Enafe tiripo atipatse ntchito wosati unduna uwiri kulowa mbanja thats nonsense!!!
Here in South Africa, Jacob Zuma was the President, but her ex-Wife Nkosazana Ndhlamini Zuma was a Minister of Home Affairs. The Ex-Wife performed extremely well that the ANC supported her by nominating her to be a Presidential Candidate to compete with Ramaphosa, current President.
In America, Donald Trump, chose his Daughter, Vianka, but also his Son in law to work at the White house, people protested, but Trump explained and the Americans understood. He said, his Daughter and his Son In law were paid by him Not American taxes.
Dr Chakwera, has the reason for coming with this Cabinet, so let’s give them a benefit of the Doubt, for now. Let’s judge them after 100 days or One year.
Personally I think he should choose Abida.
Free riders and facebook politicians. Be real man.
If Chakwera should drop one from the family then you are surely have problem.If i may ask you whats wrong for the two to be ministers?Don’t just focus on the salary they gonna get paid but rather think about how tirelessly they campaigned for the change.Let them be rewarded.Jealousy will never take you anywhere.
The author has certainly put forward very strong points. The only point I take issue with is the “excellence “ part. This has not been backed up by the arguments put forward. Look, Bakili and JB were relentless, hardworking campaigners, but there was absolutely nothing “excellent “ in the manner they governed the country.
Hear hear
Abid Mia truly deserves the post.
Please dont take us like fools. If we take off all votes from chikwawa and nsanje chakwera will still win. If chskwera has ears, heaŕ what Malawi is saying. We are irritated by this attitude of labelling some hard working than others. . If hard working was an attribute of giving positions then we have alot of silent people who worked even harder than Mia and famil. The mother in law to Dr Chilima is one woman I know who travelled and got votes in machinga, zomba and chiladzulu. Have you heard Chilima justifying anythingnfor her. How about Chilima himself .if it’s hard working them Chilima should take all the positions.
Well done Fiko. You have been objective for once. Osati zako za Atupele zija. You can not compare that useless kid to Donald Trump. Trump is self made while the Kid is still using the looted money by his father. They are miles apart. Coming to Abid Mia, I had the same feeling that she has sacrificed A lot in her life. Chakwera had to choose Ministers who will help him deliver. Enawo where were they when Abid was in front of the struggle. Southern Region was very difficult because of cadets of DPP.
she should have been made a second vp
we want a society that rewards hard work, a society that values merit. Abid is a very good example to all girls in Malawi.