Lost opportunity: Muckraking extra on Malawi ex-leaders
Politics of vengeance is what is dragging us behind.
One of the reasons why African leaders cling to power is because they do not have an ‘after life’. Once they leave office – either courtesy of retirement or after losing an election – they are not only forgotten but are derided, oftentimes dragged through courts over funny imaginary charges.
The African Union, the Commonwealth and, indeed, the UN have activities for ex-leaders which Malawi does not take advantage of because we treat our retired leaders as foes.
Look, there was this embarrassing moment when former president Bakili Muluzi was invited to the AU 50th anniversary events but the Bingu wa Mutharika administration sat on it. Muluzi only learnt that he was supposed to be in Addis Ababa after the former president of Mozambique, Joachim Chissano, casually remarked the two would meet at the continental Golden Jubilee over the phone.
After inquiries Muluzi learnt that there was indeed an invite for him but it was then too late for him to secure proper accommodation in Addis!
Ex-leaders of other countries are daily being used in some useful roles. There is the Committee of the Wise at the AU which is used to intervene in flash point areas on the continent.
There is also the President Mbeki Panel on Illicit Financial Flows and the President Obasanjo Commission on Alternative Financing of the AU.
Our own Bakili Muluzi and Joyce Banda could have had roles at international fora if we learnt to respect our ex-leaders. (It is heartening to note that the Commonwealth has been using Muluzi in Swaziland and Lesotho. But these roles for former presidents should have been championed by government).
After all, in ten years – possibly even less – President Mutharika will be an ex-leader. Do his apologists want him humiliated as well?
By picking needless fights with her, we are just creating sympathy around Joyce Banda and unwittingly creating a halo of importance around her head. It may be easy to conclude that somebody somewhere is spending sleepless nights at the mere mention of her name.
inu nonwe mukuti Bakili amali ndi APM, inu nomwe mukuti APM sakusangalatsidwa ndi Makiyolo Basi Bakili kumayendayenda a Nyasa times linachuluka ndibodza, kaya bola Chilima akutchena ku BICC
Chili kwa mzako ndiye chipsinye. Koma kwako ndiye chigwire nyanga,aziona amenewo,Kwaaachaaaaaa….Tambala wakuda ali pheeee
Zaziiiiiiiii! Another time waster, who cares!
Zimafunika kuyamba kulemekeza ena kuti enanso akulemekeze. JB samalemekeza APM. Amati mzako akakuti konzu iwenso umamuti konzu. Diso kulipa diso. Komanso mapulezidenti azitsatila Malamulo a dziko potelo sangakumane ndi unyolo pamapeto a ntchito yawo. Nanga chonchi kumapita ku khothi kukatenga chiletso cha Mndandanda wa lamya? zikungowonetsa kuti akuwopa china chake basi. KALIPO KALIPO KANYIMBI WAMVA FUNGO BASI.
WHEN LOMWES WERE MAKING NOISE DURING THE LAST MAY GENERAL ELECTIONS ABOUT PETER MUTHALIKA BEING A PROFESSOR SOME OF US COULD NOT BE MOVED BECAUSE WE ALREADY KNEW WHAT HE WAS MADE OF JUST LIKE HIS LATE BROTHER BINGU. THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE IS SIMPLY SAYING PETER THE LEARNED PROFESSOR THAT HE IS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY BUT THE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER PATRICIA KALIATI WAS SEEN LEADING THE WAY IN THE CASE OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT ACTIVITIES AT THE JUST ENDED UN SUMMIT.PETER MUTHALIKA ADMINISTRATION IS JUST AS UNCIVILIZED DESPITE PETER HIMSELF BEING A LEARNED PROFESSOR. SOME… Read more »
The problem with Joyce is that she thinks she is still the president of Malawi. If I remember correctly APM said that lets forget the past and forge ahead. He once said he wanted all the candidates he defeated in the election were welcome to take part in the development of the country. What did she do, she snubbed the offer. Zinazi tikamakamba tidziganiza please. If it were you in this scenario mukanatani. If you understood what Mwapuya Chaponda said, you would have seen that your god mother has a big problem. If she informed Government in advance that she… Read more »
You know our God is good to all of us. she is just doing what she has been doing globally and it’s not a crime. What is wrong with attending meetings like Goldon Brown girls education event, every child woman high level event etc. She is a free woman and has got the right to travel anywhere in the world and attend meetings.
Continue with the development work, we salute you. Go go go
All the best JB ad u continue with the global work and development work. May God continue guiding you.
Whether one likes or not, our former presidents do have a life and JB is invited as an individual and coz of her development works. Why are some are making an issue one wonders. Pls current government, do your best to run this country -, it’s your turn otherwise some will waste time complaining.,
Here in Malawi the problem is our leaders not lack of respect to our ex-leaders.When these guys are in govt, they regard it as their lifetime source of income.They either want to be the lead or one person from their party or family to take the mantle of presidency.Therefore, if the above two conditions are not fulfiled, the person leading the govt at that particular time is taken as a robber ( or an enemy) to such an extent that they cant work with him.By the time Bakili Muluzi became ex-president, Bingu was a robber to him, and today Peter… Read more »