Malawi needs a decisive leader
Whenever a Head of State has been sworn into power, he/she becomes the most powerful citizen in the country.Among other things, he is expected to have policies that give equal opportunities for progress. Since no one is above the law, the Head of State, too, has to follow the country’s Constitution, which is the highest law of the land.
Former president of South Africa, the late Nelson Mandela, once said a person who changes policy depending on who is with him or her at a particular time, is not fit to be a leader.
Meanwhile, the greatest test of a State President is when he or she has faced problems in the country. To prove his/her worthiness, he/she has to ride the storms of the problems with pride and success. Failing which, he/she is considered a weak leader not fit to lead anybody.
For obvious reasons, Malawi needs a strong leader, one with a practical vision to turn around the abject poverty which has worsened during the past five years under President Peter Mutharika. Unfortunately, the leadership and the government has been very defensive about their performance. Each time, they talk about an improved economy, which, unfortunately, no one else sees.
Malawians are being told just to hang in there for better times to come, yet there are no signs at all. Instead, corruption, stealing and extravagance is being institutionalised.
The leadership seems to challenge taxpayers that their money can be openly abused without any regrets. For example, recently the First Lady went on a private visit to the UK, where it is alleged the entourage spent over K50 million. This was done against the background of severe lack of medicines in public hospitals. Is there any justice that Malawians should be condemned to death for the powers that be to have pleasure? Surprisingly, the President did not come up with any statement on what is said above. He has left people guessing. But what seems to come out clearly is that the President has shown some weaknesses.
A socio/political commentator called Frederic Bastiat once said: “When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men in a society over the course of time, they create for themselves a legal system that authorises it and moral code that glorifies it.”
What is quoted here is similar to what is happening in Malawi when it comes to plunder of public resources, which are being converted into personal fortune, as poor Malawians watch in total disbelief. The country needs a strong leader to practically stop the plunder.
The problems in Malawi have been compounded by the alleged fraudulent May 21 2019 elections, which have brought back Mutharika. To start with, Mutharika is being blamed for being weak because of failing to stop corruption, which is the root of poverty. His weak leadership has been extended to the current situation of nationwide demonstrations against stolen votes.
It is unfortunate that some private and government properties have been destroyed during the protests. The demonstrations have been so fierce that in one incident, in Lilongwe, police lost their guns to civilians. What is scaring is that, the guns being in the wrong hands will be used for criminal activities.
Meanwhile, it is strange and surprising that after all the instability the country is going through, the President is quiet, and people are just left guessing that, probably, he is overwhelmed with the problems. This is why Malawi needs a strong decisive leader to take care of the people.
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My beloved fellow Malawians recent history gives testimony to the fact that most of the ageing African leaders (both ex- and sitting presidents) with probably the exception of legendary Nelson Mandela, as they approach age 80 and above unfortunately begin to experience a natural slow-down process in their natural vigor and abilities. The younger folk (and especially conniving spouses) closely associated with the senile leader are able to pick up such signs of abatement that comes with age AND THE YOUNGER FOLK THEN TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE of the unfortunate biological and physiological realities of human limitations. The chances are extremely high that the president APM has already for a long time fallen victim to such as whom he thinks are his close elite members of his regime. This means that these cunning and manipulative political wolves are usurping the old man’s position of power to their ‘personal enrichment agenda and false expectations that they could one day actually be the president of the nation. JZU of the old MCP one party government unsuccessfully tried to take advantage of the ageing founding Father of The Malawi nation through the personal influence that his niece had in HKB’s life presidency. Grace Mugabe too unsuccessfully attempted to get her husband, ‘the great Bob of Zanu PF’ to prepare her for the hot seat after she had enjoyed ‘ruling Zimbabwe by proxy for several years. The list could go on. Right now, it is most likely that the DPP close elite ‘younger’ folk with the likely support of the ‘First Lady’ are pulling the strings. Yes APM is the DPP Lion but only as a figure head and a lion whose teeth have been damaged is often destined to a slow and painful death. This is APM’s and DPP’s eventual fate. There is a DPP Junta of cunning wolves ruling Malawi by proxy. May the judiciary speed up the electoral case otherwise the longer it takes to come up with a judicial determination the more severe damage this DPP ruling Junta is going to inflict upon the millions of Malawians, most of whom are already on economical oxygen support.
This dunderhead we have now, does not qualify to be called a president now or in the life to come.
Mutharika Apm is the Best President in Africa,
kikikikiki
Hhihihihihihihihi
@ Charie
I think you have never heard of President Paul Kagame in your entire life depicting from your useless comment, so yea its ok.
The once Mighty Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa. I cry for my country, Malawi.
I agree with the writer of the article. Malawi needs a leader who is strong and visionary. Peter Mutharika has totally failed. Peter Mutharika is the WORST President Malawi has ever had. From Kamuzu Banda, Bakili Muluzi, BIngu Wa Mutharika, Joyce Banda and Peter Mutharika; This current President, Peter Mutharika is the worst President. If I may rank them, the best is Kamuzu Banda, with Kamuzu Banda, the evidence is that most of the structures that Malawi are know with, were built by Kamuzu, seconded by Bakili when things started to change like nepotism, katangale, and he did the worst thing of introducing the Mutharikas. Third was Joyce Banda, though she didnt last longer and her fame was diluted because of Cashgate though it is believed that she didnt take part. Bingu, yes, he had a vision like Kamuzu especially during his first term but didnt finish well because of the reasons you all know. Peter Mutharika is a DISASTER!.
I partly disagree with your opinion on the ranking, this could be better, 1. Kamuzu Banda, 2.Bingo Wamutarika, 3. Joyce Banda, 4. Bakili Muluzi. 5. Peter Wamutarika. The structures which are conspicuous in Malawi either pioneered by Kamuzu or Bingu Wamtarika. Bakili came just to destroy what Kamuzu built. At least Joyce Banda was courageous enough to expose corruption in her government although it backfired on her. She managed to make strong decisions in curbing the fuel crisis. She managed to correct an error that Bingu had in his last term of trying to build Bingu stadium in Blantyre. Atcheya and APM eras are the lost years in Malawi. They were both busy liars trying to distort history instead of building on the foundations their predecessor had built.
U are so childish on writing ure articles. very stupid thinking. Who ever sent you to come up with those articles both of u go to hell. How old are for u to judge now? Go to xool again n learn hw to write things in common matters. Ure brain is feeble like a chimpanzee no sense. Nw I believe that common sense is not common n u are one of them
Jamax, what the writer has written is NOTHING but the true about Peter Mutharika. From the first President to this current one, know that Peter Mutharika is the WORST President of all. We are in deep shit because of this President we have. The President who cannot even attend to SADC, AU, etc meetings because he is not sure of himself and cannot speak properly. I cry of my Country.
Did you come to help government or you just talking like gundwani
No sense in your comment.
From my understanding here i think you are the one who is childish and stupid for that matter.You are the one suppose to go back to school not a writer.You are a brainless,idiot etc
Its whose brain is feeble like that of a rabbit, if you cant understand the simple truth like this sometimes just stop dont even give us an aorta of your opinion. APM is not a decisive leader, he waits on situations to resolve themselves naturally. The case of the UNIMA standoff when he was the Minister of Education he chickened out and went to enjoy the benefits of the so called green card. He runs away from situations. As for he cant go out of the country coz he knows the consequences of that no wonder he is just delegating Everton. He must come out and tell us his stand on the nation’s state of affairs instead of running away and hiding in the palaces. So yea it seems you and your APM are from the same whats up group. Actually common sense is so deficient in you,
The picture used and the article ain’t matching unless if the author means because you have critised APM then obviously you mean SCK is a decisive leader.
In my opinion it looks all wrong
Both leaders depicted lack political maturity
Malawi is currently looking for a leader who will be able to unite Mw and in the course of his five years will be able to turn around all fiscical problems not give stupid excuses that we inherited empty purse . WHY
Because you going into a government pretty knowing the situation and in all ur campaigns u still promise prosperity
tinazolowera kuseteka nsete za ma mafia no wonder we ate going bavkward.an aggressive leader is neede. osati kumangoti mveeweee no wonder people like sendela women – chimbalanga is getting a PS salary with all the benefits ,press button bisiness kuposa mphuzitsi ndi wina aliyese wa degree..name the the ncacas who just got a written certificate without sitting in class.
beni phili phd yogula.
getrude azimai othandizila female boy child organization, the list is endless.
thats how bulshit this mess is big need revamp
Keep speaking for us Emily , especially us your felliw women and mothers.
Yes Malawi need a leader who condemns corruption & not what we’ve now that encourages state looting, the leadership that doesnt bury its head when the storm strikes, the leader that doesnt support panga weilding cadets threatening his own pple & a President doesnt support tribalism.
Well said!
Thanks for sharing this powerful message. Malawi truly needs a strong decisive leader. Mutharika has totaly failed us
Are you looking for a reincarnation of the tinpot dictator Malawi once had?
Shame! what R u talking about?
Don’t mind this tumbuka woman. Her mouth is full of mabanzi.
We need good leader indeed.100% article ever.
Malawi doesnt need a pysical leader but a strong ,aggressive,hard truth prophet to lead d nation nd to order nd build its socio- economic development nd economicnd its political stsbility so that every body in d nstion can enjoy thst peace nd d socio economic development,but malawi chased away such prophetds out of d land,so wo even if others come in to lead d nation,with this character of a true prophet to help d nation,even their leaders r useless,in d sense that the leaders r pysical nd not spiritualy empowered to bring d socio-economic development of d nation,thats d hardedt truth,even d many millions of pastors nd servants of God in malawi hv failed,why? Bse they r never been appointed by God or d Lord Jesus to perform thst role except d one d Lord or God has chosen to help both their leaders nd d entire nation
Prophets themselves are dark and evils forces these days.It is best to continue with leadership from politicians who do not pretend to be saints.
In our case we might be better off with Mutharika than with a wolf in sheepskin parading themselves as prophet leader.
It is open secret that most prophets save the master manipulator who is Satan the devil #prophetsmustfall.
No govt on earth has ever been perfect.You blame the president for being quiet yet if ever he was to act to stop the senseless destruction of poor people’s businesses the country could have reverberated with disapproval. What sort of a thoughtless generation does Malawi has currently. The president is giving people time to reflect yet nobody buys into this.How can he be decisive when you are giving him pressure from all angles. You don’t want him to lead the country yet you are crying to him to usurp a role of an authoritarian, what a blatant irony is this. True Malawians are not destructive but innovative , enterprenurial and hard working. The current generation is too lazy to work and think, probably mana from heaven will only come from the govt of Chakwera and Chilima and that will not be the Malawi that we know.
Let’s be realistic here and ask ourselves the underlying cause of political impasse.
Malawi held a highly disputed election where the conduct of chairman of electoral body was found badly wanting which raised a big question from the public about her fitness to hold office.
The case is in court from the opposition disputing the same.
As leader why did Mutharika not suspend Jane and launch a Commission of Inquiry to investigate her conduct in the electoral process.
It is therefore this Commission of Inquiry that could come with a determination as to whether or not she is fit to hold office following the outcome of inquiry.
The leader in Peter Musarika then from the beginning is seen siding with MEC’s chairman against the petitioners angering Malawians in the process.
So let him do the right thing by setting up a Commission of inquiry to look into this matter and suspend Jane immediately to pave way for her investigation.
The law will take care of the rest.
REMEMBER:Mutharika does not own us,he does not own Malawi either.
He’s also an ordinary person like everyone else called the president.He is either not extraordinary or supernatural being.
A weak leader makes a nation weak.Therefore his subjects can not wait to take out the weak link in a chain.
How can police overpower the violent protesters if the same malawians say police should not use rubber bullets, tear gas? A malawi tinatani APM is not weak you will be the same ppo when he uses much power blaming him. Be reminded that various quarters have been saying the powers of the president be reduced, mwayiwala so let us not blame him let us blame ourselves. Bingu wanted to chase the tobacco buyers becasue of poor prices but the same malawians blamed him. Malawi wanga had it been these fierce demos took place during that time in defending farmers after Bingu had made that stand pano bwenzi malawi wanga ali pabwino bcoz farmers could be reaping out of their sweat.
Madam Emily Mkamanga, Gertrude and her entourage blew a cool K100 millinn of our taxes not K50 million for her private trip to the UK for her son’s graduation. Just yesterday, I saw and read of a young man showing off K10 million which he was paid by DPP for bombing Mtambo’s residence. We struggle to pay our taxes but it is sad to note that our own taxes are used to silence and kill us. What kind of president kills the people he is supposed to protect? Someone is misusing our money without remorse. There are a lot of problems in the country but Mutharika chooses to look the other way as he is always busy wasting our taxes by travelling with a fleet of kasinjas to and fro Chikoko Bay where he usually go to hide, running away from the problems he is supposed to solve. Someone said and I quote: “A lost nation is the one where hungry and jobless people blindly support those responsible for their misery and agony. This is exactly what is happening in Malawi. We are indeed a lost nation with Mutharika. How sad!
True brother,if all Malawians think the way you do this struggle would be easy.I like your article go on brother.
Mkamanga is the worst Malawian political commentator ever. It’s not surprising though: she a PP person. Her party failed miserably. While she’s always ready to comment on corruption under DPP, she wad conveniently quite when her PP was involved in greatest state sunctioned corruption.
Did you say Kamanga is “the worst political commentator” because she is PP????
Go deeper to understand cashgate.The perpetrators of that crime initiated looting under the watch of Bingu wa Mutharika that is why Peter’s administration doesnt have the gut to investigate the alleged involvement in cashgate scandals by amai.
Absolute truth Malawi is on Autopilot currently there are Cabals that are running the show in Malawi. A very sad situation indeed. And it’s all because of greed & selfishness that a certain group of people impose an 80 yr old man to lead the Nation to where really?
CABALS YEAH,A group of very cruel people who have held Malawi to ransom.Thise who get their power from the UNDERWATER WORLD.
Well written piece Emily Mkamanga, since January this year I have bn on Nyasatimes forum, this piece has shown maturity of the writer.
Nothing to compare with so far but it’s on its own level.
Keep on bringing good ones like this may be Nyasatimes readers will one or two things from you.
I rest my case and this is Mr…………
Spot on. You said it all. We need the Paul Kagame type of an individuals
This thing u call peter muthalika. Some they say a president has failed to lead malawian. In the history of malawi and he is second in the world history. He is the devil
In a democracy everybody is responsible even the press
How can you say the election was rigged and expect the president to perform
Why not preach peace first
The media has a roll to play
The media should uncover the corrupt demo leaders
Emily: You have covered so many issues in one peace. Not helpful to small brains like mine. Should Mutharika take the recent Emerson Zimbabwe “decisiveness” for you to know we have a leader? Bingu did it in 2011. What happened? Remember your president is a lawyer. If you understand that, maybe you will appreciate his approach. By the way, Peter Mutharika was also the lead person in writing the first multi-party Malawi constitution. Maybe he knows something we don’t know about the constitution.
A good starting point would have been to ask Timothy Mtambo and his politicians to stop the instability you are highlighting. This is a man mad instability. For what? Let’s start by telling the truth. Yo are a good and well know writer. I take you as one of the best of the Malawi brains. Is it possible to do a special piece on Mtambo and those politicians supporting the instability? Peole like you have a role to play by telling the truth.
Now the demos are against stolen votes? Not Ansah? Is is becasue Chilima just agreed in court that there is no reason for Ansah to resign so, a heads up to team Mtambo for another reason? By the way, the team leader of the recent violent protests in Hong Kong has just moved to the USA for a MS studies leaving his friends on the wire- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t1BxZxnP9A.
If the president talks you fault him. If the issues are in court, why dont you leave justice nyirenda to make a ruling. He will definetely come up with very sound judgement to continue the distruction of Malawi. After all, he is a northerner so any wonder?
This is very true. The truth shall remain true forever.
The truth of the matter is that APM doesn’t love Malawi as his country, he just wants to be a leader for self gain that is all. You can see his history- first he attempted to a unconstitutionally by bypassing Joyce Banda, then who was a vice president and had a right to be the next president after the death of Bingu, now when he saw how tough the race for him was, to maintain his position he thought of rigging and when he succeeded, it had become a great fear for him thinking that if he does the will of Malawians to remove Jane Ansah from position, he will be the next game and on the other hand is like betraying her. So he doesn’t care of whatsoever the country is going through now.
awa anafa kale tikutani nao
Of course you had such a leader and his name was Hastings Kamuzu Banda of MCP. I do not know whether
you were borne then.you would not have been allowed to voice what you are doing now.Sometimes silence can be golden and it is never a sign of weakness.
He cannot come out to speak. Why? He knows he is part of the problem and not the solution. Remember that when K466m was stolen from police in a food scam, the president benefited K145m cash and K85m in motor vehicle ‘donations’. This was a slipped deal, now what about those that have been kept under state secrets? For sure this old dude is neither here nor there on the problems facing Malawi. His dogs are out on public broadcaster glorifying this old dude just to make sure they too get their share in public plunder. The old dude is surrounded by carnivores having no regard for tax payers. At his age, he is no longer as decisive as he was when he was in the States. We therefore need a decisive leader, youthful, strong and democratic.