Mayor Jomo wows MUBAS crowd with slick, unscripted English – sparking chants of ‘waposa Gangata”

Blantyre Mayor Jomo Osman left students buzzing after delivering a confident, grammatically sharp speech in English at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) – triggering chants of “waposa Gangata” from an impressed crowd, leaving Osman himself laughing.

The chant – roughly translating to “better than Chisale” – was a cheeky reference to Minister of Sports Alfred Gangata, suggesting the crowd felt Osman’s command of English outshone that of the deputy minister.

What made the performance all the more impressive, by most accounts, was that Osman’s remarks – centred on the importance of preserving water resources – were delivered entirely without prepared notes, a feat that appeared to catch attendees off guard given the polish of his delivery.

The comparison to Gangata may not be the only one worth drawing.  Gangata has frequently been noted for stumbling over the English language in his own public addresses – even when working from prepared scripts.

The chant could easily extend to several other figures currently occupying the corridors of power.

Osman’s eloquence carries added weight given his personal backstory. The mayor has previously spoken openly about being unable to complete formal education as a young man due to financial hardship, relying instead on self-teaching to build his knowledge and skills.

By most accounts, that self-directed education appears to be paying off handsomely – with Saturday’s performance at MUBAS offering fresh evidence that Osman continues to grow in confidence and capability on the public stage.