Political analyst attributes Malawi woes to ‘accidental leaders’
A political expert has attributed the current political, economic and social problems due to what he described as accidental presidents since the dawn of multiparty system of government in 1994.
Blessings Chinsinga, a political science professor at the University of Malawi, told the high level all inclusive Public Affairs Committee (PAC) indaba on Wednesday in Blantyre that since 1994, Malawi never had a visionary leader.
He said instead, Malawi has had leaders who came to power with a group of people opportunistically, without any clear vision for the country except looting from the public coffers to enrich themselves at the expense of poor ordinary Malawians.
“The political system is not delivering on aspirations of the people. We have a broken political system,” said Chinsinga who titled his presentation “How long must it take for us to reach the promised land”.
Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition top leadership sat attentively to listen to Chinsinga’s thought provoking presentation.
He said the problem was that prior to 1994, Malawians were just interested in toppling the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) one party system of government whose leader Kamuzu Banda ruled Malawi with an iron fist for 31 years.
The analysts said soon after the fall of the one party system, Malawians never sat down to chat the future of Malawi in the selection of its leadership.
Chinsinga focusing on the current Malawi situation commented on the hunger crisis.
“it is unfortunate that despite heavy investments in agriculture, Malawi is failing to feed herself,” he said.
He also criticised public sector reforms, saying the country is yet to start enjoying their fruits.
The political analyst noted that Malawi parliament is reduced into a praise-singing House and not a chamber of constructive deliberations for the nation’s good.
“Our parliament is not vibrant. It has not moved away from the culture of worshiping leaders, singing praises,” he noted.
Chinsinga accused politicians of practising patronage leadership for self aggrandisement.
“Politicians try to be in good books with government to win contracts, can not offer constructive criticism,” said Chinsinga.
He advised that Malawi needs an independent private sector that will be free from government bondage.
Chinsinga also asked government to create “genuine self rule”, viable political projects and avoid corruption.
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All you who have eyes to see I ask you to start looking. And all you who have ears to hear start listerning. The problem in Malawi is not what you are writing here. Malawi needs a leader I say not just a leader but a leader who can move Malawi as a country to go together with the rest of the world. Our main Challenge in Malawi is education. Malawi is the only country on earth which up to date has no University. What do you expect from people who went to EFT colleges like CHANCO, POLY, BUNDA etc.… Read more »
This Chinsinga is dull. Ur talking about vision &yet ur criticizing public reforms@same time want to see its fruits in less than 24months? R you such stupid? GO TO HELL,Malawi is full of accidental educated fools like u that’s why we R not developing..¬ the other way
I can never allow my son or daughter to study a useless and time-waster like political science. U don’t need this time and money-waster to become a politician. Magufuli of Tanzania is chemist by profession, Kamuzu was a medic, Obama is a lawyer like Peter, Mandela and Clinton. Political science is a useless course. U listen to the so called political scientists at your own risk. If u study medicine u become a doctor. If u study engineering u become an engineer. If u study economy u become an economist. If u study political science u don’t become a politician,… Read more »
This notion of always blaming politicians for everything I do not buy it. This country is messed by all of us-politicians and non-politicians. Go to all government departments mukaone anthu mmene akubera ndalama zaboma. These are not politicians, they are civil servants. DO NOT JUST BLAME POLITICIANS FOR OUR OWN STUPIDITY.
We might criticize Dr. Chinsinga, but that won’t help solve the problem. The issue we have in front of us is the decaying of the economy of which all of us are affected and are going to suffer it continues to fall. Whether they are accidental or not, we all know that they have been opportunistic and cannot deny that. Common people are you and me can have a huge impact on change when its time to vote, but at times like this what we say do no matter. The last sentence of the article above is part of the… Read more »
chisinga dazilo lilibe tanthauzo eti?wasonyeza umbuli apatu.
A Chasinga,just try to become an MP,then we can see and hear your daily noise!!!!
We r having plenty of water but just wasting to zambezi yet admarc is there why cant u have farm and grow staple food three times a year than buying?
The Good Mphunzitsi and his mental hallucinations. These so called political scientists make good noise in classrooms, school corridors and seminar halls. Expounding theories for thinking that others will absorb and implement is close to nothingness and mere talk show. Where are the political scientists UNIMA has been producing over the years? we need them in political corridors to turn Malawi round. Or they are also busy theorising like their Mphunzitsi. the folly of Malawi university education too much theory and less practicality!
@ 1, what else do you want Chinsinga to suggest? Are you too much a simpleton to fail to see what has been articulated in the the article? We have office bearers who are charged with responsibility to act on the suggestions Chinsinga has ably provided.