President Chakwera please stop this culture of state plunder: Its demotivating hard work
Let me begin by narrating a story of two college friends: Ernest Banda and Joab Chalima. They both graduated from Chancellor College, University of Malawi, in 2013 as economics majors.
Just after graduating, both guys joined government: Ernest with the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development while Joab joined Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).
From the start, their salaries differed with Joab getting K50 000 more than Ernest. But why? Isn’t it not time we revisited this and ensure all graduates start with the same salary?
Well, that was just a digression; let me proceed with the story.
In the next three years, Ernest was still without a car, single and still on the rent. Joab’s story changed so fast. In the next three years, he was driving VW Golf, married with a kid but, of course, still living on rent.
Things turned completely different for the two in the next five years. Joab’s uncle got favored by the incumbent president and was appointed as a minister in government.
The uncle influence MRA board to promote Joab to a senior position. He was promoted to the position of the director—some kind of a controlling officer.
By 2018, everything about Joab changed. He had built three plush houses in Area 43. He owned a fleet of six vehicles, German made ones. His wife owned several boutiques in Lilongwe. Romour, also, had it that Joab had three side girls, all of whom driving cars and living a plush life.
Ernest, on the other hand, was still on the same grade. Married with two kids, driving a Toyota Axio and still on the rentals. Together with his wife, they are making savings to start constructing a house on a small land they bought in Air wing.
The painful part of Ernest’s story is that whenever Joab visits him, he is always disturbed with feelings of worthlessness—always thinking that he doesn’t work hard that is why he hasn’t grown like Joab.
In fact, on several occasions Ernest and his wife have had terrible debates regarding their future: the wife insisted Ernest is not smart enough; he is failing to use his degree to match his friend Joab.
What Ernest’s wife didn’t know is that her husband’s progression was normal. He was a hardworking civil servant, being let down by a system that rewards nepotism and corruption.
In the Malawi of today, we have few privileged people such as Joab who are all over plundering public resources, showing off their ill-gotten worth and going public looking as if they worked hard for it.
This is the culture of impunity that has infiltrated our nation and it has to be uprooted. It is a culture that is rewarding nepotism not merit. It is a culture that rewards links not network.
If Malawi is to develop, it will take more than just arresting Joab for corruption—but draining the inherent swamps that necessitates this culture.
President Chakwera and his deputy Saulos Chilima have chance to do that. They must do it. Clear the rubble!
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Mr President – Sir – Put all thieves in Jail – its only then in that they will realise that what they were doing was wrong. These should include all those involved in the infamous ‘Capital Hill Cashgate Scandal’ – It is beggars belief that hospitals in Malawi should be running out of Paracetamol!
Fighting Corruption will not be an easy task …We need to start asking Ourselves serious questions ….For instance must Companies implicated in corruption or Companies whose owners are implicated in Corruption Continue getting Government’s contracts ? …..The same people ( Amwenye) and companies are involved in Corruption in Every Administration Kuyambira UDF mpaka pano …They always get away with it ….
The fight against corruption is not just for Chakwera alone to fight. It will take collective effort to defeat the vice and key to this effort is responsible citizenry. Let’s create a new Malawi whose citizens know their role in the country, actively participate in activities that make their country a better place and will be change agents for the good of the nation. I would love to see the vigilance that was displayed in protecting the votes during the fresh presidential election being replicated in guarding and protecting all public resources.
Many people knew about the looting that was going on but decided to be complicit by keeping their mouths shut. It’s time we created an environment of transparency and accountability.
Unfortunately Chakwera is not a man who can stop nepotism. Haven’t you seen how he has chosen his cabinet? Haven’t you seen how he has chosen his advisors and board members? How many Tumbukas and Lomwes and Yaos and Ngonis and Senas and Tongas has Chakwera put in key positions? Can’t you see that he is already favouring chewas only?
Mavuto a nyau type of philosophy alipo basi mpakana 2025.
This is a good piece of writing.
Chilima please request for all employment contracts that were given to individuals because this is where most cadets were allocated. Ask those who hired them if there was a need or if such vacancies would not be filled by somebody within the civil service. It is very painful for us patriotic civil servants that always they should plant people as our bosses and yet we also want the same positions.
But corrption is the friut of inequality. Reduce gaps between bosses and Messengers.
Having a master’s degree on its own is no licence to get a job. Go and meet the interview panel and impress them, then claim to have a master’s degree.We are living in a world of competition. Achulukirenji ma masters masiku ano.
Well said
Plain truth! Chakwera and Chilima please take the point in here. We know you read these articles. Great article.
Stop folling yourself. Chakwera is nepotistic and therefore can’t clear the rubble. Presidential Press office his son-in-law (Kampondeni). Advisor on Political affairs is his son (Nick) and Director of State Houses (Rudo) his daughter-in-law. Chakwera’s cabinet is full of husband and wives, cousins, in-laws.
Unafuna asankhe iwe Chimbava cha DPP?
You have missed the point Lota. The article by Mike is a good one but you do not understand it and instead of commenting on the issue raised you are attacking personalities. If you have nothing to offer THEN JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!!!!
I agree this guy has given the real bone structure of effects of corruption. Looked at from outside politics it is pure truth
Point of correction, Nick and Rudo are not given any post. Nick is a Pastor and Rudo a Pastor’s wife, they’re full time ministering …
This is not true. Plz be factual
How does a Son advise a father let alone the father be Chakwera. Nepotism
Nice article Mike. I know you’re controversial sometimes but your quality of writing is up there. Good job!
And it’s something that you are not forced to read
A certain country has executed two vice mayor’s for receiving bribes. This is how serious other are.
Koma title ya nkhaniyi inandipatsa chidwi china chake chomwe chinanditenga mtima kuti kwagwanji? Anyway point taken
Same with me! I thought the driver has failed the test!
You can already tell from this line “…ensure all graduates start with the same salary” that the author does not know of what he talks about. Were Earnest and Joab doing the same job? same department? did they have the same grades in college? Do they have the same soft skills?… The list is endless but you get the point.
Corruption, big and small, is to be condemned and not tolerated by everyone at every level; but let’s not get carried away and turn our nation into a socialist camp where individual hard work, discipline, and dedication are not rewarded all in the name to keeping everyone on the same level.
Not everyone will progress in life at the same time and there are multiple factors both personal and circumstantial (reputation, network, etc.) that contribute to whether one person excels and another fails. We all cannot be at the same level in life.
With that said, if Joab acquired his wealth illegally and it can be proved in a court of law, then he should be prosecuted and given an appropriate sentence per the sentencing guidelines of the law he broke.
Don’t be envious and jealous of everyone who is able to apply themself and work hard while others are busy drinking, partying and sleeping around.
I thought so too. 👌
Simple. Straightforward. Honest. Writing from Mike Fiko this time. Bwana, just go to the ACB Car park and check the jalopies. Later go to MRA Car park and check out the toys parked there…….[..if you are a criminal, PRAY that you are not caught! I PRAY all the time!]
This is a very good write up. So many of us are languishing like Earnest, not even a car, yet we have got Masters degrees. President Chakwera, please deal
This reporter mukuti Mike Fiko mu mutu mwako muli brain olo bibi. You always write negative about Chakwera and mumutu mwako ukuona kuti pali nkhani yoti walemba mpaka kulipidwa apa
Have you read the story Sir/Madame?
Oho oho, mwatani kodi? Munthu uyu walemba zomwe zimachitika Chakwera asanasankhidwe so that he corrects now. Please please dont just be very MCP. Be reasonable too
Ayi a Inu a Mike Fiko 2 nkhani simunayinvetsetse.A Fiko akupempha O Chakwera ndo Chilima kuti zinthu zisinthe.Inutu mmutu mwanumo muli kapuchi mwanva
Please President Chakwera and VP Chilima continue clearing the rubble.