Simango ‘thinking aloud’: The price of greed in Malawi
When it finally sinks in, you will start asking yourselves ‘how did this happen?’ Well, here is a quick answer for you: You made the mistake of believing that you were an invincible system and all you had to do was to switch the ‘on’ button at the appropriate time and everything would fall into place. Big mistake. You are not a system and have never been a system. Let me break it down for you.
1. Bingu won second term on account of his infrastructure delivery and fertiliser subsidy. System or no system, he was going to get re-elected (although with what we are seeing now, I have doubts on the margins he won with).
2. You won in 2014 on account of Bingu’s goodwill. Period.
Now, here is how you ensured your loss, this time around.
Because you believed you were a system, you decided to get rid of Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC) in order to retain the presidency within your tribe so you can continue looting public coffers and sharing public positions amongst your lot.
What you did not count on was a new element amongst you – Gertrude Mutharika, the First Lady. She fooled you by playing docile and unambitious. Before you knew it, she had President Peter Mutharika in a bottle and was in charge of State House with her sights set on owning the presidency after her husband.
And just like that, your house became divided.
And, devoid of the very weapon that Peter had hoped would take the party to new heights, your non-system fell apart. It was actually painful to watch.
So how was it supposed to be? What was your best path to victory? It’s there for every one to see that Peter has always been a reluctant president. His ambitions started and ended at winning the presidency and nothing more.
My gut tells me he wanted to stay on for just a couple of years and then resign to leave Chilima in charge while he goes into retirement to enjoy his whisky.
Had that happened with Chilima teaming up with Kondwani Nankhumwa as his running mate, for example, there was nothing was going to stand in the way of the SKC marketing machinery, especially operating out of Plot Number One.
So how did you end up here? Greed.
And because of that, you will now have to face an enemy that managed to take you out while bootstrapping. Now it is perched on the citadel. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Simple English? You are dead.
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Greedy, greedy,greedy has killed DPP kkkkkkkkk hahahaha.
kikikikikikikiikiki hahaha even out sourcing deputies ignoring talent already in the evil party!!!!
“INE NDILIBE PUROBULEMU” has himself to blame. How can you have Mphepo and Ntaba to advise you
Charles, you are spot on. The downfall of Peter has been the greedy and slizy Gertrude. Old heads of State marrying young ladies plot their own downfall by undertaking this act. Peter is Not the only one, he should have learnt a Lesson from his Brother In-Law Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Grace was the very cause of Bob’s downfall.
‘Be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’ are probably the most commonly used verbs in English. If we apply them to APM, it would be fair to say that he wanted to be President and have the trappings of power, but he drew the line at doing the job.
The fact is no matter what you say we are the poorest of the poor. 56 years after attaining independence Malawi is still in that bottomless pit of extreme poverty. In 1964 change come again in 1994 similarly 2020 is here. Nothing real ly changes. Change is just an illusion. All that l know is that for me to be where l am now. I have worked my ass out the whole of my life and my life has changed. The rest is just plain rubbish. Look at countries that were same as us in 1964. You will know that we ain’t going nowhere.
There is a saying that says intelligent women contribute to the success of the husband
A man basically can succeed in life with wise counsel from a wise woman.
In Mutharikas case his downfall has been the choice of the woman he quickly arranged to marry for convenience sake as media was awash with news that Mutharika was gay and wouldn’t be a good president without a wife as traditional requirements in.conservative Malawi society dictates married men earn respect than bachelors
But Mutharika marrying Getrude for convenience was a bad mood. The pair were incompatible in the first place. There were lots of disparities.
Now their Presidential time and good perks are over its time their riches and from what source are investigated.If its taxpayers money the Gove should retrieve back to the treasury.
I hope she has learnt a lesson. Too ambitious for nothing good at all.
Actually the downfall of DPP started long before Getrude came on the scene. If Bingu had not turned the party he started into a tribal and personal entity, APM would not have become President. The genesis of DPP’s downfall was the creation of Mulhako wa Alomwe. Chakwera should learn important lessons from this. He can attend CHEFO and Kulamba ceremonies but he should NEVER attempt to bring Chewa organisations into Government the way Bingu and APM did with Mulhako. This election has shown that to get into office, especially under 50+1 system, a political grouping needs to appeal to the majority in all the three regions of the country. This is the single biggest lesson from the 2020 FPE…
Thanks Charles Simango the veteran journalist.
This election has come as an abrupt end to the very ambitious woman called Getrude Mutharika. She came from nowhere to become first lady. She’s been a bad influence to Mutharikas presidency. Becoming a fake honourary doctor. Why did she love to be called doctor professor Mutharika?She set beautify Malawi as a charitable trust to rake in money from donors and governments and businesses to enrich herself.
I understand she has become a very rich woman from shady deals with Asian business people.
She has well developed flats and mansions in upper and exclusive areas in towns and cities across the country.
The incoming government of Tonse Alliance must investigate her financial dealings appropriately and where illegal accumulation of wealth took place remedy take effect.
She thought she was untouchable. She been brought back to earth.
Iwe Charles Simango, Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba was responsible for his own downfall. Actually if dpp dies as a party just like UDF they should blame it on themselves because they wanted to run their parties as familly and tribal entities. All potential people who could have succeeded Bingu were kicked out. Bingu kicked out Joyce Banda. Then DPP kicked out Chimunthu Banda. They brought in Saulos Chilima and kicked him out. DPP was a Lomwe Party and not a national party. They should not blame anyone but bad their bad tribal policies.
But who is this moron Simango? Chifukwa choti APM wapuma ndiye muchuluke Nzeru pano? You used to castgate Bingu the same way koma pano mumamulira kuti was the best. APM nso mudzamulira dikirani pang’ono. The chilima-chakwera pair is the least gentle I have ever seen. Push-ups, catapults, flying kicks, running with mobs, encouraging lawlessness, vulgar language to elders etc done by chilima-chakwera are not qualities of good leaders at all.
Charles Simango, “God Gives you what you desire no matter how bad that thing may look like”.To put it straight,you are one the people who have endorsed that alliance. If you are quick to celebrate that they have gotten rid of DPP because they have failed us,then I would ask you to wait and watch what will this government is gonna offer to us all.
Ask economists out there for the better answer to you.To begin with;let me tell you that Global impact is upon us, even in your bedroom whether you know it or not.In this context,we have global economies which affect each and every nation with no exception to our impoverished country.The other thing is ;we are one of the clients of IMF and World bank which control world monetary issues.The other issue is;no where in the Bible you will find the verse which says the government’s responsibility is to create employment for its people that is why so many nations are crumbling because they are busy creating jobs for its people.Lastly, I would like to remind you that,we normally change our governments before the actual change becomes into effect.
The change of the government has got nothing to do with what is happening in the world of economics. The change of our government has sorely got something to do with corruption, which was derailing our already ill economy, nepotism which was segregating the most deserving people in the country from occupying government positions, they were meritably deserving, simply because of the tribalistic behaviour of the president. If you mean the government has been changed before the actual need to change the government had arrived, then I should remind you that you were still asleep all this time. Wake up man, The need to change our government arrived long before we actually went to polls on 23rd June 2020, which was on Tuesday. It arrived sometime in 2019 the DPP thuggery behaviour blocked the change.
Charles Simango, like many Malawians, misreads APM. He’s a “reluctant” president only with regard to doing the job of president; but he very much loves the power and the glory that comes with the position. Under no circumstances would he willingly give up the position, he loves it too much. It is easier to understand if you think that he is not unique in this regard: There are some men who marry beautiful wives, only to have “afisi” enjoy conjugal relations with them, many women willingly get married but are reluctant to fulfil their marital obligations in the bedroom (as many men will sadly testify), many people (esp. men) bear children but do not become parents, etc etc
The Tonse Alliance can learn important lessons from the departing DPP. Rule like the DPP of 2005 to 2009 and all will be well. Rule like the DPP of 2014 to 2019 of APM or the doomed second term of Bingu then you will suffer the same fate. For MEC the most important lesson is to guard the results jealously. Corrupt politicians saw that the weakest link in the MEC chain was the management of the results at the national level. Every effort should be taken to ensure that the results throughout the process are exactly the same results which were posted at the polling station. This is how we will ensure credible elections in the country. Other African countries will also learn from our FPE of 2020…
Well written. Truth as it is. Chilima with Nankhum,wa would have been the best team ever
Feels good to read a well written article.This is being matured and profession osati kulemba for the sake of it, no……article kumatha uli ndi njala kuti bwanji sanapitirize. Well done bwana Simango!.
Politics = Greed
Which country in the world has politicians working for Charity or for FREE No country
Wait and watch you will see the same with Chakwera and Chilima going the same Route as Peter Mutharika of course after Few Months
We Malawians will.always be taken for Ride by these Politcians and Pastors but Malawi will always Remain the poorest Country in The world whose even Budget is Running on Donor Funding and all this is because of Politicians be it
Muluzi, Mutharika,Chakwera or Chilima
This is not true, sorry…
Proven true. Look at where South Africa is going yet it was well with the whites.
Whitey praising dude, this is Malawi. Have you seen anywhere in Africa where there were no foreign election monitors and people’s vote being safeguarded? Ever seen in the world where the courts do the bidding of the people let alone a defense force that fights for the people. Malawi is different my friend and we have just voted greed, nepotism, corruption, violence, murder etc out.
Ife toto takana…Tonse alliance there are no thieves like the Mulhako regime! Hehede…ulu! Kaya chaka chino ku Mulhako wa Alhomwe mukagawana chani? Maudindo ndi ma contracts kulibe…nyekhwe!!
And so the hot take starts. DPP made mistakes but this ain’t it. The direction, vision and developmental agenda was still there but this was clouded out by the inaction of the president to loot out the roaten associates and his insistance of hanging on to them and let them run amok. Bingu would never have tolerated that. And so now the DPP Bingu vision plus peters social developments is tannish. Mind you all is not lost, it’s up to us who believe in DPP social economic ideology to mount a strong opposition and regain people’s trust. The smart DPP people that have been sidelined for a while it’s time to get out of the backbench are rebirth the party. The hardwork and cleaning starts now. The want the same thing, the development of Malawi, just different ways of achieving it, the DPP’s Bingu way drawn from the economic and political ideology of Keynesian and African form of 1967 Arusha declaration, that I believe in or the Chilima’s laissez-faire capitalism, the neoliberalism that I don’t trust can serve this country at its current developmental stage.
This article is too short, in fact he is finished!
If we and he Adadi is honest, he was never a presidential material! He had no visions, was never dynamic, it seemed he preferred the hiding mode, no rethoric skills, no charisma, no political instinct, just the brother of a former…
“Clueless” is the atribute which stuck at him throughout his political career! The history and hopefully also the judiciary will punish you for the mess you and your party zealots have created in our Nation!
Every leadership style has its on situation. I feel kuti Asad acted accordingly. Ndale sizamuyaya it’s time for Chakwera let’s see and support him basi
We need part two of this beautiful article
I agree. Pease give us more!
Just put your nose in the corridors of power, and will know how to write
Charles you are wrong. This is the price for a functioning democracy. Incompetent,Corrupt, Tribalist and Nepotist Mutharika had to go.
And no it was not the God given right of Chilima to take over from Mutharika as democracy starts with democracy in the party so it was up to the DPP members to choose a successor.
Sadly Charles you reflect that Chilima has a God given right to rule Malawi. Chilima was the architect of Mutharika’s 2008 rigged election. So Charles you are well past your best by date. Don’t disturb and confuse Malawians.
When things happen just like how it has with MCP/UTM, atidye nawo are too many. Simango where were you when these people begun campaigning etc?
You’re totally wrong to say APM didn’t want Saulos. If anything, when Calister became rebellious that was the same time Saulos started his tantrums and brought on the scene the news that their agreement was that he would become leader for the second term, the same assertions he made at Njamba concerning their current alliance with Chakwera. Saulos was offered an option to go and contest for Presidency against Mutharika but he refused. All he wanted was to have it on a silver platter, which unfortunately is not feasible in a democracy. Therefore your story is a cooked up nonsensical, that is why I said you are trying to bark and position yourself so that someone can notice you. Surely, Charles you are capable of doing something better than this shameful self-selling antics.
Thanks for this. In the history of Malawi politics never has a politician been projected of intelligence, praise and given crowns like Chilima. Like do these people ever hear him speak or they just project what they want to here. He lacks acumen, only speaks of rumours without evidence, and of course a good drama actor. Running an organisation whose sole purpose is profits it’s quite different to running public office
This man has all it takes to be president and has good intentions for the country. He has evidence for all the things he says and he was being given that information from insiders. I think you listen to him with a prejudiced mind such that you miss the matters in his speech. love him or hate him but you will never help inwardly agreeing the guy is blessed as a leader.
funny you say that, so what do you attribute to MCP victory. Rigging or no rigging Chilima is the missing ingredient and suggesting otherwise is the start of hubris that lead to DPP downfall
Simango, this is plain truth. Truth pains and it pierces to the heart! I fear for this mdala and his cronies. We voted for this TONSE team because of the principle to end corruption. The first corrupt fellow to be taken down is you. Let us wait for the amnesity that shall be laid before you
This article is too short. (shaaaa!)
Exactly it was very interesting and just ended as it started
asimango mukuti chiyani wait mpaka madzi a piteeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Adikire madzi apite what do you mean? Muthalika will be declared winner? Stop dreaming and start working
Join the discussion…kkkkkkkk madzi apita nde adikile chani
Amangidwe amenewa. Onse owononga dziko, dausi, mchacha guru lanu lonse ku maula
@G Zali that’s really being patriotic. Those involved in plundering of public resources should face the law. No amnesty. If Chakwera and Chilima don’t bring these thieves into book let them get assured to serve one term only. We shall take them as accomplices.
well narrated
Charles, I really like the way you have summarized “Adadi”. In addition, Adadi thought that Malawians are fools and that his “system” will fall into place once the switch was turned on. To campaign 2 days out of 60 campaigning days and think that he would win was taking “A Malawi ku ntoso”. He was naive and above all believed in his stoogies and bootlickers who were telling him ” we got this bwana”. With the opposition having weapons like SKC, Chimunthu Banda, CGH-Catherine Gotani-Hara, MK-Madalitso Kazombo, Manganya and the up coming Steve Mikaya, you have to underestimate this at your own peril. This is why BT, yes BT has performed miraculously since the “ghetto” residents have embraced the politics of hope that the opposition has promised to bring in. Yes- greed has pulled “Adadi” down. He will go down not only by himself, but a lot. This is the time probably Getu has to explain where did she get the funds to build so many and so fast properties around the country and abroad especially that she is from my home area and also has about 8 town homes in one compound next to my lone property that I have toiled for 20 years to finish constructing while hers sprouted and dwarfed my property in less than a year. I mean those town houses on the way to “Ku Ntaya” in LL.
Dead and burried
Guys lets me honest; Chilima did not do it alone, BUT, it will be unfair not to mention that he fought a good fight. One thing we should not forget it ‘TIME’. These two guys were at the court determined. Remember, efforts to fight rigged elections were taken before, but judiciary and people were bought. I am sure the foiled bribing of judges was not the first attempt; the previous attempts were successful but this time God exposed the devil. Remember; the night judgements; Gwanda; Mpinganjira.
Vuto ndi loti DPP inali mu briefcase yokha basi..