Sokole-Sokole! Chakwera buzzing around Malawi President like an annoying fly

Thom Chakufwa Chihana, the iconic multiparty politics leader, dared the brutal Malawi Congress Party (MCP) regime of dictator Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda in 1992 in an act of pure bravery that many could only dream about.

Many of us today were relatively young on April 5, 1992, when, whilst in self-exile Zambia, Chihana announced through the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that he would fly into Malawi the next day to challenge Kamuzu on democracy and that if he were killed, his blood would be the fuel that would propel the engines of freedom and democracy for Malawians.

Chakufwa was not bluffing; he indeed came to Malawi on April 6, 1992, and although he was arrested at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA), his arrival became the turning point in the critical fight for multiparty democracy in Malawi.

For the record, Chakufwa is undoubtedly one of the greatest amongst a generation of freedom fighters to have emerged in Malawi. His contribution to the freedoms that this country is enjoying today is without debate. He is the father of democratic Malawi.

Ironically, today, over two decades later, a seemingly fearless freedom fighter has emerged from the same party that Chakufwa Chihana fought gallantly against—the MCP.

In opposition since being ousted from power in the 1994 multiparty elections, MCP now has a new man at the helm. He is Reverend Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.

Chakwera has been at the MCP helm since 2013 and contested in the 2014 presidential elections.

He has lately emerged as one of the most fearless opposition leaders the country has ever produced since the famous 1964 ‘cabinet crisis’ and of course, Chihana. There have emerged before the Kamlepo Kaluas of this world, but in most cases, these have been the ‘comedian’ type of opposition leaders; no real solid alternatives to offer, politically.

On the contrary, today, Dr. Chakwera has genuinely assumed the role of Leader of Opposition, leading a political party that is becoming a sure alternative government with its regeneration and new crop of politicians.

It is not surprising that MCP recently won five out of six by-elections, severely crushing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, which only managed to win one local Mayani ward in MCP’s Dedza stronghold, ironically.

Reverend Dr. Chakwera is now speaking the people’s language. He has become the genuine voice of the voiceless. Malawians are beset with unimaginable social and economic challenges that emanate from poor governance, compounded with rampant official corruption and abuse of public resources by the DPP regime. Chakwera is having none of it, at all.

In his words, the Leader of Opposition declared in parliament  on Monday that “enough is enough”, and that he shall do “what the President fails to do whenever he comes here, that is to speak the truth to Malawians; for Malawians”.

Responding to the Address on Friday by President Mutharika on the occasion of the opening of the 1st Meeting of the 47th Session of Parliament in Lilongwe, Dr. Chakwera fearlessly observed that “instead of coming here to address the frustration and outcry Malawians, the President chose to come here to proclaim an imaginary litany of accomplishments that do not hold up under the scrutiny of basic and well-established facts”.

Said Dr. Chakwera: “The statement that President Mutharika made here three days ago, while Malawians from Nsanje to Chitipa sink deeper into abject poverty, was so shamelessly self-aggrandizing, self-absorbed, and self-delusional that this gathering is now a critical watershed moment for our nation.

“The hour has now come when speaking in this House on behalf of our parties is not enough. We must speak as men and women who love our country more than our camps; we must speak as men and women who serve our People more than our Parties; we must speak as men and women who fear the Maker more than the Ministers. We must speak boldly, even at the risk of being branded enemies of the state. We must speak truthfully, even at the risk of being maligned by a misguided mob of mercenaries masquerading as cadets”.

Without belabouring the fact, Rev. Chakwera has genuinely demonstrated his true ‘servant leadership’ skills. He has evidently departed from the ‘political norm’ where our politicians believe in self-enrichment and self-serving when in fact the shocking reality about politics is all about serving the people.

Chakwera has reminded Malawians, lately, that DPP and its leader, President Mutharika, have forgotten that they were elected to govern on trust of the people of Malawi and they have now distanced themselves, with impunity, from the very people that gave them this mandate.

The recent disposition by Dr. Chakwera must serve as a wake-up call for President Mutharika and the DPP to return to being true political servants of Malawians. They must now always seek ways to be in touch with the people, inquiring about their concerns and interests as well as providing them with feedback and updates on all matters that affect them.

President Mutharika and DPP must quickly realize that serving Malawians is such a high and honourable calling, which requires an equally high degree of humility and honesty.

A fortnight ago, Dr. Chakwera issued a public statement where he accused the DPP regime of ‘foul play’ and interfering with the process of contract award by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) for the purchase of three heavy-duty electricity generators. He described the President as a ‘pathological liar’ in the whole generators equation. It was a famous talking point for the past few days.

Whether or not Dr. Chakwera was justified to lash out at the president in that manner, his statement underlined the fact that political office should not be sought by selfish and power-hungry people or abused and misused for corruption and cronyism purposes. Servant leaders of Dr. Chakwera’s caliber would always stand up for the people in such cases.

Indeed, Dr. Chakwera is speaking the people’s language. It seems he offers some lifeline to save the deteriorating social and economic status of our nation state.—  Follow @thomchiumia on Twitter.

Sokole! Sokole!

Indeed, the whole Democratic Progressive Party government reeks with the stench of corruption, and they cannot investigate it because criminals do not investigate themselves. “ Dr Lazarous Chakwera.

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Nyoko
6 years ago

Musatengere kuti chihana is a north What did this cowardly bastard you call Chilembwe do to this country… Useless

Mpetwani
Mpetwani
6 years ago

Chihana was not self exiled, that time he was the General Secretary of SATUCC staying in area 12. He just went to Zambia for meeting concerning the msltipsrty with the people like Msyinga Mkandawire. Mapopa Chipeta, Atari Mpakati, the list goes on. A Chair and Aleke Banda never went. It is from there when Chihana returned home as if he was in exile. By that time I was staying in area 10A and I was 22 years old. Write real history for our children.

Kharupa
Kharupa
6 years ago

The bishops are the ones who fought and he joined them at the end,consult before writing you may end up misleading our young generation Mr Chiumia

santana
santana
6 years ago

During the time of JZU all MCP supporters were saying the same thing as what Thom is telling us today. JZU reached a point of thinking that he will one day rule this country. Thom is just trying to encourage MCP supporters to continue dreaming that MCP will one day be in power. But this is a big kikikikiki, May be I ask you this question, which party candidates would win if the elections were conducted in Thyolo Thava, Mulanje Pasani, Chiradzulu North constituency, and a constituency in Phalombe. Would MCP make it? If not, why? That is why we… Read more »

Martin
Martin
6 years ago
Reply to  santana

So, you SANTANA think the votes from those areas you mentioned can send your president back to state house? You are the one who’s been dreaming like a Chumba- by the way, what percentage your president said he won with in 2014 if he won that is?That’s where real people with brains are looking at- prepare to see a crush ; not a fall from grace.

kaitano
kaitano
6 years ago
Reply to  santana

Kodi Santana kwachitikaso ma by election ndikutiso kodi?

Elder Sage I
Elder Sage I
6 years ago

point of clarification and truth: its the 5 catholic bishops and one Mosignor (a Roche) who started the wheels of multiparty democracy in Malawi., and not Chakufwa Chihana.
You cannot rewrite history no matter how much you idolize chihana…

Gome
Gome
6 years ago
Reply to  Elder Sage I

We were all there my friend we do not some to tell us the story, the pastoral letter was on paper and was challenged vehemently by the MCP leader at a rally in Mzimba by Malani Lungu and I attended that rally. Kamuzu never commented on that. but to me that was end of story and it required some with courage to challenge Kamuzu regime one on one not through secret letters and that is exactly what Chikufwa Chihana did. This whole country was filled grip of fear when Chikufwa announced he is coming. I here the elder then saying… Read more »

J.K.Rivers
J.K.Rivers
6 years ago

Santana, where are you ? I miss your scholarly comments. I know there is now a counterfeit santana who posts his garbage on Nyasatimes.

Dipipi wa Yudiefu
Dipipi wa Yudiefu
6 years ago

“Hapana zuva linobuda limwe lisati lanyula” by General Constantine Chiwenga Zimbabwe. Palibe dzuva limatuluka lina lisanalowe kkkkkkk. Come to Malawi and smoke out all these thieves in DPP. Please help!

Dipipi wa Yudiefu
Dipipi wa Yudiefu
6 years ago

I am learning new things everyday and i am really enjoying it. Criminals do not investigate themselves. Reeks with the stench of corruption. WHO? DPP functionaries. I do not think they have morals at all. How can normal persons especially of such stature face their children and grand children when each and everyday that passes by your names are labeled as thieves. Theft must be inside their bone marrow.

Maya
Maya
6 years ago

Truth be said, Dr Chakwera has said what every honest person who loves Malawi can say. APM missed an opportunity to tell Malawians the truth and show that he is a man indeed. It is only real men who look up into your eyes and say: I have failed.

kaitano
kaitano
6 years ago
Reply to  Maya

The problem is that many of Young men who are here can see.

san
san
6 years ago

mau opanda chigamba! goes an old saying.

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