It is time to demystify State presidency in Malawi

As it were, the first Malawi State president, Dr Kamuzu Banda, was a very unique man, difficult to understand his way of life. No Malawian could claim to know him well. Probably, by design, he decided to set himself apart. He was well-disciplined and not easily approachable. In the process, his way of life created a fear factor. Then people came up with the idea of hero worshipping him, then, by and by, he became a dictator.

Former president Bakili Muluzi (right) with President Peter Mutharika:

Indeed, Banda’s rule left an indelible mark in the minds of Malawians as they were thinking that no ordinary man can be a president. Whoever wants to be elected had to be as mystic as Banda. To be fair, it can be said that his high level of discipline served both him and the country well. Due to discipline there was no corruption in the civil service, but only hard work.

After Banda retired from politics, there have so far been four predecessors. These have shown that a person does not need to have some unique characteristics to be President. However, as much as Malawians do not want to go through dictatorship again, some of the presidents have copied some behaviours from Banda. For example, the idea of president Muluzi wanting an Open/Third-term was like extending his tenure on the assumption that the country cannot find someone else like him.

The other thing is that, Banda had no deputy. Effectively, since multiparty democracy, deputy presidents seem to be just for window-dressing. It has happened with all governments and the media has been reporting some soured relationship between the presidents and their deputies. All this is because the presidents want to look special and that no one else should be near them. If they had their way, they could change the Constitution and remove the vice-presidency.

For the presidents to continue to look special, they design ways and means of being surrounded by sycophants, hero worshippers and some hangers on. This is successful because these people receive handouts in cash and kind. Their job is to exaggeratingly talk about how special the President is and that no one else in the country is comparable to him/her. Sadly, it is such behaviour of saying what you do not mean which makes the government feel satisfied with their management. Just imagine, if all the State presidents— past and present—were and are indeed successful, would this country be struggling with poverty up to now?

It is common knowledge that State presidents emphasise their self-importance as a way of sticking to power. Malawians should learn to call a spade a spade in order to save this country from further destruction. People must realise that the importance of a president is based on his/her successes. It is not an abomination to have a one term President if he has failed the country. Praises from sycophants is not an intelligent way of grading President’s performance.

Going by the adage ‘power is sweet’, presidents hate leaving office because they cannot imagine living an ordinary life and be a follower to another president. As people and their parties are gearing up for the 2019 elections, no one should be taken as a second-class citizen.

If one wants to be a presidential candidate, he/she should just go for it. The past presidents who thought were special did not do much for Malawians.

So, why can’t another person try? Some people feel offended when they hear others saying that the Peter Mutharika government has failed. Their argument is that at the moment the inflation is at a single digit. Fair enough. But this does not make sense to jobless Malawians, the poverty-stricken people and those failing to get medicines in government hospitals. As long as lower inflation rate cannot be translated into the situation on the ground, by improving lives of ordinary Malawians the government can as well not celebrate it.

In conclusion, the country has not benefited much from the so-called presidents with unique characteristics. Therefore, anyone can run this country provided he/she is disciplined, listen to other people and differentiate between genuine and fake praises.

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Kada
Kada
6 years ago

Thank you for the wonderful and truthful piece. It is true that we have not benefited from these politiciansi, but us as citizens must also rise up and take responsibility. We must beging to challenge some of these crazy way of doing things. We must unite against this common challenge because if only one person does, they target you thinking you are interested in the presidency. Dzuka malawi dzuka

Peter Mathanyula
6 years ago

That’s what happens when you chose a shithole person to be a shithole president.

Vison
Vison
6 years ago

Well written, and you have been very fair. To be frank, sinde multipary, except first 5 year of Bingu Wamunthalika, all so called presidents have failed us. Im still waiting a president who will transform Malawi.. period.

James
James
6 years ago

Well written Emily. Apart from Dr. H.K. Banda and Prof. Bingu, no other president can show something tangible he/she has done. They have been surrounded by useless guys like Chiponda, Nankhumwa, Henry Musa, Dausi, Goodall and others. It’s very sad our friends are laughing at us. 53 yrs after independence no war, God has been kind enough to give rains all these years but where are we. Shame.

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