Vote Wisely

As we approach the elections, the Malawi political scene is taking on a surreal character. First, we have the most unlikely alliance woven around  one fundamental objective – to replace Bingu. The gang  of characters adhering to the coalition is unlikely to be an orderly one and, even worse,  is unlikely to provide the country stable government for the next five years. Just imagine for once a “unity government” consisting of the cunning, tribalist, and blood-stained (see Tom Likambale) Tembo the the politically promiscous  and political clown  Chakuamba, the unpredictable and, as Tom Likambale decribed him,  “thoroughly pathetic” Brown Mpinganjira and the irredeemably kleptocratic, incompent  and power-hungry Muluzi. Blood-letting and skullduggery among them will swiftly  follow  the swearing in ceremony of this the most unlikely political mishmash ever concocted this side of heaven.  The ensuing political instability will definitely jeopardize the significant political and economic gains the country has made during the last 15 years in the case of the former and during the last 5 years in the case of the latter.

And then they are the  "Manifestos". Given that the common denominator for the “Gang of Four”   is simply the quest for power, there is no unifying ideological platform on which they stand and consequently no common vision for the country. And not surprisingly, what we now hear from the opposition corner are desperate and shrill noises instead of coherent statements of their position. The opposition  parties have wished the President dead, displayed willful quest for martyrdom (“Bingu wants to kill me”), played the tribalist card, called for vengeance when in office etc.

Now, we Malawians have all too often  put to test  Our Maker’s goodwill and mercy towards us and all too often  have let ourselves be led to the brink of disaster. It is time that we stop playing Russian roulette and put to rest this wretched breed of politicians that constitute MCP Teams B and  C. Should they lose this election, the country will, in one fell swoop, be rid of Tembo and Chakuamba. Aging will drive in the last nail in the political coffins.  Muluzi may still be around in the incarnation of his son but he will have been reduced to a desperate figure spending much of his time around the courts. Mpinganjira will have to seek new allies and given his malleable character, he will go kowtowing to Bingu for admission to DPP.

Any Malawian with any sense of patriotism and moral decency must actively campaign against this incoherent and frightening menagerie of thieves, opportunists, murderers and lunatics. We can’t afford another “Lost Decade”. And we definitely can do better than what these weird voices from our dark past promise.

This will open up room for a new generation of politicians in our beloved country.