Dzuka Malawi: Chakwera, Cabinet reshuffle, SPC and declining popularity
When President Bingu wa Mutharika spoke in May 2004. the nation shook. He had gotten only 34% of the popular vote, but his speech resonated well with at least 90% of the voters, excluding the Bakili Muluzi fanatics.
By the time Bingu left the UDF in February 2005. People were comparing him with Kamuzu Banda. Until today, Bingu first term, voters wish had come after Kamuzu. President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera just started 9th month in office. He should be worried what people are still comparing him with- Peter Mutharika.
Peter Mutharika could not solve Teachers, University, or any other strike in time. It dragged on, he used to dodge the matters and beat his chest over small achievements. Chakwera seems like almost doing the same. He spoke to teachers and shifted the matter to a lowly non legal entity- Task Force on Covid to decide. He is a leader who can’t decide.
Bingu by the end of his second year, people equated him to Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda. We christened him Ngwazi. He proved he deserved the mantle. He changed the face of City Centre, opened up Ntchisi and managed politically to change people who supported Muluzi.
Chakwera is busy firing people. Replacing them with retirees – moving from Lhomwelisation to Chewalisation. His Cabinet is uninspiring. Stories of new rich mans toys Mercedes Benz S Class, E class and G Class and Range Rover bought in the same 9 months. The President is not alarmed. Like Peter, he calls anyone who questions him “naysayers.”
The President of Botswana was in Malawi. With him he brought his Secretary to the President and Cabinet Elias Magosi was with him. That is the equivalent of Zangazanga Chikhosi in Malawi. The President of Botswana standing next to President Chakwera, introduced the credentials of his SPC, an impressive list of an economist, private sector and public service.
Botswana is campaigning for the post of Chief Executive Officer of regional Southern African Development Community (SADC). The Government thinks Botswana need to run affairs of SADC. President Chakwera agreed, publicly.
Contrast with our Zangazanga. Just like his predecessors Lloyd Muhara or George Mkondiwa, dark stories of nepotism, ESCOM/EGENCO deals including the gensets and now even National Oil Company (NOCMA) travelling theatre all evolves around this office.
The last dignified SPC was Justin Malewezi and more recently the Deputy Chief Secretary Late William Samute. Most of them are comedians. Most of them are corrupt.
I am not sure what was going in Chakweras head when he heard the CV of Magosi. Chakwera had to drag a retired old man who brought along his fellow retiree to feast again on public money. Half of Zangazanga’s recalled retirees have already been interdicted for failing to keep procedures.
We have been purging experienced young men and women, simply because they were appointed by the previous regime. Make no mistake, clear the rubble yes, but partisan purge is destructive. Loss of institutional memory, experience and expertise in public service is overwhelming. The insult is when you replace energetic young men with retirees- SPC, PSs, Reserve Bank, Directors, you wonder why the President is focused on denying young people a chance to improve the country.
The same with Cabinet, Look at Kasungu, young MPs like Simplex Chithyola and Mike Bango cant find space but retirees with hefty pensions like Felix Mlusu. You mean Sosten Gwengwe, Nancy Tembo or even Kasamba Dzonzi cant make good Finance Minister?
Foreign Affairs Minister Elsenhower Mduwa Mkaka who is becoming a liability and mockery to the President anti-corruption drive can better be Minister in the OPC to run the MCP headquarters.
If I was Chakwera, I would use the much-anticipated Cabinet Reshuffle to reset my waning population. The current narrative of this administration is closer to what people thought of Joyce Banda’s regime. Chakwera needs people to start comparing him to Bingu’s first term or outrightly Kamuzu Banda. So far people are still comparing him with Peter Mutharika, whether good or bad, it means his communication team is failing, the message is not sinking.
He called Peter Mutharika “Prince of Thieves”. International companies want their cash back from failed fuel deal, Zangazanga after advising NOCMA staff to write a letter he betrayed them to CEO, MAREP is money making scheme for his Ministers, Police in Malawi are hunting all Chakweras critics, beating soldiers, musicians and even Prophet Bushiris PRO – Ephraim Nyondo.
Just like arrogant DPP on destructive mode, Chakwera’s administration is now famously reclaiming abuse of Police to go after perceived political enemies, shoot and kill innocent students, break into shops and throw teargas to innocent people. When asked MCP apologists claim they are Cadets. Wait why not arrest the errant Police officers- because they are being sent.
The President can learn from his counterparts. Even Edgar Chagwa Lungu of Zambia, late Magufuli in Tanzania and Munangagwa all work with teams of young, educated people in key Government positions. The world has changed so much. Tech savy, intelligent teams make a difference.
Malawi is far behind because we like recycling old analogue systems. We fire smart people and hire hand clappers. We ignore Saulos Chilima, Moses Kunkuyu, Ackson Kalaile Banda, Joseph Chikwemba, Justin Ndebvuzagolide Chibade, Mayamiko Chibowa and others and chose retirees to run a 21st day administration.
I pray the reshuffle and realignment of Government officials this month end will be Chakwera’s reawakening. He needs to find a narrative. 60% of Malawians gave him the mantle to deliver them from DPP and business as usual. Fire all ministers with corruption allegations the same way you did with K6.2 billion teams. Bring more experienced young people. Start delivering beyond fertiliser. Listen.
Dzukani a president, being compared with APM is not a good sign, come on you called him Prince of Thieves, do you want to be called “King” with so many corruption allegations dodging your cabinet and aides? being christened like JB is sure way of noting things are not going as expected. You need to be compared with Bingu first term or the original Ngwazi. Your communications team, should find a Chakwera slogan, we don’t have it yet. SKC invented “Osaopa”.
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Hahahaha the problem of Malawians is that they are lazy even to think.
Mukhalira zimenezi pano, ndipo mukolola zomwezi hahahahaha! ndiyetu simunati nanga Chakwera achoke pano pampando umeneu chifukwatu timupatsanso another 5 years kikkkkkkk! ndiye mutupatu, tinkakuvani those days nywenywenywe! chilichose chinali exactly mmene zili loremu. kutsutsa kumawawatu. Koma poti wolira samugwila pakamwa,inu ma Cadet tazilirani nthawi ikwana, mutopa aaaaaa pomatha zaka zinayi ambiri inu matafa ndi ulesi mulinawou.
What an insipid article? You start reading and you stop after two lines. The same stupid affronts. The same stupid accusations. The same stupid cadets who now have nothing to do.
So Zangazanga was dragged from retirement? Koma mumafufuza mukamalemba zinazi?
This is a good and well explainee article chakwera he have a chance to show himself as a leader but his first admistration has failed so far
Awawa mumati a Rudo wa akuti Chithyola, Mike Bango, Gwengwe, etc. are qualified to be Minister of Finance. Kaya Rudo yu amadziwa kuti MoF amapanga chani kaya.
Don’t get it twisted, they are good and competent people koma maganizo a ndalama sanakhwime to handle such a big position and competing interests. The position need a tried-and-true leader with experience running big complex organizations. Look at what happened to RBM under Kabambe. Confidence and trust in the RBM has never been lower.
If u would not understand APM was great leader based on our circumstances at the time.Then don’t cry now.You people who write,misled alot of Malawians and they believed ur rheotic. APM has never been a bad leader, things were turning up slowly&Malawi was growing with resilience. You wanted quick fix,now enjoy ur garbage.&for ur information Malawi is where it is because Kamuzu wanted to rule alone and Tembo. If u respect Kamuzu you are still lost&I always feel ashamed when people want to boast about Kamuzu.We are where we are because of ur tin pot dictator
So true
MAN YOU ARE THERE BECAUSE YOU ARE STUPID! YOU WANT CHAKWERA MPAKA AZIKUGULIRA NDI PANT YEMWE FWESEKI!YOUR FAILURE IS NOT OURS! YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT KAMUZU!
What a Trash, this reporter is mwana WA Nyekhwe, kagwereni uko
Bilhomwe ndivimbuli … you are brainless fool
Yes
Mukhaulabe Chakwera is the President of the Republic of Malawi mpakana nselu!
Chakwera has no clue to running a country
Mwayesa za pa Banja zija? Mchacha akuti Madeya zija eti? one President at a time!
SKC invented ” osaopa.” Bingu invented “ndikunyenyani-nyenyani.” Nanga… “I gotta to do what I gotta to do!”
Wait! Did the writer just glorify Hastings Banda?? Can someone educate the writer that Hastings Banda is (or was) responsible for laying the foundation for self reliant economy koma he died leaving behind a heavily dependent economy. Bingu was the man, he first introduced the idea of zero deficit be budget. Now instead of making it work, we are now busy appeasing rebels by creatIng a civic education ministry. It started with tears