Kasambala, an Academic Embarrassment

with the Richie Online Resident Politician

I am always afraid of writing yet am one of the best writers in town. My fear is not because of the Queen’s Language (which I was forced to learn and speak since my primary school. Hate it), but because whenever I write I leave my readers either in suspense or forced to agree with me. Simply put, I always put across controversial ideologies which am sure you will rarely disagree with me. I hope with the above few lines you have noted that I did not have any substantial opening remark and I should admit that this is a terrible introduction ever. Thank heavens those people called teachers are not going to mark this necessary noise on paper.

I hate Raphael Kasambala with passion, not because he is a convict cashgate associate but because he disappointed me by being involved in scandalous proceedings that devastated the country’s socioeconomic status. In summary, I never expected him to be one of the people who could be too corrupt, unprofessional and worse still plunder the county’s economy because I have always since my childhood, looked up to him with trust and respect as an accomplished academician and an asset. I was thus, let down and I hope you happens what happens when someone is let down.
To those that have forgotten let me remind you that Kasambala is a convicted lawyer now day 209 in prison post-conviction as he is serving 13 years’ jail for conspiring to murder the then Budget Director Paul Mphwiyo who was to whistle blow multibillion-kwacha corruption (not confidently sure about the truth of this).
Prior to being convicted Kasambala was a successful lawyer, graduate from our mother College in the University Malawi, Chancellor College (let’s not argue here, it’s a fact). To those that baptized me to adore him, told me that he was a genius at College, that he wrote a Law book whilst a student that even the Faculty of law at Chancellor College passively recommended it. Whether this was true or not, to me Kasambala was so incredible, genius and an asset to the country besides being someone to look up to as far as academic success is concerned. I kept on following him and his success. He served as a Minister of Justice and Attorney general during the first term of late president Professor Bingu WaMuthalika and in 2012 respectively. He then became a legal representative of the then Vice president Joyce Banda and finally ended up involving himself in plundering state funds. Shame!

Kasambala remains a blue print for the learned community (degree, masters etc) and the academic world. Kamuzu Banda run this country with minimum discipline such that we do not hear corruption and abuse of office during Kamuzu era. The learned people emerged especially at Capital Hill during the first term of Bingu who dictated that technocrats should run crucial ministries and positions, sending all personnel with minimal academic qualification either home (retirement) or down to the Districts from Capital hill. The results are so discouraging. The learned personnel misappropriated state funds in form of cashgate, ifmis (sp) what have you.

This brings back to my main point. Why is the learned society so corrupt, indiscipline, unreliable and with poor leadership skills? Where is the problem? Is it our university education? Or the system that train and absorb learned people into? Where are we really missing as a country? May be something we need to ponder before we blame the learned society.  

Education ought to make us indispensable, people that cannot be bought or sold. People that the country can rely on and trust. Where an educated person is should manifest change both culturally, socially and economically. Malawi is poor not because we do not have resources but because of our attitude is poor especially among the learned community. Imagine spending 4 years in College doing Law and being used by someone who got 40+ points in his/her MSCE just because you have been promised to be given more money? Education ought to make us feel proud that we can feel cheap to be used by even politicians. Likewise, I expect engineers, Pharmacists, Accountants, Pastors (I always question these people), teachers, etc. to demonstrate minimum discipline as the country’s assets.

Kasambala thus, is an embarrassment to both the learned and the academic world according to the expectations that the community had towards him. Imagine if he was the University Don like Professor Edge Kanyongolo at Chanco, Professor Nyengo Mkandawire at College of Medicine shaping, inspiring and building the youth into future beings and citizens? Imagine if he was true to his calling, bringing bad people to justice? What a contribution would he made towards the country? When I look at Kasambala, I see an asset to the country yet at the same an academic embarrassment whose quest for money and lust for killing has ended him in a place that was not intended for him. This is a loss to the country considering the resources that Malawi used to train him and also a gap that he has left in the legal field. Let me pose a question, are you different from him? Please do not answer me. I will be embarrassed on your behalf.

Kaya Resident Politician uyu ndiye ndi ndani kaya...