by the Venomous Hope
A renowned journalist and Nobel Prize winner, Ernest
Hemingway, once said "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down
at a typewriter and bleed." And
when you're an avid reader of Richie Online you would agree that the proprietor
bleeds articles that should be considered in UNESCO's heritage archive. I
cannot speculate how he juggles between his regular job and being a scribe,
perhaps some first grade muti is involved. Therefore, returning as a
guest this week is both a privilege and a challenge as I have to at least get
close to his unusually very high standards. It's the reason I am still bleeding
beyond the stipulated deadline despite knowing all week that I will have to chip
in on this pulpit.
The challenge, herein, is that a lot has already been said
especially on the post-20 May Election hullabaloo, if you sway an argument to
the one side of the coin you risk the wrath of zealots who subscribe to the
other side. There's is no neutrality when talking about politics. You only have
to write and let the people decide your fate. In the words of Hemingway, ‘always
do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth
shut.' No wonder Hemingway ended up committing suicide.
Well,
suicide is not a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I would hope that
those whose eyes are fixed on the Constitution Court will accept their fate,
whatever it may be, without fast-tracking their days of going to hell. Remember
one former cabinet minister (MHSRIP) during that cash bleeding and very short
regime of Amayi? He had written in his suicide note that he was facing political
threats and was living in fear, and he thought of just finishing the job
himself. By the way why didn't anyone make some forensic inquiry to find out
about the nature of the threats? We are very good as a country in instituting
commissions of inquiry on every trivial problem that we can't make sense of, as
long as its results will be in will satisfy the political establishment of that
time. Godfrey Kamanya's fate needed similar soul searching. Of course, he had
just realized he had lost his parliamentary seat, but like every prominent
investigation in Malawi, the files were left on some police shelf to rot, well,
that is if they are still there with the spate of fires across the country. My
point is that we have a very serious problem that has paralyzed every sector.
It is
going to take a lot of political will, and of course a carton of paracetamol,
to accept the inevitable court decision. MCP and UTM are challenging the
results of Presidential Elections, and want the court to nullify and call for
fresh ones. We can't just think people will accept the court's decision and go
back to their everyday doings. If at all what we have seen with the Anti-Jane
Ansah demonstrations, the volume will be more blasting once the verdict is
delivered. People should be prepared that the verdict might be ugly for the
side they support and if that is the case they will have to accept. It will be
political suicide if both sides think they'll have it their way, knowing them
too well they probably all have prophets under their employ who have assured
them that gods will smiling for them.
It
is always important to seek God's help when disagreements are order of the day.
We have always seen religious leaders taking lead in the liberation struggle.
After all, we tend to mention it to anyone who cares that we belong to a God-fearing
nation. It stems from the fact that we have too many churches than are needed,
and countless prophets, muftis, apostles, and I can bet my mose, even
successors to Jesus Matiki. Our political history has quite a number of
paragraphs that these prominent men and women of God laid their hands on. The
famous 1992 Pastoral Letter that intensified the ouster of the real Ngwazi,
Public Affairs Committee’s deeds over years, the Gule Wamkulu leading the demos
in some parts of central region, and not forgetting one Levi Nyondo, whose
prayer was answered right away by Bingu at some point, are just a few of
examples of how we cannot completely sieve out religious traditions with
politicking. We needed more from religious leaders in this time than any other
time since in our history since independence. But when you go through a
political discourse over the last two months with regard to the role men God
have played you begin to question what’s in it for them. The stakes are high
and some have seen it as an opportunity to harvest for themselves.
Pastor Dr Jane Ansah is not wanted anywhere near MEC’s
offices, and probably some Pharisees want her out of this Judea altogether. This
bone of contention has led to some sponsored mediation between those that want
her head on the spike and those that splattered selfies with her on social
media platforms during victory banquets of DPP. Asofa from BCA Hill met HRDC leaders,
Chilima, Chakwera and also Mutharika (you need to be a very deep cover agent to
know his schedule these days). Clearly, he has failed to bring them all on one
table because just like the contesting opponents, Atcheya is also an interested
party. He has a lot to lose or gain albeit depending on whatever version the
court verdict will be. Then PAC entered the fray but the egos are just too big
to tune down, or more realistically, PAC is seen by most cadets and sympathizers
to be pro-opposition and hence not neutral.
Then we saw another alternative
PAC going under the eating name of Interfaith Forum for Peace, Justice and
Dialogue. The grouping consist of Bishop Joseph Bvumbwe (recently Board chair
for MERA), as its interim chair, CCAP’s Timothy Nyasulu, Bishop Brighton Malasa
who is barred by some of his Anglican parishes, and Sheikh Dinala Chabulika, a
prominent MBC analyst, just to mention a few (Google can give the list in a
blink). They said they strive to be exemplary in character, word and deed in
order to protect our nation. They will be ‘patriotic, peaceful, and prayerful,’
as part or the statement reads, ‘in order to achieve their objectives of bringing
peace in the country.’ There is also a line that they are “leaders of
integrity, impeccable standing and peace lovers in society...” Fumbi ndiwe
mwini.
Most critics think the grouping has been stamped in to
undermine the influence of PAC which arguably is in sympathy with the
activities of HRDC especially on the demos, to what end we will never know. The
fact, however, is that all these religious leaders have made a wrong approach.
The real issue is not about Jane Ansah, the demos have become more of a
struggle about life. I have seen people who have never even protested under
their roof come out to vent their anger in solidarity with HRDC. When you
compare the standard of life now than during 2014 we are worse off this time.
This kind of anger has been brewing over the years now because when you elect
people you expect some notable changes. The way they patronized campaign
rallies was clear indication that they will not accept anything that did not
reflect their votes.
The crust, herein
is that we need to dissect the needs of Malawians and focus more on what can
unite everyone. Right now, everyone’s focus is on the ConCourt and you cannot
invite people to come to the table to discuss the same. The fact that the demos
are riddled by violence is an indication of frustration against those in
leadership position for not doing more. Very few pious religious leaders are
taking part in these negotiations and, maybe most are saving their necks. A lot
of negativity has engulfed the religious stream to the extent that we cannot
rely them to provide a moral campus for this trying time. Just recently, one priest
was chased in Karonga by own parishioners for mismanaging funds. Of course, we
cannot generalize, but there is some kind of moral decay for all to see. The
loss of trust coupled with various social ills like lack of job opportunities
especially among the youth, high crime rate, Jane Ansah, high costs of food,
corruption and the first filling station in Neno since civilization. Those that
won the elections haven’t done anything apart from err commissioning warships
(I know what you’re thinking…). Perhaps if DPP had started working on some of
these issues maybe Malawians would have been a bit patient with the court case
and not throng to the streets.
As more reverends
like outspoken Viphya’s own Mzomera Ngwira are being declared bankrupt by the
courts, the nation is gaining ground in creating immoral citizens. In no time
very soon, we will see some men taking to the streets if their wives have
unusually reduced the amount of mitanda yansima on their plate. The precedence
being allowed to take root of burning people’s properties, undressing women and
other evils is just a sign that the preaching is falling on deaf ears. People
no longer trust their religious leaders, they just respect them so that one day
they will not forget to preach on their funerals. In the words of Ernest
Hemingway, the best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.
Let the men of collar cast the first stone.
Enjoy your Friday
folks.
