A Morally Bankrupt Nation

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.