Does Hon Dossi have a point?

I read with sadness the story that quoted former minister of sports and former member of Parliament of the Malawi National Assembly the Hon Moses Dossi. The story was that Mr Dossi believed that former politicians, especially those who have been members of Parliament (MPs) and Cabinet ministers should be on government pension. After all, these people contributed to major decisions that shaped the direction (for good and for bad) of this country.

The remuneration package that the ministers and members of parliament get, end up paying for coffins, school fees for constituents to the effect that these people do not go out of office with a bag full of money. Mr Dossi lamented also on the treatment that they get with regard to their diplomatic passports (which are taken away from them pronto) and barred access to VVIP or VIP lounges at airports. I believe if the individual is a VVIP or VIP on account other personal attributes, the individual would continue to be allowed access. On the other hand, if access was solely on account of being a cabinet minister or member of parliament, that access is taken from the hapless woman or man.

That it should shame us all that our former Cabinet ministers can become paupers can be debated. But I think such is travesty of the highest order. You can call is blasphemous if you want to, but I cannot find a word that is close to describing such a shameful spectacle. I am not yet heaping blame on the ministers as yet. That will come in due time. First, let us look at the tenure for a member of parliament or a cabinet. At least for a member of parliament, we know that almost all the MPs we have had have spent the whole five years of their allotted time. Here and there one sees attempts to remove an MP from the house and save for the example of the late Fred Nseula, the majority have ceased being members through the ballot five years later. Their saving wasted on campaign which did not help of sending them back to the National Assembly. Since perhaps there are personal gains in becoming a member of parliament, an individual should invest in the elections, but it can’t just be that individual who should suffer loss if they do not make it. Their political parties which also stood to gain, must contribute the finances, and perhaps they do.

The other question is to ask whether an individual who does not have money should elect to be a Cabinet knowing so well that unless he or she steals, s/he will not be rich? Would it be reasonable for the people who have concerns with their finances to invest their time on something else other than being a cabinet minister? Or is it, that poor people join politics, get lucky to be cabinet ministers and the fall from the office just make them return where they initially belong? Was the ministerial clock and buffet lunches not a borrowed robe?