‘Goverment should be more serious on Cashgate’

In this interview, our reporter Boniface Phiri asks Malawi’s former vice-president Justin Malewezi to comment on the Pastoral Letter Catholic bishops released last week.

Q

One of the points raised in the bishops’ Pastoral Letter is the need for Malawi to have transformational leadership. What has been the problem with our leaders?

A

Our leaders have often started very well in their first phases of their leadership but somehow lose the score later on. There may be many factors that contribute to this deterioration in leadership style. One such reason is that the newly earned and entrenched power gives them the false feeling that they can do anything. The checks that were there at the beginning of their leadership, such as listening to the people, tend to fade away. As Lord Acton said “power tends to corrupt”.

Q

 What qualifies a transformational leader and how can the people know one?

A

 The term ‘transformational leader’ is a technical term but I understand it to mean a leader whose leadership style inspires positive changes in those that follow him/her. In other words, the leader transforms them and thus transforms their environment. How they do this is varied, but generally, such leaders are very passionate and energetic about a vision which they have clearly articulated to the people they lead.

Q

 The bishops have also condemned handouts, describing them as politics of poverty and exploitation. How bad are handouts in the democratization process?

A

An informed citizenry is important in holding their leaders accountable. Such citizenry know their rights which they can claim in a legal and democratic manner. An ignorant and poor citizenry can be taken advantage of by corrupt and self-centered leaders.

If the leaders give them ‘gifts’ or donations or even buy their vote, it is very difficult for such people to demand accountability from their leaders. This leads to undemocratic tendencies or even outright dictatorial situations. Handouts have other negative consequences. They make the people lazy, waiting for the government to do everything for them. They disempower people. It is much better to empower people to work for themselves. The social networks should be for those that cannot help themselves such as the elderly, chronically ill etc.

Q

In what ways is the Cashgate affecting the democratic engine and perception of the nation?

A

 Corruption, fraud and theft have a negative impact not only on the country’s economy, but also on the moral fabric of Malawians. Cashgate is such an example. Greedy people are causing many innocent people to suffer. People are dying in hospitals and villages due to Cashgate. Schools have no enough school materials due to Cashgate etc.

Further, the international reputation of Malawi has been terribly eroded. Even our long-time development partners are abandoning us. It will take a long time to reclaim our reputation and the confidence of our friends.

QHow crucial is the role of traditional leaders in achieving tangible democratic discourse considering their control and authority over ordinary people and the fact that state and political power keeps roping them in?

A

Chiefs are influential people in our society. However, the traditional system is based on different premises. Originally, chiefs were responsible for everything that is done by the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature. With the coming of democracy, the role of chiefs and traditional authority should be redefined. My view is that they should be more involved in local governance than national level governance. In other words, they are important in democracy because development and governance at the local level is very important. However, definition of roles between the ward councillors and the chiefs should be clarified.

Q

Malawians are known to be a patient people who do not like taking their leaders to task. Has this tendency contributed to the slow pace in the democratic growth of the country in any way?

A

The statement that Malawians are patient people who do not like taking their leaders to task must be understood in its historical dimension. It was not safe in the past for people to criticise the government because the consequences were dire. The democratic dispensation has removed that but the people who lived in the previous era will take time to change. However, the younger generation is more impatient and I can see this generation to be more demanding of their leaders to be more accountable. This scenario has already taken place in North Africa where the upheavals have been led by young people.

Q

In view of all this, some would still argue that democracy is not the best form of government as it encourages exploitation of the powerless?

A

I strongly believe that democracy is good for Malawi. One characteristic that I value in democracy is that it is self-correcting. When things go wrong only a democratic system can change its leaders peacefully. I do not think there is another form of government that can regularly give people such a change.

Q

 Do you think government is doing enough in dealing with the Cashgate and how far should the Cashgate-solving mechanism go?

A

Apart from being told that forensic experts were invited into the country to do their work nothing worth talking about has come out. A lot of work needs to be done and I dare say there is not enough information coming out. The little that is coming out is incomplete and contradictory. The government needs to be serious enough about this as we are talking about taxpayers’ money here. It is high time we got to the bottom of this or somewhere near the bottom of all this.