Is Lilongwe so superstitious?

While right-thinking Malawians are excited that Lilongwe is getting a modern road network and other infrastructure, the capital city still nurses unpatriotic individuals who do not care about its beauty.

Just when the government is face-lifting the city in partnership with the local council, it should be in the interest of everyone to refrain from conducts likely to drag the city backwards.

Everything in sight, including walls of buildings, electricity poles, street light poles, vegetation, billboards, posters, banners and trees should work in concert to beautify the city.

However, whichever direction one takes in the capital city, the common spectacle one meets are witchdoctors’ posters.

Almost every streetlamp pole, electricity pole, private property wall and tree are draped in witchdoctor’s posters advertising manhood enlargements, breast boosters and bizarre medicines for incurable diseases.

The scourge has become so severe that a pole will be placed in the afternoon and be covered in witchdoctors’ advertisements by sunset.

The heartrending news is that Malawi is one of Africa’s most superstitious countries. 

Many dismiss these allegations as false, but the sights in Lilongwe call for repentance.

At every corner, what first catches an eye is a witchdoctor inviting you to the enlargement of sexual organs, purported HIV and Aids cure, boosters for women’s hips and buttocks, wealth creation charms, energiser to boost one’s bed performance and several other unproven offerings.

The problem does not only lie in the superstitious content, but also the eyesore created by over-distribution of such posters.

Is this truly what Malawians would want to be identified with internationally?

They give foreigners the impression that the nation tolerates these shenanigans.

This is not to suggest that traders should be forbidden from advertising their offerings, but that government agents mandated to control trade and information should wake up and act accordingly.

For decades, the country has lagged and retrogressed because of wilfully refusing to act despite having the necessary laws.

The legislation include the Local Government Act which empowers Lilongwe City Council to prohibit or control the display of advertisements in any street or public place that are likely to injure amenities of the city, disfigure the city’s neighbourhood or cause offence to any section or community.

The Competition and Fair-Trade Act also prescribes a K500 000 fine for putting out a misleading advert.

Section 44 of the Consumer Protection Act says an advertiser shall ensure that an advertisement conforms to rules of decency, sincerity and truth.

The section outlaws adverts that exploit superstition, ignorance or fear to sell more.

It further states that any advertiser who puts a false or misleading advertisement promoting technology, goods, activities or services shall be guilty of fraud.

The consumer protection law defines ‘false or misleading advertising’ as including any business information or communication using text, dialogue, sounds, images or descriptions which can directly or indirectly, expressly or by omission, lead a consumer to mistake, misunderstand or confusion.

The Malawi Bureau of Standards Act also provides guidelines on merchandise to be advertised publicly to attract consumers.

There are several other laws available such as the Business Registration Act, Business Licensing Act which control trade information and protect consumers and businesses in the country.

All State agents should wake up from slumber and act to make the laws work for the good of the nation.

Both public and private property owners should resolutely resist the use of their property such as buildings, poles, trees, fences, for spreading superstitions and fraudulent advertisements.

Together we can guard and improve our cities.