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Congrats Hakainde Hichilema, Taliban

In the past two weeks we have witnessed change of government in Zambia and Afghanistan using different ‘democratic’ methods.

In Zambia, the voters there, the owners of the soil there, massively elected Hakainde Hichilema (popularly name HH) as their seventh president, and his party the United Party for Development defeating Edgar Chagwa Lungu of the Patriotic Front. For Hichilema, this was his sixth attempt at the presidency.  Perseverance pays.  Congratulations HH.

In Afghanistan, whose immediate past president co-authored an excellent book on fixing failed states, failed to engage the Taliban in dialogue and fled Kabul as the Taliban Mujahedeen surrounded the capital and threatened to take it in a matter of days if not hours. The Taliban have survived 20 years of US, Nato, and alliance bombing and come out of the conflict stronger, more armed (by whom?) and more determined. Strangely, the national army and its special troops, trained and armed by the US and other countries just melted away as the Taliban advanced, taking city after city within days. Perseverance pays. Congratulations Taliban.

In Zambia, the winning party members, the party cadres, and the common voters are upbeat that Zambia will now become a better place for all Zambians; that President Hichilema will create jobs for the jobless, fight corruption, and improve the economy.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban have promised to promote human rights within the framework of Sharia, development, peace and fight corruption.

Zambians are great people; our brothers and sisters in many ways; geographically, linguistically, “povertyly”, “footbally”, socially, culturally, “umunthuly” and mentally.  We don’t blame them for behaving like Malawians, thinking like Malawians, and placing all their hopes in politicians just like we, Malawians, do.

However, our indefatigable leader of delegation, the Genuine Professor Dr Joyce Befu, the Most Excellent Grand Achiever—MEGA-1, has asked us to ask our brother and sister voters in the  republic of ma Ngweeto critically look around Africa. No president and no political party have ever fully delivered on their campaign promises, nor eliminated corruption essentially because the realities of ruling a country comprising 80 percent poor people are different from the dreams one has when fighting to get the top job.

Hichilema and his party might deliver some of the promises but certainly not all the flowers, suns, moons, and stars he has promised.    Zambians keep this in mind.

We know this because, here in Malawi, the warm heart of Africa, we have vast experience in being duped politically. Unfortunately, the constitution forces presidents on us voters for five long years. Unlike in South Africa, here we cannot recall our presidents midway.

In Afghanistan, some people who can afford to run away are being airlifted by the American and British armies to other countries.  Why the Americans, British and other countries are emptying their embassies, only God knows.  Why the International Monetary Fund has blocked special drawing rights for the Afghan government, only God understands.

Nonetheless, we can say without fear of contradiction that the fact that the Taliban swept into state house without any major military challenge proves that the US and others were in Afghanistan against the will of the majority of the Afghan population.  The army was with the Americans in uniform and on the payroll but with the Taliban and against the Americans in spirit.  The Taliban “win” shows that no foreigner can force a sovereign people to espouse something they don’t like; not even after 20 years of military backstopping and cultural indoctrination. The Americans and others should just the reality and maintain diplomatic relations with the Taliban Afghanistan.

Otherwise, the American withdrawal creates an opportunity for Pakistan, Iran, Russia, and China to do business with Afghanistan and mine the minerals that country has.  Politically America will no longer have influence over Afghanistan if it does not maintain relations with that country.

So the people who elected Hichilema in Zambia Chakwera in Malawi, and tolerated the Taliban in Afghanistan to come back, pachoka mnzako pali malo.

Go ye well Chief Justice Lovemore Mbuya Munlo

We hereby convey our deepest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and Great Minds on the passing, on Thursday morning, 19 August 2021, of retired Chief Justice Lovemore Mbuya Munlo. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Justice Munlo was charming, friendly, and not mean with legal advice if and when one sought it from him. Malawi has lost nice citizen.

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