Damaging the image of Malawi

Malawians have gone through a lot since President Mutharika came into power. A dwindling economy has been the order of the day. Hence the majority of Malawians are perpetually poor and this is the greatest indication of a bad economy. Surprisingly, there are times when the IMF comes up with statements that Malawi economy is getting better. This cannot be believed by the poor majority in Malawi whose life is getting worse. However, for obvious reasons of being seen to make progress, the Mutharika government might agree with IMF and yet the reality is a gleam picture of the economy.

In additional to abject poverty, Malawians have faced natural calamities such as floods and hunger, to which government response has been very minimal. The maize which the president bragged about is nowhere to be seen. The little that is available sometimes is too expensive for the poor majority. As if suffering from hunger is not bad enough, government hospitals have no medicines for patients who most cases are left to die. Indeed, Malawians are facing countless problems. To crown them all, there is non stop corruption, bribery and stealing public resources, just to mention a few. Just imagine even during the presidential case which attracted a lot of attention, some people allegedly attempted to bribe the judges on behalf of government. No wonder that people even allege that both corruption and bribery have been institutionalised by the government. So far the government has no clue and seems not willing to stop the malpractices which are destroying the image of government and by extension the image of the country.

It is up to government to correct its image rather than blaming the media on its negative reporting. It must be said that the media just reports on what is on the ground. It is no exaggeration to say that even a visitor to Malawi can see the poverty soon after landing at Kamuzu International Airport.

Meanwhile, the government seems not to know how it can correct its image. What they must know is that sending a Cabinet minister to foreign countries to talk good about Malawi cannot change its bad image. The image can only be changed right here in the country by simply improving people’s lives through genuine improvement of the economy. The leadership should not be wasting time discussing his so called intentions which are just political rhetoric. Reality on the ground is more important than praising imaginary successes.

It is a fact that no condition is permanent. Therefore, the damaged image of Malawi has to change for the better. In fact, the process for change started at the May 2019 elections. Unfortunately, things did not go as expected. Hence the Concourt presidential election case whose judges on 3rd February 2020 has given Malawians another chance to find another leader who can change the image of Malawi to prosperity. Honestly speaking, the judges had set the pace for change and even more so to break a record in Africa for refusing to be bribed. Whether one likes it or not those Concourt five judges have put Malawi on the map because of a rare fit for nullifying an election which had a sworn in president in place.

Now that the court recommended Bills have gone through Parliament one can only hope that without delay the President will sign then in order for the 19th May 2020 election to take place.

Obviously, Malawians expect a changed image of their country and no one should be seen delaying the change deliberately.