Dear judge Mbadwa,
As the year is drawing to a closer, my lord, you have to admire the group of self-acclaimed activists and praise singers who are wearing new garb daily to play his master’ voice very well at the boss’ bidding.
Of course, sometimes it is not even at the bidding of the master that the opportunists avail themselves as a voice of reason to put into context an i ssue that seems to negatively paint the master.
My lord, it would not be wrong to conclude that some people have perfected the art of earning easy money by engaging in an unwarranted damage control.
This is what they do: They create an impression that a growing narrative or a popular opinion is doing harm to the establishment, justifying the need to clear the misconception at all cost.
So, they prepare a budget for the damage control exercise and invite so-called concerned authorities to air their displeasure at the narrative and the organiser gets the profit after ‘meeting the logistical needs’ of organising such damage control.
My lord, the organisers are not interested in damage control at all but they grab that opportunity as an easy way of minting money.
My lord, in the recent case of damage control like others before it, I do not think it was necessary for the concerned citizens to respond with a rebuttal to an eminent citizen’s sermon to his congregation.
It is my opinion that what the group of concerned citizens did in responding to a sermon is an infringement on people’s rights to freedom of worship.
In as far as I remember, we do not have a group that polices faith groups and censors them on what to say to their congregations.
My lord, those concerned citizens of Nyasaland should have responded to the perceived damaging sermon by proffering their own at various pulpits if they so wanted their congregations to listen to them.
My lord, I believe the overzealousness or the recklessness with which we rush to damage control where there is absolutely no need to do so is exposing both the master and the hired citizens to public ridicule where the organiser is laughing their way to the bank.
Some things are better left uncontested and every time we rush to respond to each criticism, we create an impression that we want to hide something and the result is that we invite people who do our bidding like some cartoons.
One lesson we have learnt is that the Cockerel Party’s handling of public relations has been chaotic, something that has raised eyebrows where there should have been none.
My l o rd, t h i s h a s indeed been an eventful year! I choose to forget the darkness that characterised 2024 because I want to be optimistic about the future.
As I wish you a very prosperous 2025, I want to acknowledge the work that your tribunal has done in trying to make Nyasaland a better place to live.
My lord, as we will be in 2025 in a few days, maybe those who think they still have the opportunity to clear the rubble can start looking at the need not to engage citizens who are clueless to be concerned on their behalf.
Regards,
John Citizen.
