Goodbye Henry Chibwana
It is noteworthy that in the history of multi-party Malawi that a secretary general of a ruling political party would resign on account of a speech he made on the political podium. Our politicians say many things, both bad and good, pretty much rude and obscene, but none, as far as I can tell, ever resigned based on those speeches. Henry Chibwana, however, said that Malawi would be better off with a one-party system as long as the party in power (PP) delivered.
A chorus followed demanding his ouster. Maybe because he is principled or because he was yet to develop a thick skin or because the party did not want him in the first place, he was forced to resign.
Chibwana was once my principal at the Malawi Polytechnic. In 1997, I enrolled for a short certificate course at the Polytechnic. At the time, I paid my tuition fee which was K5 000. So, I studied in the Department of English and Media Studies and obtained a certificate in journalism. The principal of the Polytechnic then was Chibwana. Having received a certificate in journalism, I felt complacent. Never went back to do a diploma and maybe a degree. That is why, so I think, I have failed to make a career out of journalism.
Just like people ask of President Joyce Banda to bring up a solution to all our problems, what, Madam JB, should I do? Go back to journalism school or live the life I live?
Talking about Madam JB, I was mortified that we are now asking the President to do something about the elephants from Liwonde that are disturbing the peace. I have heard people pleading with JB for a solution. Ladies and gentlemen, this is too much. There are people who are employed by government to precisely deal with elephants in this country. The President is not such an individual who should be figuring out what to do with wayward elephants. She has an honourary doctorate in economics and not a PhD (Hon) in Loxodonta africana.
The resignation of Chibwana from the secretary general’s position has brought in Paul Maulidi as a new boss at PP. Now, Maulidi and I share a constituency. He comes from Blantyre North and was once the MP for the area. My mother comes from Blantyre North and my sister wanted to run for the position of MP for the area. She failed and now we have Mr Phiso. I will be looking forward to seeing what happens in Blantyre North in 2014.
Let me finish by commenting on the story that government is not buying Mulli’s maize despite the fact that the businessman has lots and lots of maize. I have several questions that I think need answers. Where is this maize coming from? Is it from this year’s harvest or last year’s harvest? If the maize is from last year’s harvest, how come we bought extra maize from Zambia? If it from this year, how come we have banned maize exports when we have excess?
