How did Joyce Banda lose the plot

No doubt the international community is wondering what happened to Africa’s strongest woman and Malawi’s first female president that she should be trounced in an election that was supposed to herald her real first term. President Joyce Banda cannot believe she was so disconnected from the majority of Malawians despite her much publicised transformation programmes targeting the less privileged that she lost the vote of people even in her own home district.

Without going into full details, it is sufficient to note that JB broke just as many records by ascending to power after the death of a sitting president, the late Bingu wa Mutharika, only to fall from grace in such dramatic circumstances. But where and how did the strong woman go wrong? Here are some of the many reasons that contributed to her down fall.

Overexcitement

The President overrated herself and underrated the task before her when she assumed office on April 7 2012. Here was a woman who went to bed one night dreaming of contesting for presidency in the 2014 elections, only to wake up with the reality of being president in a few hours! In her excitement, she must have forgotten the sad events that propelled her to the top job, almost congratulating herself for being the chosen one—thanking God for taking away “the barrier.”

Banda’s conduct in the few days after Bingu’s death alienated her from many people who felt she was insensitive and lacked empathy. And the speed with which she charged, with treason, those who were initially against her assuming office made people to label her an opportunist bent on cementing her grip on power.

Hastily implemented Economic Recovery Plan

Banda had, hitherto, portrayed herself as the best possible alternative to the uncompromising Bingu. To enhance that image she literally gave the international community freedom to choose which way they wanted Malawi to go, promising to “do whatever they want us to do.” Whether this was out of desperation to woo back donors or complete lack of direction in the face of gigantic challenges that Malawi faced, it left many learned people wondering whether the President was up to the task.

Then the Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) measures started to bite deep into the already holed pockets of ordinary Malawians. The instant wholesale devaluation coupled with floatation of the kwacha practically meant that Malawians’ buying power was slashed overnight. Malawians could no longer afford the same basket they were able to buy a day ago! Prices kept rising while people’s salaries either fell or remained unchanged. This pushed many people into the poverty trap.

In the civil service, the measures had multiple effects: the budgetary reductions to various departments not only meant service reductions but also a reduction in social welfare benefits and allowances for employees. This also affected the morale and commitment of the workforce. Despite loud cries from the masses, JB kept forging forward without ever addressing the need for some cushioning measures for the least paid workers who were struggling to survive..

Senseless travels

Amidst very stringent cost-cutting measures affecting government departments, the President engaged in a flurry of local and international travels whose benefit was questionable. These travels, according to some analysts, were counter-productive since they depleted the very resources she wanted to save. This infuriated not only public servants but also ordinary Malawians who felt short-changed.

Cashgate scandal

All the above problems could have had some impact on Banda’s chances of getting her term as Malawi’s first elected female president. But the open plunder of public funds , code-named Cashgate, knocked off a whole lot of lingering confidence from those who still wanted to give the strong woman some room to acquaint herself with government operations. This financial scandal left even the international community wondering what kind of leader Banda was.

While the donor community expressed their displeasure by withdrawing aid, Malawians bottled up their anger, waiting for their turn at the ballot box on May 20.

It was clearly the most eagerly awaited elections in Malawi. That is why some could not even stomach the failure by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to get polling centres up and running on time. The prospect of not voting at all was something they could not accept quietly. Only reassurances from the authorities averted eminent chaos.

For the first time, Malawians felt how much power the vote holds, ultimately sending the once most powerful woman in the land panicking and packing. Never has a vote wielded such power; never has a vote spoken so loudly, as in the May 20, 2014 elections!