Much ado about useless rigging claims
In the chaos of campaign season, it is not news when opposition political gurus go berserk preaching hollow sermons of rigging.
We saw, prior to 2004 general elections, how the opposition, led by Gwanda Chakuamba, stood on every anthill warning of vast rigging.
The story did not change at all during 2009’s season of campaign. John Tembo was all over, like a dog that has lost its tail, telling Malawians that ‘government has hired rigging experts’ and blah blah blah.
Should we, then, find it news today, when Face book intellectuals and loudmouths connect every understandable logistical hitch to electoral rigging?
What is asinine, however, is that despite being steadfast with rigging claims, none of these political loudmouths are ready to substantiate them.
For instance, we, at The Nation, put it to three major opposition political parties last week to explain how, actually, rigging takes place.
We chose them because we were mindful that they were all once in power; to mean, if rigging really takes place, they should bear the truth. In fact, we were sure that they will open up because if they expose rigging tactics, those planning it, if there are any, will be shamed.
Regrettably, none and absolutely none of the loudmouths gave credible accounts to substantiate the whats and the hows of rigging. It was all, to be blunt, absolute crap—more of a dog baying at the moon.
Granted, until I get convincing rigging evidence, I will always treat sermons of rigging as a political anaesthesia taken by opposition parties to lessen their fear of losing elections.
That is why I do not expect a credible institution or a rational mind to be moved with these hollow sermons.
When the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) met with the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) weeks ago to—I was told—discuss rigging claims, I was perturbed as to what actually would be the basis of their discussions.
Initially, I expected PAC, as a credible institution to commission an inquiry into these ‘rigging claims’ so that it establishes facts of the matter. In fact, those facts could not have just helped them to have a strong case before MEC. It could also have helped the public argue based on facts not hearsays.
Unfortunately, PAC chose to take hearsays to MEC than facts. Should we be surprised today that MEC had a Christmas in May over that discussion?
I am sure if the Malawi Law Society (MLS) would like PAC to meet MEC over rigging claims, MEC will have another Christmas in May.
As credible as they are, last Thursday the lawyers’ body issued a press statement that quite bafflingly joined the irrational ship of fuelling unsubstantiated rigging claims in the country.
Titled ‘A Call for Free, Fair and Credible Democratic Elections’ and signed by its president, Mandala Mambulasa and secretary, Felisah Kilembe, MLS in their own words said: “ the society is disturbed by unconfirmed reports that there are numerous attempts and plans by some political parties and candidates to rig elections”.
In fact, the statement furthers says: “If such reports are materially true, then that would in our view not only amount to a violation of the law but also a clear denial of the right of the people of Malawi to participate in their government”.
I laughed my lungs out after I finished reading this unexpected press statement from our learned friends from the legal profession—a profession where evidence, not unconfirmed reports, is central to every argument.
How could a whole society of lawyers get ‘disturbed’ based on ‘unconfirmed reports’? What happened to investigations before getting ‘disturbed’? Are we saying now we have a lawyer body that can get disturbed by ‘unconfirmed reports’? Be afraid, be very, very afraid.
And here is why you should be afraid: So far, there hasn’t been any report, confirmed or unconfirmed over rigging in the country. What we have heard are just rumours, claims, allegations, innuendos and lots of noise out there about rigging.
So what ‘unconfirmed reports’ is MLS referring to?
For a profession that underlines evidence, I shudder to think of MLS making a press statement on quite an emotive topic based on ‘unconfirmed reports’. The gesture to me questions MLS’s commitment ‘of protecting and assisting the public to separate wheat from chaff.
In fact, by religiously joining the hullabaloo of rigging sermons without questioning it, MLS has not been different from political loudmouths and Face book intellectuals who can disregard evidence and utter anything as long as they have the capacity to do so.
Frankly speaking, Mambulasa and Kilembe’s statement has only helped MLS to participate in its own subjection to public ridicule.
You see, elections are tense, emotive and most importantly, chaotic moments. Actually, being highly competitive elections, it is imperative that credible institutions should lead in bringing sobriety by not acting to the gallery.
We expect institutions such as PAC and MLS to be different from political loudmouths and Face book intellectuals. We expect them to help shape public discourse by diffusing rumours through investigating a matter first before rushing with rambling press statements. In other words, act based on fact!
As things stand, even if MEC was really contemplating rigging, can we ably detect it with these bewildering and shameful arguments based on ‘unconfirmed reports’?
Until those with credible evidence bring it forth, I would like to join my two bosses—George Kasakula and Gracian Tukula—who have already called on those making these wild allegations and those issuing press statements based on ‘unconfirmed reports’ to shut up.
Case closed.
