July 30 2026
There are some words, conotations, that come to mind as we walk about our daily endeavours. One thing the elders always told us was: Mum’s the word.
But now, President Peter Mutharika must understand that mum’s not the word.
If there are some who are saying Vice-President Jane Ansah must speak out on her position in the Presidency, they are barking at the wrong tree.
Ansah can attend so many events as Veep. She can tee-off a nine-hole round of golf without knowing it, but she has no say on what the President delegates her to do.
Off the air, Dear Diary, the scene was encapsulated at the presentation of nomination papers. While everybody was waiting to see who would be Mutharika’s runningmate, the eyes were focused on some of the expectations: Joseph Mwanamvekha, Bright Msaka, Jappie Mhango, Alfred Gangata, George Chaponda and one Gadama.
If at all APM was to choose a female candidate, it should have been Roza Mbilizi. But then, Mbilizi was floored by Mary Navicha on the DPP women’s desk.
So, it came as a pleasant surprise when Ansah was unveiled as Mutharika’s runningmate. Now, like it or not, APM will not stand again in 2030, so people have to position themselves to take over from him then.
When Ansah’s name was announced as APM’s runningmate, the body language from those perceived as his successors was nothing but pleasant. Even when the supporters were getting out of that Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), they never understood why APM chose her.
That is the very essence of APM’s politics. The more he keeps quiet, the more he wins.
He is a man of few words, actually. At whose cost, ask me another day.
Which is why APM cannot come out in the open on why Ansah is being kept in the frigorifco, his refrigerator. Which is why APM cannot tell the nation at large why he opted for Enoch Chihana to chair a Cabinet meeting, while Jane Ansah is still breathing.
As it were, APM was just drinking the coffee and smelling it, wondering when the next golf round will avail itself for Ansah to tee-off.
You see, the office of the Vice-President has been reduced to an office of religious affairs in the Presidency. If my church decides to have a Sunday School event tomorrow, the first point of call on the executive to invite, Jane Ansah will come to mind.
APM needed to understand that silence is now always golden. The Presidency is a constitutional entity and whatever happens there, our eyes are on it.
We cannot be held on tenterhooks on the assumption that Ansah must speak out her thoughts on the position.
The onus is on Mkulukutamoyo to tell the nation what his junior is doing when he is off-duty.
He owes us that simple word.
