Of first term political satisfaction, curses…

Esteemed countrymen, Malawi is abuzz with politics and at the moment the top issues revolve around the economy that is in a shambles, hunger, President Lazarus Chakwera’s unquenchable appetite for flying, forex shortage and rising cost of living, among others.

Then we have the 2025 elections that have already activated some people into a campaign mode, especially some Malawi Congress Party (MCP) heavyweights who want Chakwera to continue leading their party, and our country beyond 2025.

Let me say from the onset that I have no problems with any eligible Malawian, including Chakwera or Ras Chikomeni Chirwa vying for any political position in this country, because that is part of what we fought for when we chose plural politics in 1993.

However, as a patriotic citizen, I think the need for Chakwera and his henchmen in office today to deliver on their 2019 and 2020 campaign promises outweighs their craving for a fresh mandate beyond 2025

The unique thing about this whole craving for power is that most of those already focusing on the 2025 elections have journeyed with almost every ruling party that existed in this country, but shamelessly switched their allegiance in dramatic fashion whenever they sensed “absence of government”.

Chakwera was supposed to be a man of the moment having sold himself to Malawians as a game-changer. I recall how he exuded the decency and trust that a real president deserves, and Malawians responded in kind by voting him into office.

Recently, one of my colleagues said in her column that Chakwera’s job was cut out for him in 2020, and all he needed was to do the opposite of almost everything that the previous regime did.

Analysing Chakwera today, I sometimes wonder whether Malawians chose a leadership that had what it takes to move this country forward, or we simply settled for another second-rate politician at State House bent on alleviating their poverty and hunger for power.

I mean, look at the way our leader loves travelling within and outside the country. Really, it makes little sense, after three years in office with scanty development to brag about.

Of course, some people are clearly impressed with the speed of development nationwide under the current administration and apparently that is enough approval to shift focus from real issues facing Malawians today to politics of the stomach and 2025 elections.

Do not forget that all our successive presidents started failing in office the moment they started dancing to advice from party sycophants and hand-clappers. I am saying this fully aware that some of our leaders today have no time to sit in the office to do the real dirty work in an effort to move this country towards the desired economic prosperity and greater democracy.

In the end, they paid a huge price for falling in the political abysm while some failed to win a second term.

I can only tell the President, for free, of course,  that the same Malawians he is presiding over today will judge him by his performance, integrity and character.

I will remind all politicians canvassing to contest in 2025 by repeating what someone once said…

“The road to political success is long, expensive and exhausting and becoming a candidate in the next elections is only the beginning of the election process.

Successful candidates must, therefore, strive to persuade voters today that they deserve their votes not by rhetoric, but by their actions, output, gains or deliverables.”