Politics without principles

Politics with no principle can best be defined as empty. It goes without saying that whatever people do should have a purpose in life, failing which, it is meaningless and a waste of time. 

It is a well-known fact that Malawians had to fight for multiparty democracy for the purpose of having alternative views.

After attaining a multiparty system of government, so many groups of people went ahead and registered their parties. Most of them had a strong following, and thought it wise to present a presidential candidate; probably with the understanding that if they fail to win the presidency, they would still be relevant as opposition parties.

Experience in Malawi has shown that parties in power continue to be strong. Not because they have better policies, and are well principled, but because they are joined by people who defect from opposition parties because of greed. As opposition parties get weaker as there is nothing much they can do to serve the country. The fighting spirit is all gone.

The problem with the political parties is that they all feel that they will make it into government. Therefore, they do not plan on how they will proceed if they fail to make it. This is why, in case of failing to win the elections, the majority of members just abandon their parties.

Since the last elections in 2020, some of the parties’ offices are in ruins, doors and windows stolen and the buildings are covered in overgrown grasses. It is like elections will not come again.

In fact, it does not make sense for the opposition parties to declare themselves useless. As opposition parties, their legislators work as watchdogs, and provide alternative views in Parliament.  All in all, they are just as useful as the party, or parties, in power as the case is at the moment.  They need to make themselves strong by winning by-elections, and increase their numbers in Parliament.

They must also ensure that they debate sensibly in the House, to show that they have principles to follow. They must not waste time on finding ways and means of bringing down the ruling party, because such are irrelevant ideas that have no room in the new Malawi.

If the party in government is not doing well, leave it to Malawians, who are very capable of deciding their fate through the ballot. It must be said that when a government fails, it is mostly the citizens who can tell. Therefore, getting rid of a failed government is done by the people through elections. They know which side of their bread is buttered.

It is important that the ruling party be principled so that government operations are done in order. The party and government must know that the leadership might be one day handed over to another administration. As it were, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government was voted out in favour of the Tonse Alliance.  The current government is having a lot of problems to take off because it seems DPP was not principled. There was rampant corruption and stealing of public resources, which was simply watched without much attention by the leadership.

Needless to say that a party known for its bad manners must know that it is likely not to go far. Political parties need to be principled in order to achieve and deliver its goals to Malawians. People will definitely respect principled leaders.