Six Questions: Politics requires thick skin
because Dr Kumpalume has
The current Parliament has many new faces, some highly educated. I caught up with one of them Dr. Peter Kumpalume who abandoned a lucrative job in the United Kingdom to contest for a parliamentary seat. He explains his mission, vision and future in politics.
Q: Briefly, describe yourself?
A:
I am aged 43, a husband of only one wife and I have been blessed with three children. Professionally, I am a graduate of Chancellor Collage, (Department of Chemistry), Aston University UK (Department of Chemical Engineering), and Leicester University UK (School of Management). I have a BSc, BSc (Hons), a PhD and an MBA specialising in finance. However, started my professional career as a chemistry lecturer at Chancellor College. I have authored a lot of journal articles, I have several patents and I have authored book chapters. I have presented lectures in a number of international conferences.
Q:
What were you doing abroad?
A:
Initially I went to do my PhD which I completed in 2000 at a tender age of 29. Thereafter, I worked in different organisations starting with Cambridge University as a post doctoral researcher where I developed new ways of making snake anti-venoms (cures for snake bites) as well as supervised PhD students working in my field of expertise. Then I joined the UK National Blood Service as an expert in making new medicines. Thereafter, I worked as a manufacturing director at Biotech Company and finally in December 2003, I joined GlaxoSmithKline- one of the giants of the pharmaceutical industry. My role there ranged from making new medicines to leading projects as well as leading people. I had to work across borders and cultures, all the time ensuring efficient delivery of new medicines to patients without sacrificing quality.
Q: You left that lucrative job to become Member of Parliament.
What prompted you to make such a decision?
A:
Frankly, I was invited by my local people. Without that call, I would still be making medicines. People in the area had always wanted to ask me to represent them in Parliament, but they feared that nobody would leave a lucrative job in England and be an MP in dusty Blantyre West constituency. Why would anybody do that? Because of the nature of the challenges in the constituency, I accepted that call.
Q:
Can you briefly share with us your political background?
A: I casually joined a political grouping, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2002 and rose to become chair for Europe. In 2004, I took a break from politics until the call on 25 December 2012. Even though I took a break from mainstream politics, I actually followed all events closely.
Q: You are now a MP. What plans do you have for the constituency and what legacy do you want to leave?
A: First, I am developing a 50 year plan (blue print) for the constituency. This is at a consultation stage. The aim is to have a foundation that others can build on after consecutive MPs leave office. Because we don’t have a plan for the area, different MPs leave their own foundation. Several foundations do make a house. What we need is a completed house. This blue print, which will be owned by the chiefs, and if followed will ensure that in 50 years time, Blantyre West will be a full and completed house. Currently, however, we have a few challenges we must overcome. Blantyre West covers the area from Chileka Airport to Mpatamanga and from Nkula to Chikwawa border. It’s a rural constituency yet with a lot of potential. Electricity for the nation is generated in my constituency yet the vast majority of the people don’t have access to electricity and that’s not for lack of trying. No full secondary school in the whole constituency, and insufficient and dismal primary school infrastructure, not enough clean water even though Blantyre Water Board gets most of the water from the constituency, not enough market access and a general lack of business opportunities. The list goes on. Yet, we are in Blantyre!
Q: What is your assessment of Malawi politics so far?
A: Malawi politics is changing. The number of fairly educated people in the House is increasing. Cross party initiatives seems to be common. Outside of the chamber MPs interact as if they were from the same party. I still think political parties are not what they should be. Our political parties are not financially self-sustaining because most of the members do not fund their parties. Further, there is a big gap between what the actual role of an MP is and what our constituents think MPs should be doing. MPs do everything and frankly it’s not cheap.
Q: Is there a special role that highly educated people like you can play in Malawi politics for the betterment of the nation?
A: When I told a friend that I was joining politics she said “what a waste, you are a brilliant scientist why should we lose your brains to politics”. But the truth is if there is a profession that needs the best brains, I contend it has to be politics because of the far reaching consequences of the decisions made at that level. Politics affects us all. Politicians make every important decision ranging from social welfare, to health, to economic growth to pretty much everything. Politics needs contributions from all cultures, education level and gender. There is space for all manner of people.
Q: How do you envisage your future?
A: I certainly won’t be a politician for life. When my political career is over, I think I will go back to university as a professor in my area of expertise. I still have some research ideas that I would like to investigate at some point in future.
Q: A lot has happened during and after the May 20 Tripartite Elections. Have you at any point felt you made a wrong decision to return home for politics?
A: I had a safe job in the UK earning significantly more than what we earn as politicians. I was one of the high flying managers and scientists in GalxoSmithKline. I was highly regarded by my staff, my colleagues and senior management alike. Which idiot leaves a job like that for the uncertainty of politics? Well me! I had a serious and lengthy soul searching and I don’t regret making that decision.
Q: Any last word?
A: Politics is not for everybody. Don’t think of joining politics just because Dr Kumpalume has. Politics requires a thick skin and a shell if necessary! Politics has unique challenges, make sure you understand them and that you can handle them before joining.
