Some lessons from the presidential race

The 2014 Presidential race will be for discussion for many months, if not years to come. Many things have happened, surprising to some people, but may not be so much to others. This race challenged many assumptions and preconceptions that some of us had.

The first lesson is that we should never take people for granted. Though obvious, Malawian politicians have a tendency to take people around them as brainless and not capable of thinking for themselves. The practice is to underrate the people and to think that as long we give handouts and share in our largesse, things will be alright for us. This attitude was exemplified when President Joyce Banda refused to declare her assets afresh and when she did not appear for any of the public debates. At the time, there were perceptions that the President had gotten extremely wealthy within a short time. Granted, she had always had money to spend and was a generous person for many years. However, since she became President, she became even more generous and appeared even wealthier. These observations could not be verified at the time other than if she had taken the bait to declare her assets. The perception that she was dipping into the cookie jar was strengthened when she refused to publicly declare the assets. We could have been unfair to her, but that perception was strengthened by her arrogance.

The next aspect President Banda failed was when she refused to appear at public debates. Not all people who appeared at the public debates won. This could not have happened as there were 11 people at those debates, and yet only one winner could emerge eventually. President Banda appeared not caring to re-assure the public that she had nothing to do with Cashgate and that she was willing to be questioned. She chose the so-called development rallies where the president was worshipped and could be charmed by the thousands of people who were being ferried from place to place to swell the numbers. The dancing gyrating women and the Kamenya Choir copy cats were what she preferred. This was fooling oneself but, this was not clear to her. As she became desperate, she visited Mangochi almost every two weeks and mobilised the Muslim women who appeared to represent some constituents.

Malawians need to examine whether the slogan “Kukhala mzimayi sichifukwa koma nzeru zochokera kwa Mulungu” was genuine. Were the dismal votes a reflection that we were not ready for an elected female president? Was this a vote of no confidence for a woman and not all women? Did JB’s campaign harm other women? Was her presidency an indication that presidential running mates, who become vice presidents are not cut to be elected on their own? What happened to this “most powerful woman in Africa”? Did the international community have its own metrics while the Malawi poor and ordinary had a different idea as to who is most powerful? How can an individual top a list of 100 women and not do well in an election in her own country?