Sovereign beggar, little choices
The gloves are finally off. The donor community can no longer hide their discontent at the failure by the Tonse Alliance government to end corruption.
It was simply a matter of time before the bubble burst. It was bound to happen and last week, everyone even the blind, saw what many thought would never happen if at all the 2019 campaign promises were anything to go by.
In a blatant disregard of the fight against corruption, the government machinery has now gone full throttle, and making it known to all that their number one enemy, are those who are fighting corruption. How else does one explain and interpret the action by government to first, interdict the Anti-Corruption Bureau director general and then when the court order reversed the interdiction, government appealed and is leaving no stone unturned just to ensure that Chizuma is out of the way?
The glimmer of hope that many were still holding on to, that this government is the answer to ending corruption, is now faded. It is now as clear as day, that President Lazarus Chakwera and his government are unwilling to fight corruption as they have let corruption and corrupt individuals flourish right before their eyes with little consequences.
Malawi, despite being endowed with enviable natural resources that have grossly been misused over time, relies heavily on donor funding and is a perennial beggar that survives on alms. It is no secret almost 59 years after independence, Malawi cannot feed herself and produce even the most basic commodity by herself.
Both bilateral and multilateral donors have been crucial in the country’s development. Malawi as a sovereign State hardly has enough in its coffers to feed its people and fund development projects spread across the country.
I am all for maintaining our sovereignty and indeed there shouldn’t be any foreign interference in the affairs of State. But surely, there is need to know how and where the money that donors pump in is used. Hence, it not entirely wrong for donors to ask for transparency and accountability. It is also not wrong for them to wish to invest in a country where they know their money will be put to good use because institutions such as the ACB are empowered and free of government interference. Government should also not forget that this sovereignty narrative they are throwing anyhow, they hold power on behalf of the Malawian people who have also been asking government to end corruption.
Beggars have no choice, so they say. Malawi can choose to be arrogant and even shut the donor out, but Malawians will pay the ultimate price of such arrogance. Trading barbs with “the hand that feeds you” will only lead to serious socio-economic problems unlike what has already been witnessed.
This is the time Chakwera needs to show his servant leadership. Chakwera needs to be on the side of the people and not corrupt cartels, and pay attention to what the people are saying and do not be condescending.
