We, members of the Bottom Up expedition, led by the indomitable impeccable unimpeachable, Genuine Professor Dr Joyce Befu, MG 66 and MEGA-1, like all Malawians, are now used to street demonstrations.
To demonstrate is our right. So, what happened in Lilongwe on Wednesday, when would-be demonstrators were dispersed by men wielding pangas and other weapons of mass destruction is not welcome in Malawi. That police, the reformed Malawi Police Service, looked on, helplessly, is very sad.
However, most Malawians are bewildered or at least we are. The parties that called the demonstration have been known for sponsoring violence. Remember the way the late Chanika was undressed while the president looked? So, one would say muvi woyang’anira suchedewa kulowa m’maso. These parties, particularly DPP and UDF, should have come out and condemned violence their supporters have been responsible for, for a long time.
That said, the sponsors of the current violence, the partners in the Tonse Alliance, or friends of the MEC, or both, need to be condemned in the strongest terms in the book. PP should be held responsible for its promise of war.
Apart from condemnation by the media and some civil society, it appears many Malawians did not worry about the demonstration. Their worry rely was the economy, the loss of value of the kwacha, the scarcity of fuel, and the sky-rocketing of prices. These are things that matter to many Malawians. Where do we get food to put on the table? Kudya mutu kaye before demonstrations.
If you see low numbers of registered voters, there are two reasons: the economy, the people feel shortchanged (to repeat) and date of the election: September 16 2025. Some feel it is not necessary to hurry to register. Hence, the low numbers. Many people did not see the need to demonstrate.
The call for Justice Annabel Mtalimanja to go because she is related to someone in MCP is waste of time (is that a crime?). The way elections are conducted in Malawi is very transparent and the courts stand ready to hear all petitions, madando, minutely to the fullest. So, Mtalimanja at the head of the MEC or not the elections are safe.
After all, with over 50 parties, or something close enough to that, in the country no single judge will be appointed to head the MEC that is not related to anyone in one of the parties. And it is the law that the head of the MEC should be a judge. So, the case dismissed and is closed.
Mpesi and Sambo should be dismissed and replaced by whom? Why not tell them what areas to improve?
So, organise another demonstration which will attract the largest number of the people and provide sensible reasons for demonstrating. The reasons you have provided now are flimsy. To expect people, voters, to register and vote but who are not Malawians is childish. To expect the MEC to conduct its business without innovation sounds anachronistic.
And many people have seen through your aims, you want to invite people from across the borders to come and vote. We were born at night, but it was not last night.
