Who owns the President?

We are living in precarious times in so far as politics is concerned. It is now less than less than nine months before presidential, parliamentary and local government elections. I know some of the presidential candidates but I do not know who are going to be their running mates.

Now, let me also state that ‘legally’, if that word exists, no one has so far completed the nomination papers from the Malawi Electoral Commission, so you could argue there are no candidates yet. Leave the semantics aside, there are at least four candidates wanting to lead, rule or rob us from 2014. These are Joyce Banda, the incumbent and Bingu wa Mutharika’s running mate in 2009; Austin Atupele Muluzi, son to Bakili Muluzi who anointed Bingu in 2004; Arthur Peter Mutharika, Bingu’s baby brother, and Lazarus Chakwera, the man who has resurrected MCP from the dead.

Let me mention that there also some other individuals who may or may not run. These are John Chisi of the Umodzi Party, James Nyondo, Mark Katsonga, son of Chester Katsonga, and Kamuzu Chibambo.

I would encourage all of you not to be fixed in choosing who can take this country on the rollercoaster from 2014. I suggest you be open-minded and allow yourself to be influenced by the best woman or man, girl or boy who presents themselves. The best person should be the one that will defend our borders when we need to, negotiate for us when we have to negotiate, devalue the kwacha if we have to, chase an ambassador if they overstayed their welcome, allow us to demonstrate on the streets when we are not satisfied with anything, spend sleepless nights worrying where to satisfy our appetite for fuel and forex. In exchange, we, the voters and taxpayers, will provide them with accommodation, food, access to bribes, tax-free salary, they can import all manner of items they have ever dreamt of importing and can acquire big chunks of real estate whether at their home village or next to it, at Green Corner next to Stella Maris Secondary School or on the Island of Man or Canary Island.

I liked the statements that the President made recently regarding declaration of assets. President Banda appeared to be as concerned or as frustrated with the laws on assets declaration. She said it was unacceptable that people become presidents with some money but end up enriching themselves. What is interesting is that the President has been reported to have declared her assets to the Speaker of the National Assembly. The Speaker has asked the Attorney-General for legal advice.

The Speaker says the advice was that the law did not say that the Speaker should publicise the assets. What I did not hear was what the law prevents the Speaker from disclosing the assets. If the law is silent on what the Speaker ought to do with the information, how come he has chosen not to disclose when disclosure is not an offence? I am sure this is not funny anymore.