Perhaps the Malawian citizenry is being too harsh, even paranoid in its mistrust of its own leaders. May be citizens are being hyper-critical, and only distracting leaders from a fair course.
Take the present opposition. Would they come into government and behave differently or are they plain hypocritical? Is it possible the leaders would be any more honest, accountable and magnanimous to all manner of people?
I really don’t know; but if you insist, I doubt it.
If anything, I really think citizens must lift this hyper-critical mood of mistrust. There are too many uncalled for lamentations making people dizzy, or am I betraying democracy?
But then what is our reality? How do we alter present reality so we can safeguard a decent degree of hope, public sanity?
Let’s illustrate by reactions to the budget speech President Peter Mutharika made this year.
The President had words to render to our hearing in a speech which some described as inspiring and comprehensive, yet an empty speech without solutions to people’s afflictions.
Of course such is freedom of speech but even then I thought I felt a sincere heart. Shortfalls aside, the statement came through a determined heart. Remember brethren that connections with other people are made with the heart not the tongue. Buffaloes, they say, are held by ropes, man by the word from his heart.
What opposition says is replayed history. Everyone knows that if there is any attitude persistent during the past 24 months, it is distrust of leaders. Sometime it degenerates into palpable disdain.
And of course politicians have themselves to blame for the blemish, capitalising on the luxury of anonymity. Leaders can be huge problematic liabilities, and we know that problems never solve problems, or do they?
But hush, we know all this already, and much more.
Question is: what should we do to create a sense of positive existence when negativity is suffocating us and unwittingly making our own country feel unliveable?
Well, Malawians may not be standing tall as they once did but we all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us, with all the basics provided and vast resources awaiting exploitation for common good.
Unlike other societies our reality is indeed harsh. And reality can be cruel and ugly, yet no matter the intensity of the grieving over our circumstances nothing will change-not without action. As Daisaku Ikeda advises, what is important is not to be defeated, but to forge ahead bravely till a path opens.
It is unwise to give up, and give up we shall not. Never!
Incidentally have you ever wondered how maize seed goes naked down into the ground coming forth with multiple peelings on sprouting? Dare to hope fellow Malawians. Fall you will many times, but get up and work on.
Our reality – even globally – is a world full of economic, political or military giants and moral-ethical dwarfs. So remember first your humanity and forget the rest, advises Bertrand Russell. The heart is what is important.
Our reality has bred anger. Just as well such anger has been poured out unimpeded for as AC Joy Bell says anger is like flowing water; there’s nothing wrong with it as long as you let it flow. Anger not expressed is what turns into hate and hate can be devastating to self to households and to societies.
We have problems and we always will. Do not think there are no crocodiles just because the water is calm. Indeed as long as there are lice in the seams of the garment there must be blood on the fingernails.
Do we need these problems? Not the man-made ones. But we know that moving forward on a reformist agenda means pulling down sturdy walls. Just as no gem is made without rubbing, no man grows without trials. No stake ever grew old with its bark on. Zosatheka
Our call is to execute plans better for the sake of posterity. How much gun powder do we have that we continue to shoot at the moon? Innovate continuously, for today’s innovation is total madness tomorrow.
Learning from Chinese wisdom, if you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime educate people. Our generation plants trees, another maintains the shade.
This is about strategy. But what is our promise to those coming after us?
Societies transform by keeping together through the ties of collective trust. As soon as a member of a family becomes uncomfortable in their own house accusing fingers will be pointed at all other members.
And to prevent fall outs, Malawians need to learn to serve one another better; to keep peace among ourselves first.
The man who has bread to eat will not appreciate the severity of a famine. But we have no choice than to learn to appreciate each other’s problems and challenges, including those affecting our leaders. We must sympathise and empathise.
Nevertheless, this quality of being is not without uMunthu. Not in the least!
You cannot know the good in yourself if you cannot see it in others. My humanity is bound in yours for we can only be human and proudly Malawian together
My call this time around is for a better Malawian society happy and confident in unity, for unity founds productive work. Only a fool judges people by the gifts they give him and is content with sources of help without guarantee of steady inflow.
Real development energy lies not in politics but in freedom, unity and hard work. Is it not said that one little arrow does not kill a serpent. If a dog has a man to back him, he will kill a baboon.
The fool speaks the wise man listens. After all the fine words they give none food. One must talk little and listen more. Talk is silver, silence is gold. Trust not an inheritance. The produce of one’s hands is sufficient
Collective action is all Malawians need not idle talk.
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