For many Malawians, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has gone too far. The party has become more isolated than ever before, both in the country and within its membership.
We, as a nation, have crossed so many ugly lines in the last 50 years, yet one habit of ignoring issues that affect many lives particularly haunts all of us. Last week’s comments by DPP secretary general are a case in point.
Grazeldar Jeffrey went to town and said that former first lady Callista Mutharika killed late Bingu wa Mutharika. Next was DPP Southern Region governor, Charles Mchacha.
He took to the podium and what he said was repugnant to our society, which embraces morality. Patricia Kaliati’s crime is that she supports Vice-President Saulos Chilima.
Yet the President has kept quiet and set an example to the entire country, particularly when it comes to fighting political violence and hate speech. No politician should find it difficult to condemn hate speech and violence, especially after witnessing what this leads to.
But it has become apparent that a traumatised Malawi cannot look to the President for comfort in its time of need.
So when Chilima speaks to Malawians today, none of that should be an excuse for him to brutalise the Peter Mutharika faction. We expect him to be ferociously critical of his boss but to also manage the difficult trade-offs without gratuitously embracing cruelty like what the APM camp has been doing lately.
We expect him to set the record straight and tell Malawians who he really is and what he intends to do for this country. We expect Chilima to raise above petty and party politics. We want him to project the hope that Malawians are dying for.
We expect him to play civilised politics. We as a nation should have dignity and politicians should be the custodians of morality and respect as it were. We must even more assiduously protect our soul.
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