Even without the distraction of the Chilima-led exodus from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), President Peter Mutharika has a lot on his plate.
If you ever read the DPP manifesto, look around you and compare the promises therein to the reality today.
You will see that APM’s score is a big zero.
Having wasted four solid years making merry and feasting on crap served by his sycophants, he knows that his time is up.
Since he ain’t a fool, he also knows that with nix to show, many are itching to shoo him out in 337 days to come.
Trust me, he is not relishing this prospect, hence using this remaining time playing to the gallery in the hope of securing another term of uninhibited corruption, merry-making, unfertile investment forums and incomprehensible speeches.
Hence the belated hustle and bustle now afoot: a foundation stone here, a ground-breaking ceremony there; shamelessly pirating Siku Motors’ “Here today, There tomorrow” for a modus operandi.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)’s Malawi Country Report of June 2018; the glaring incompetence notwithstanding, Mutharika could win in 2019.
The EIU bases its prediction on several factors including Mutharika’s success in frustrating the electoral reforms, MCP’s failure to stay intact, Saulos Chilima’s lack of grassroots support, and some improvements in the flow of aid.
This prediction, plus the fact that (a) Malawians can indeed be gullible enough to buy Mutharika’s last minute foundation-stone laying and ground-breaking gimmick, (b) Malawians would in fact not be to blame because the opposition MCP is too happy to fool itself and (c) the new kid on the block – Chilima – doesn’t seem to value time; is why this Talking Blues episode speaks to Chakwera and Chilima.
Why only these two? Because even today, it is clear that the May 2019 presidential contest will be a three horse race.
While we cannot rule out spoilers, a normal phenomenon in our country given the unfathomable egos some Malawians have, the pretenders are unlikely to alter the course of the race.
But before I proceed, let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, there was a young boy. Just like the incumbent president from his time as Minister of Education and Minister of Foreign Affairs to the presidency, the lad was good for nothing.
He was happy to scapegoat everything on everyone. Even for problems 100 percent his creation.
One day, a well-wisher advised him to consult the great philosopher Socrates.
The lad sought and found Socrates and asked: “How can I get wisdom, prosperity, and success?”
Now, Socrates wasn’t one to give straight answers. He responded with a question: “Young fella, how much do you want the wisdom, prosperity and success?”
“I am ready to do anything to get them!” responded the boy.
“Come back tomorrow,” Socrates replied.
On the morrow, the chap duly returned and Socrates led him to a river. When they reached the riverbank, Socrates ordered him to wade in and stand in the river, until instructed otherwise.
The boy obeyed.
Then, without warning, Socrates grabbed the boy and thrust him head first into the water. Head under the water, the boy kicked and thrashed about trying to wrestle out of Socrates arms.
It was to no avail.
Socrates held the boy’s head in the water for a while. Just about when the boy’s body was about to go limp, he took the semi-unconscious boy out of the water.
When the boy regained his bearings, Socrates asked him, “When you were under the water, what did you want the most?”
“Oxygen,” replied the boy, coughing spurts of water, “I badly wanted oxygen to breathe.”
Then Socrates told him, “The day you want wisdom, prosperity and success as much as you wanted oxygen when I immersed you in the river, is the day you will get everything you say you want.”
Moral of the story and lesson for Chakwera and Chilima: May 2019 belongs to the most determined!
Blues’ Orators, this is why and how EIU thinks Mutharika will win in 2019. While Chakwera and Chilima can send Mutharika packing, they lack the necessary grit.
In fact, I am beginning to suspect that Chakwera is just looking forward to another term as a leader of opposition. Looking at him, I see a man who is so satisfied with the good job of hero-worshipping now under the direction of bootlicking ‘maestro’ Sidik Mia that he views the actual presidency as a fait accompli.
This explains MCP’s one-step forward two steps backward approach.
Let me elaborate: the rushed process of MCP’s highly secretive convention fooled me into thinking that MCP is – long at last – serious. But you know what?
The urgency was all about blocking rivals. Limiting people’s choices Blues’ Orators, is the first big step any party can make to lose elections.
Coming to Camp SKC: If elections were conducted via Facebook today, Chilima would win with an App-slide.
Yes, on Facebook, Chilima could win big. However, in the districts and rural areas, apart from Ntcheu, I don’t see how.
Elections in Africa, if Chilima and his team need schooling, are not won in urban centres nor on Facebook. They are won by bagging votes, millions of them, in the hard to reach rural areas.
This means Chilima needs enough time to traverse Malawi and take it from me, one or two rallies won’t suffice to convince the rural masses that he is the real deal.
Chilima needed to have hit the road yesterday.
Therefore, if Team SKC and Chakwera’s MCP don’t stop defending procrastination, Mutharika will indeed preside over whatever it is that he is presiding on until 2024.
Going by what we have seen, I wonder if at all anything will be left of Malawi.
If these two dudes hope to unseat Mutharika, they should reject any advice misleading them that “easy does it”. Unseating a determined incumbent is not for vacillators.
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