All along I thought, as a citizen of this country, I am entitled to hold an opinion about how this country is being run and impart the same on others.<\/p>\n
This is what I believed is in the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi which came into force in 1994 after the referendum of 1993 in which 63 percent of Malawians voted for multiparty system of government that brought about requisite freedoms, including those of expression and holding of an opinion by citizens.<\/p>\n
The last time I checked, the 1994 Constitution has not been repealed.<\/p>\n
Guess then the shock of my life which I got this week. This was after the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) summoned Times TV over a programme called Hot Current in which I feature as a permanent guest.<\/p>\n
According to Macra, after quoting some regulation in the Communications Act of 1998, my view and opinion two weeks ago that President Peter Mutharika is practicing nepotism in appointing people to public office should have been balanced with input from somebody\u2014whether the President or his representatives.<\/p>\n
My honest view is that this is bovine nonsense from Macra and it is another sad day for our democracy.<\/p>\n
But sadder for our nation is this: The present DPP government, led by Mutharika, is a bad one.<\/p>\n
It is trying to apply brakes and putting in reverse all things that Malawians wanted when they decided to change how this country was being governed and settled on freedom of expression as a birthright of all, among other governance principles. This incident is an example.<\/p>\n
It is not about regulation. Rather, it is about Macra trying to take away from Malawians, despite it being guaranteed in the Constitution, the freedom of expression to comment on how they are governed and the performance of a bad president who practices nepotism.<\/p>\n
It is not about balancing anything because, if this were the case, as Malawians know, the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) would be spending seven days a week at Macra for violating all ethical considerations in presenting news stories or analysis in its broadcasts.<\/p>\n
People, as well as opposition members, who are deemed critical of this DPP government are called names on MBC in news bulletins and other funny programmes and yet MBC\u2019s leadership has never been called anywhere by Macra to account for it.<\/p>\n
Simply put, Macra is doing what it is doing because it is supporting an evil regime that has in its DNA an idea to take away freedoms that Malawians decided to have in 1993.<\/p>\n
The other sad fact about it is that Macra leadership consists of young, energetic and talented professionals who know what to do but at moment they are all busy pleasing and supporting a regime that is mostly led by individuals who are way into old age.<\/p>\n
These ageing individuals are not interested in the well being of this country because it is over for them. They can afford to mess this country and get away with it. They are done with it and that is why they want to rule Malawi their way and not the way we agreed in 1993.<\/p>\n
They do not want to be criticised or be told the truth.<\/p>\n
Every honest Malawian knows that the President, just like his late brother Bingu, is nepotistic. Those who think this is not true might wish to check his Cabinet. How many members are from the South, Centre and North? What about his home region of the Lhomwe belt?<\/p>\n
After this, just check the last 10 positions that he has filled up in the public service? What about new establishments such as the unbundled Escom with its sister company Egenco? How has the top leadership been appointed there? Were the vacancies advertised anywhere?<\/p>\n
Was it done over an informal chat by tribesmen to choose fellow tribesmen?<\/p>\n
Mutharika agrees with this because if he did not, then he could have stopped it?<\/p>\n
Is this the way that all Malawians, from Chitipa to Nsanje and Nkhotakota to Mchinji, want this country to be governed?<\/p>\n
The answer is no and a yes would be by only those who are benefitting from the system.<\/p>\n
Macra wants the private media to be silent in a democratic Malawi when such wrongs are happening using regulation.<\/p>\n
But I have got news for Macra. I will not be gagged. Malawi belongs to all of us and I pay my tax for its running as a true citizen.<\/p>\n
Leave me alone to exercise my right fully.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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