INSULT CHAKWERA IF YOU WANT BUT…

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Many people became angry with Chakwera because he accepted defeat too quickly. They say he should not have accepted losing so easily. They say he handed over government like Santa Claus handing out sweets. Even people from the ruling party mock him, saying Chakwera behaved weakly in politics. They say Chakwera had the power to rig elections as President but chose not to use it. They say he could have appointed his own people to MEC, shut down the internet, given money to presiding officers so they could enter fake figures, but he refused to buy people. They say DPP gave money to presiding officers and many of them helped make DPP’s numbers rise.

Some give the example of Uganda, where the President has ruled for many years and does not allow anyone else to rule. He uses police, soldiers, and other methods to interfere with elections so that he remains in power. Others give the example of the President of Tanzania and say, “Look at what that woman did,” but as for Congress, no, they failed, they failed to rig, they failed to protect power. They say politics needs toughness, even breaking the law as long as you don’t leave government. That’s just how it is, they say. MCP will never return to power because DPP will not allow MCP to rule again, and surely DPP will come back in 2030.

But if you turn the coin over, you will see that in the history of this country, there are only two Presidents who had such a heart, who accepted defeat quickly, who did not want to cause chaos, who did not want to grab power or law into their own hands, who understood that the office of the President is not for a person or a party but for the nation.

In 1964, one thing that made Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda clash with some ministers was his heart of not wanting to do things by force or by party interest. After independence, Kamuzu kept some white people in government from the colonial administration. His goal was that even though their rule had ended, they should train black people in jobs and only leave when they had truly trained them and were sure they were capable. Ministers and others became angry. “Kamuzu is fooling us; instead of giving black people jobs, he doesn’t trust us, he is selfish, let these people leave,” they said. People did not understand Kamuzu, that he was doing this because he was thinking about his people and the future of Malawi. He wanted strong foundations.

In 1992 Malawi held a referendum, and people chose multiparty democracy. There were also many people who voted against multiparty. Kamuzu had the power, like other presidents such as Mugabe, Museveni, and others, to say: yes, some want multiparty, but millions don’t, so we will not do it. But he accepted it. When elections were held and Bakili Muluzi won, Kamuzu accepted again, easily, and even helped make the transition peaceful.

Kamuzu knew that the presidency is an office of the nation, not of a person. He also did not want war. He thought about Malawians.

Know this: the President has a lot of power. When someone enters that office, they gain huge power. That is why even in countries ruled by the military, where leaders come in through coups, once they enter that office, they become President and the world respects and recognizes that office.

Chakwera had power too, and it was possible. He could have arrested people. He could have started violence. But he thought about Malawians. He accepted the will of Malawians. He chose peace. That is not stupidity. That is not weakness. That is love. And if we Malawians cannot see this, then we are lost people, confused people, or people whose hearts are full of seeing only evil and mocking others. We treat politics as something to fight over. We treat government as our personal property.

Chakwera is someone who understood the core values of MCP: unity, discipline, obedience, and loyalty.

Many who insult him, even some in MCP, do not understand the foundations of MCP. You can belong to MCP and still not know MCP. Even though Chakwera knew people might laugh at him, insult him, even people from his own party, he chose peace, he chose to listen to the people, he knew that the presidency is an office of the nation. How many people can do that? Are those in power now ready to listen if Malawians reject them? Are they ready to obey the voice of Malawians? To leave even if it is shameful? To not misuse power, and to put Malawi first?

Insult Chakwera if you want, but on the matters of peace, love for Malawi, respect for the law, and humility, give him his medal.

Written by

Shadreck Chikoti

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