We’re just days away now from Malawi’s 6th tripartite elections. On Tuesday 21st May, Malawians will go to the polls to elect their next president, parliamentarians and local government councillors.
Malawi is a very peaceful country and every expectation is that the elections will go ahead peacefully too. However, the days that follow are more uncertain. With most eyes on the presidential elections, the race for Capital Hill seems too close to call. A crowded field, with four main contenders: the incumbent Arthur Peter Mutharika (DPP), current vice president Saulos Chilima (UTM), Lazarus Chakwera (MCP) and Atupele Muluzi (UDF).
It would appear that the majority are against the return of the ruling DPP. However, that majority is divided as to who should take their place. As a result, we can anticipate that the majority of people will be unhappy when news breaks on who will be the country’s next president.
Despite 55 years of independence from colonial rule, this will be just the 6th president (or the 5th returning) of this republic. Independence in 1964 brought great promise under the nation’s first President, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda. While many people still hold him in high regard, and celebrate his achievements in office, his 30-year tenure will be remembered as one of dictatorial rule. Despite this experience the office of the president remains a powerful one, though there are calls to reduce those powers and improve accountability.
As ‘outsiders’ its interesting to observe the events unfold as election fever reaches its peak. There is genuine excitement and anticipation that something new is coming, but also feelings of resignation and fear that nothing will change. One way or another, everyone has an opinion and more often than not they are willing to share it with you, certain that their man will get the job.
Nowhere is free of political talk – office meeting tables, barbers chairs and church pews alike. The seemingly politicised discourse in church is particularly alien to us and sometimes difficult to reconcile to our perceptions of the role of the church in politics.
Similarly, nowhere is free from political propaganda. Around town people sport caps, t-shirts and chitenje skirts sporting the colours, logos and often the leading faces of the various parties. Such attire is given out at campaign rallies and isn’t always a sign of political allegiance – sometimes you just need a t-shirt, as exemplified by the man in town wearing a t-shirt where he’d peeled off the printed face of current president, Arthur Peter Mutharika.
There is also a growing tradition of the political incumbents using the powers and funds of office to advance their campaign strategies. Across the country, you will see the president’s face on billboards celebrating the completion of publicly funded projects in roads, power supply and sanitation. This backfired this week when public-purchased personal alarms for persons with albinism, to protect them from targeted attacks and killings, were delivered imprinted with ‘APM cares’. Representatives of persons with albinism rejected them as an inappropriate use of public funds for campaigning, but also cited the apparent shortcomings of the current government in addressing the attacks on persons with albinism.
The campaigns make a nice change from everyone asking us “how is it going with your Brexit?” While I always reply “it’s not my Brexit”, it is a reminder that wherever we are we have our political challenges and that we have much to be thankful for in the freedom to vote in the first place.
I am not experienced enough in Malawi’s politics to offer you a detailed analysis, so take from these musings what you like. However, working for a human rights and governance organisation drives home the importance of not just the freedom to vote, but also having effective political leaders who are answerable to the electorate. For those that are interested, we highly recommend ‘Malawi A Place Apart‘ by former Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi.
Join us in praying that the elections would indeed be free and fair and that, whoever wins, the country will move ahead in peace and unity. We pray that the newly elected leaders bring the leadership, integrity and commitment that this country needs and deserves if it is to prosper to its full potential.