BEWARE OF POSTERITY
Time is one of
the biggest riddles of the universe. Many a men have tried to understand its
prowess with no success. Time is a puzzle that just doesn’t fit. As Albert
Einstein remarked, time is an illusion.
Malawi is poised
for a new direction following the Fresh Presidential Election of 23rd
June 2020. That direction is still a mystery. A land yet to be discovered. A
route yet to be explored. What we have experienced as a country in the past
year or so is a paradigm shift for our political landscape.
We have
witnessed unprecedented citizen participation in the electoral process as well
as other processes leading to the fresh presidential elections.
The citizenry
has finally woken up from the slumber to reclaim the rights entrusted upon them
by the Constitution of the land. Citizens have long at last realized that the
authority to govern first and foremost is derived from the will of the people.
A strong tenet of electoral democracy.
The interest of
this article is to discuss the above scenarios in terms of the concept of time
herein introduced. For it is time that has gotten us thus far. Malawians have
realized a myriad of things incidental to the intercourse between time and
electoral leadership.
The just gone by
election has demonstrated that the presidency is a hired job just like any
other job. Appraisal of performance is through the ballot! Every elected leader
must be conscious of this very important fact.
The above status
quo must serve as a guide to the incoming leadership. The time you have been
given will wait for no man. The current status is that Malawians are prepared
to turn around and against you at any time. Whilst their anger through the
ballot might have worked well for the Tonse Alliance through the ballot, the
same is a cause for worry and calls for greater mindful leadership. The
implication is that there is simply no room for error.
The real
challenge indeed is for the leadership to stay awake to the concept of time and
elective leadership. 2025 is just by the junction to the market.
One of the
greatest statesmen of all time, Nelson Mandela said, “we must use time wisely
and forever realize that time is always ripe to do right”.
The time to deal
away with impunity is now. The time to deal away with nepotism is now. The time
to address systematic government corruption is now. The time to match political
talk with action is now. There is no other time awaiting us.
What this
election must buzz in our heads is that Malawians are excited and fully charged
to start all over again for a renewed Malawi. But as the article is frequently
noting, time is of the essence!
It is imperative
that as we charter the route for a new Malawi, we must not be worried about the
passage of time that has frustrated us over the years. It is wise that as a
nation we accept the mystery of time and allow it to drive our energies.
However, this is up to our leaders to live up to the billing.
With the
mindfulness of time, we will soon realize that we don’t have the luxury of time
to waste. We will realize that we don’t have time for mediocre things such as
congratulating the president for a borehole, a wooden bridge or a school block.
We will realize that time will not forgive us for lawlessness through unworthy
and stolen “hot” cars driving on our roads with number plates such as “ana
abusa”. This mediocrity, Malawians have denounced.
It is the
realization that yesterday is the past, tomorrow is the future that will help
us build a new Malawi. Such a realization will inspire us as we treat this time
as a golden opportunity for our country’s fortunes. Indeed such a realization
will move us to empower the anti-corruption bureau without delay.
We must be alive
to the realization that a change in government does not necessitate change
itself. The truth is, time is an abstraction. We need to change to change.
One thing that
may set this government apart from the rest is the commitment to working and
fulfilling its promises. Malawians are eagerly waiting for cheap fertilizer,
mega farms, employment, cheap passports and driving licenses as well as the
duty free week among some. It is the promised land we long for, take us to Canaan.
In conclusion it
goes without saying why the politician must be very cautious of time. Time, time
slips away like grains of sand never to return. It leaves people wishing to
have done things differently. Time they say, flies over us and leaves shadows
of smiles and regrets. Malawians are tired of regrets. Let’s create new shadows
of smiles and progress.
The trouble with electoral leadership is to
think you have time. Before long you realize that Malawi is still Malawi and
not even a black and white shadow of Singapore. But well ignore my noise about
time: care about the Malawian! It’s going to be your biggest driver.
Save a country
Messrs, the clock is ticking! Congratulations.
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