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 23^rd 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.