He came on the political scene as a little unknown someone with no strong political background worthy mentioning but has managed to convince many to follow him as a leader of the Malawi republic.
At one time he was a president of a party called United party that failed miserably in the 1994 and 1999 presidential elections failing to produce even one parliamentary representative. So fats things have change that against all odds he is the top man on the land.
Even if I would not have mentioned his name everyone knows him already, he is none other than Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika. Per say no Malawian had anything against him worthy saying he did wrong. Furthermore not many Malawians knew him in the country. The time he was coming in, Malawians were tired of complaints raised against the then President Dr. Bakili Muluzi whose rule was panctured with corruption, misrule, plunder of resources and hunger. Donors had started had started pulling out. Malawi became a helpless nation with no tangible or point to results. The economic growth per annum was at 1 percent.
Bingu came on the scene with a statement to protect Muluzi, which made him negatively popular with people starting to question his qualification as a Malawi leader, that was during g campaign period which he claims was only given five minutes to talk to the people. But did he really mean it that he will protect his political mentor?
He made further lines in the papers during his inauguration ceremony at chichiri stadium with his zero tolerance to corruption, appoint cabinet ministers on merit, move the presidency to the capital city. This marked the beginning of troubled waters between him and his predecessor, Dr. Muluzi. Not long after this Bingu started walking the talk with the arrest of top UDF members that included Humphreys Mvula, John Chikakwiya, Kennedy Makwangwala, Roy Coomsy, Harry Thomson, Cassim Chilumpha, phillip Bwanali, Salim bagus, Rodson Jangiya, Shaban Kadango, Henry Moyo the list goes on under different charges of corruption and treason.
The appointment of Ken Zikhale ng’oma, Gustav kaliwo and Ishmail wadi as state house chief of staff, Director of Anticorrupiton beaurue and director of public prosecution proved to be a thorn in the UDF top brass. Zikhale made a number of stunning revelations among them debts of MK130 million unsettled utility bills, the 22 million bill of accumulated in allowances for security personnel.
Bingu left the talking to his men while he ran the government. A lean 29 member’s cabinet was appointed down from Muluzis’ 46 people. This was on what he called a merit cabinet.
Under the five years of his rule, Malawi has made tremendous improvements. Economy growth now stand at 9.7 percent growth in 2008, road network in urban and rural areas improved, food security attained, municipal towns becoming smarter, security of citizens and property improved, donors coming back to support Malawi, reduced number of political arrests, the first mining industry introduced, fertiliser subsidy program which was promised started among many.
This is inline with what Dr. Bakili Muluzi said to Malawians that Bingu is an economic engineer, ready to transform Malawi. However this came as a surprise when Bingu started implementing his policies.
All this has been despite the opposition pulling him from the other side through the legislative arm of government through threats of impeachment, section 65, delays in passing the yearly budgets and accusations of political arrest. All these efforts failed.
Not saying what will happen come May 19 2009, the road Malawi is taking is so obvious that it does not matter which president takes over from Bingu but Malawi needs a president like Bingu wa Mutharika. The pace Bingu took is a pace that has never been taken by any other president in Malawi history. Surely the fruits of his leadership are difficult for a raw person to understand but are of large impact as long as Malawi is there.
Now, Bingu has a number of projects that needs to be completed by him. In Malawi there is a tendency that leaders don’t continue what was left by another leader, we are talking of the Nsanje world inland porto, the new parliament house, the road networks currently being developed, the fertiliser subsidy programme, implementation of Kayerekera Mine and many other projects.
During this campaign, the president has been promising to focus on education, unemployment, food security and many other areas, the people have already bought the idea. I need someone who should give me good reasons why Bingu does not deserve another term in office, not only reasons but convincing reasons.
No comments:
Post a Comment