In 1993, many well-meaning Malawians got blanketed with euphoria and excitement when the winds of political change swept across the country. Tears of joy cascaded down the cheeks of many Malawians as the results of the historic referendum were being announced. With a conviction, Malawians voted for democracy.
Surprisingly, 15 years down the line, it appears some politicians, political parties, including various supporters, still find it hard to completely orient themselves with the tenets of democracy. On the lips of many Malawians, the word democracy exists, but our conduct suggests otherwise.
True, four democratic elections have now been conducted in Malawi and various political parties have been formed. On a broader picture, this is sweet news and encouraging too.
But, if one digs deep to explore on intra-party democracy, one may find out that Malawian political parties are devoid of democracy. And the question begged is: are we really democratic?
A closer look at Malawian political parties, points to large cracks of democracy in Malawi. For example, it is said that democracy tolerates dissent, criticisms and advice. But why do many Malawian politicians struggle to come to terms with this basic principle of democracy?
When Sam Mpasu prophesied doom and offered a word of advice to the United Democratic Front (UDF) party in the run up to the 2009 elections, people in UDF got so infuriated with his remarks that they dismissed him from the position of spokesperson and constructively expelled him from the party. To them, Mpasu’s words of wisdom were seen as rebelling against the chairman of UDF, Dr Bakili Muluzi, who was at that time bent on making his comeback to the political fore.
Come 2009, UDF found itself in the thick of things when the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) barred Muluzi from contesting as UDF’s presidential torchbearer. Result? UDF did not field any presidential candidate in the elections; instead, it made a marriage of convenience with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to support John Tembo in the elections. Sadly, the alliance saw red as the Democratic Progressive Party claimed a landslide victory. As Mpasu prophesied, UDF now is a party which is heading towards the evening of its existence. Pity!
Just recently, similar cases have reared their ugly faces in the country’s main political parties---the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
In MCP, after one brave Ishmael Chafukira lashed out at the leadership of the MCP czar John Tembo in the aftermath of the general elections, he catapulted himself into a legal and political tussle with his party and again he was axed as MCP spokesperson. Very unfortunate! Was Chafukira in the wrong to call for democratic leadership in MCP?
One would ask this question. Why then do Malawian politicians wallow in the veneer of the democratic perfume? Another one would also ask.
Equally deplorable is the recent expulsion from the DPP of the Director of Political affairs, Harry Mkandawire, for his outbursts at the president. If truth be told, this has only bespoken that the DPP too, is neither democratic nor progressive.
It appears therefore that in Malawi, our democracy is struggling to shake off the politics of praise-singing, hero-worshiping and boot-licking to the extent that politicians do not want to accept criticisms and dissenting views.
Undoubtedly, this is why our democracy will always be called into question. Surely, it sounds mockery to hear politicians waxing lyrical about democracy, but surprisingly fail to be in tune with some simple democratic principles.
I think it is high time that politicians tried to practice mature democracy. As Martin Luther King Jnr succinctly put it, “now is the time to make true the promise of democracy.”
The author is a Media for Development student at Chancellor College
An interesting over-view. The word "democracy" is a difficult idea.
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