Granted, the country is reeling under myriad challenges. We talk of climate change, which has induced a plethora of problems such as floods, storms, cyclones and others too numerous to mention.
To have a sense of what is happening, one simply has to think about what has been happening in the month of July. Typically— by typically, I mean in the Malawi I know—July was associated with drizzles.
I mean, after the rainy season, people who appreciate the role of farming could plant sweet potatoes and other fast-maturing crops. They could do so in the hope that the drizzles that would characterise July would provide enough water to the crops, thereby increasing people’s chances of harvesting twice.
That way, hunger would be a thing of the past, especially when people understand that food is not only nsima and nsima is not the only food.
I must say I am one individual who ‘believes’ in nsima too much, to the extent that whenever I go to a new place—I mean places where nsima is not there—I move around, looking for businesspersons that stock maize flour so that I can buy it.
I have work to do to change my perception of food. Otherwise, I do not eat, say, rice, and other foods that are “less heavier” than nsima when they land in the stomach.
I digressed.
To cut a long story short, the country has countless problems that require immediate solutions. Another problem I would quickly point at is that of unemployment.
People are graduating from colleges and universities—private and public—without the slightest idea about where they would work.
There has been talk about people venturing into entrepreneurship but, whenever I visit technical and other hands-on academic institutions, I find institutions in distress.
For instance, human resource is a problem.
And for those that have secured employment in technical and other colleges, the pay is not that convincing.
Talking about equipment, it is not adequate because the government keeps singing the same song of lack of resources, such that youths of this country are getting theories forced down their throats without having a fair share of practicals.
As a result, youths who supposedly went to training institutions continue to learn on the job. Needless to say learning on the job is costly, as it comes with costs associated with learning on the job.
But, then, lucky are those who secure jobs.
Under such circumstances [of unemployment], some youths have secured places as interns in public institutions, notably the National Registration Bureau (NRB).
And guess what? Some NRB interns have threatened to go on a sit-in in protest against pittance pay and other work conditions.
Come to think of it; in a country where formal jobs are few, interns want to take the bull by the horn.
Daring action! Really.
Thinking loudly, I think people are rising up to challenges they are facing and taking on those they deem responsible head on.
Maybe it is the Kenyan experience manifesting here in Malawi.
Maybe it is the Nigerian experience.
Oh, it could be the Bangladesh experience.
Whatever way one looks at it, the sheepish Malawian is gone.
