Charles Sinetre, also known as The Reggae Ambassador, captures my mood very well today. He is not capturing my mood through a podium speech; far from it.
It is through one of his songs that he does that; that is, it is through music that he mirrors my mood today. In the song in question, titled ‘Khosi Latopa’ (‘Ticheuka?’), the persona he has thrown into the thick of things goes thus:
Ine ndabweranso/
Ndi funso lina/
Pepani m’sandione kuvutitsa/
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Poti ndifuna/
Kuti n’kamachoka pano/
Ndikayambe kusinkhasintha…
There we go. Sometimes, those who ask questions—read, relevant questions—do not mean to be troublesome. Far from it. Sometimes, they do it for our own benefit; our own good.
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In fact, we often stand to benefit from such people’s inquisitiveness, even if, at times, their questions sound philosophical.
So, today, allow me to ask the philosophical question: Who is in charge of Malawi?
The answer, in the ideal world, is obvious.
Did I say obvious? Far from it.
I am saying so because some people can be quick to say the one who is in charge of this country is God. Surely, they are not far from the truth. Ours is a God-fearing country. In other words, we recognise Him as the supreme being that is in charge of our lives and national affairs. As such, those who say it is God who is in charge of this country are right.
But, then, definitely, others would be quick to say President Lazarus Chakwera is the one who is in charge. They are right, too. That is why we are putting the official position ‘President before the names Lazarus Chakwera.
So, such people, too, would be spot on. We have one leader in this country and that leader is Chakwera.
We have heard from “some” people and “other” people”. Now is the time to hear from “me”.
And, actually, that is where the philosophising I was talking about is coming in.
For me, I think ‘prices’ are ruling this country. What do I mean? Every day, prices of goods and services are rising, leaving people like me baffled as to what is really happening in this country.
Just in the past six days, I have seen the price of some of the things that make my life tick—be it maize flour, wheat flour, cooking oil, sunscreen lotion and other body lotions, eggs, meat, live chickens, taxi fare, minibus fare, among other things—shoot through the roof.
This has left me wondering? Why are those responsible for ensuring that sanity is prevailing on the market not doing anything? I am talking about policymakers.
My answer is: They, too, have just realised that they are under the regime of something else— namely prices. I am talking about prices of goods and services.
And, to show that things are not really working, it is Cabinet ministers who are doing the donkey work, visiting business places and workplaces to check on the welfare of workers.
Meanwhile, some of those who were employed to be doing the job report for work two hours late and knock off two hours earlier. I am talking about some of those who are in the civil and public sectors.
In fact, they draw allowances for activities that have not taken place.
Not just that; some of them no longer use their salaries; they survive on kickbacks.
At the same time, we are talking about meeting Malawi 2063 vision goals. How can we do that without forex? How can we meet development goals when only 26 percent of the population has access to the national electricity grid? How can we promote the local industry when a government-sponsored sugar manufacturer runs out of stocks at a crucial time?
In fact, how can we develop when fuel supply is not guaranteed? How can we develop when, instead of advancing the cause of national development, members of Parliament are busy absconding from deliberations in the august House?
I mean, there are so many gaps in this country, gaps ‘Mr and Mrs Price’ have rightly occupied to start ruling—in fact, lording—over us. I do not know when people will take control.
