Of these ‘political Greeks’

By Martin Madalo Katemana:

Behold! The inevitable moment is here again when the swift pace of time becomes an adversary to those who are enjoying the spoils of political office and their privileged few accomplices. The general elections are fast looming and whether it be promises, lies, chicanery or deceit these politicians cooked up during the previous campaign trail must be haunting them right now. How time flies!

The flock of politicians currently coming to roost back home after being as elusive as butterflies from their miserable constituents for some years is impeccably overwhelming. As usual, they come with their cheap rhetoric and nominal handouts to fool the voter once more. Among their deceptive avenues are budgets for coffins to be distributed to those who happen to be bereaved during this campaign period simply to make a political statement when such money would have, if used properly, saved these very lives.

The late Rafiq Hajat (R.I.P), a renowned socio-political analyst, used to compare the savagery tricks of most Malawian politicians at campaign times to the crookedness of the Greeks in the famous legendary story “The Trojan Horse”. This story depicts how the Greeks pretended to surrender to the Trojan soldier they were at war with. As if to fool and appease these unsuspecting Trojans, the Greeks further carved a very big wooden horse, filled it with heavily armed soldiers inside and presented it to the Trojans as a “gift”. It was beneath the stealth of darkness, when the Trojans were drunk, sleepy and tired intoxicated with their perceived victory, that their worst nightmare was finally unleashed. Greek soldiers alighted from inside the wooden horse, “the gift”, and destroyed the Trojans with ease–the way a child would kill a toddler.

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Similarly, such has been the nightmare of the Malawian voter since the dawn of multiparty democracy over three decades ago. Remember, the first multiparty elections in Malawi happened in the early 1960s. Every time elections are pending, politicians use appetising handouts, verbosity, litanies of visions and utopias to woo the poor man, only to leave him still wallowing in the mud like a pig after the ballot is cast. This nauseating trend continues to flourish. As we speak, poor Malawians are being used to line along parade routes, ululate, sing praises, wave banners and even carry placards they can neither read nor understand, pampering the egos of politicians who are responsible for perpetuating their misery soon after every election. Once they assume office, these politicians become a nuisance, insensitive, deaf and crude arrogant– like those before them or even worse. One wonders why the Malawian voter continues to be like a bird that has not heard of fresh water and keeps dipping its beak in salty water day after day– or is it after every five years? When will Malawi annihilate this recurring cancer that continues to eat away every fabric of national progress?

Imagine the youth of Malawi being used as half-broken swords on the campaign battle field and later dumped to languish on the streets. They are treated to smiles and grins during the campaign period, only to be thrown back into the garbage pail when the party is over. Albino youths’ security problems are treated as a perfect nectar to attract votes but remain in fear forever after. Just when will Malawian youths get tired of being used by politicians remains a wild guess.

Sad enough, it is not only the youth and ordinary citizens in the village that are being used as puppets by politicians. People regarded as having integrity are in the wagon. Chiefs, broadcasters, religious leaders, civil society, journalists and many others embarrassingly continue to be used as propaganda vehicles for politicians, selling their professions and calling to the highest bidder–all this out of greed to irrigate the economy of their pockets.

As the Malawian voter journeys towards the September 16, 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections this time around, the story is not different. Politicians are coming with their smiles, tails wagging, twisting, tilting and turning their unrepentant tongues, sharpened like swords, to prey on every vote that comes their way.

Experience has always been a good teacher. Which presidential aspirant or party, since the dawn of Malawi’s democracy, has not spoken against tribalism, nepotism, patronage or corruption during campaign periods? None. But as soon as these people get into the driving seat, they translate all these evils into commonsense.

All lofty appointments and money-syphoning joints are swiftly allocated to tribesmen, relations and the privileged few. They plant family trees in Cabinet and embassies. The offer loans to loyalists only. They do not stop there; they pardon highly corrupt comrades from prisons, leaving benign offenders behind. The list of this kind of political betrayal is endless.

Talk of the parliamentarians, who continue to promise utopias and heavenly stars to their constituents. Thank God that today, time has proven to the Malawian voter that becoming a parliamentarian is no longer a form of service to the people but simply an avenue to the acquisition of wealth, status and prestige. As for opposition parliamentarians, they are either busy dosing, absent or calling each other names. They are so powerless that they cannot rescue the ordinary Malawian from the arrogance of a governing party. In fact, they have just reduced themselves to a bunch of oranges in one basket. They only mingle externally but have no common cause, save when lamenting for their perks.

With all these deceptions that Malawian politicians continue to brew during campaign periods, one would only pray that, this time around, the voter is well aware to beware of these “Political Greeks” and the gifts they bring. The reason for all this is the trending repercussions that make hell look like paradise to Malawians after every election.