The JZU factor

By Vincent Phiri:

My thick skin in the media, my cunning journalism antics, my fearless and stubborn attitude towards political rhetoric were all inserted in my blood through the many unfavourable and not-so-good encounters or experiences in talking to one John Zenus Ungapake Tembo.

When Bingu wa Mutharika was at the helm of power, around 2004, nobody dared to interview JZU in our newsroom – Capital Rado – due to his rudimental approach and, indeed, horsey, bossy and frightening voice.

He could click the answer button then stay mute, waiting to hear from the one who was calling him and for what: “Hello, Honourable Tembo, my name is Vincent Phiri and I am calling from Capital Radio…”

“I am Right Honourable Tembo, Yesssssss. What can I do for you?

“My apologies, Right Honourable Tembo, I wanted to get your current position on the propagation by most civil society organisations that Parliament should first tackle issues of national importance, the national budget in this case, before addressing matters around Section 65 of the Republican Constitution.”

This subject was irritating JZU to the core and you could just anticipate trouble, arrogance, insults and a very unhealthy interaction.

“Section 65 is neither for Phiri nor Tembo; it is for Malawians,” he had short answers that were difficult to probe further.

After so many phone interviews with him, one day he refused to talk to me and proposed to meet me face to face at his Area 10 residence in the capital city, Lilongwe.

Mind you, this was at the height of Section 65 versus national budget debate.

The United Democratic Front (UDF) had just claimed election victory through its presidential candidate, the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

JZU and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) were contesting the poll results in court and, a year later, Bingu and his God-father Bakili Muluzi, who anointed his ascendance to the high office, had just crossed paths.

Bingu dumped UDF and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was born out of State House, Sanjika to be precise.

The majority of UDF members of Parliament, who won alongside Bingu, were driven by greed and other equally genuine motives to forsake their mother party and join Bingu’s newly born baby, and created a major political and constitutional crisis.

Anyway, that was the battle between Muluzi and Bingu and, at this time, JZU was a leader of one of the strongest opposition blocks to have existed in the history of Malawi’s political dispensation. The block had over 60 percent of the 193 parliamentary seats, and this meant that the government, which was disjointed, could not take up most decisions that required voting by either raising hands or by two-thirds majority rule.

Meanwhile, some MCP members had crossed the floor, to follow a party that found itself on the driving seat without contesting in an election.

This fueled the anger of JZU, who was already contesting the election results, and the trickle-down effect of this fury fell in the path of most journalists and civil society leaders who were just doing their respective jobs.

So, no more phone interviews… “Ndiwatumizila galimoto a [Nicholas] Dausi mubwele nawo ku Lilongwe kuno,” these sentiments from JZU frightened me.

Talking to him on the phone was already a terrifying experience, and it was hard to imagine what type of contestation and intimidation I was about to face at his Area 10 residence.

Our prodigious mentor Al Osman ably initiated and instilled in me a great sense of confidence and prepared me to face this fearful and cunning politician.

Nicholas Dausi, the then MCP spokesperson, came to fetch me for this four-hour journey to the capital city, which took us over five hours. Why that long? We had a stop in Dedza, the junction to Ntendere Secondary School after Linthipe 3.

“Mama C. Tamanda Kadzamira anati tiwatengele thumba la ufa. Ufa wa Mama umachokela kwa abale awo kunoko chifukwa kuli minda komaso chigayo,” said Dausi.

We, indeed, went into that beautiful compound with exclusive houses.

After collecting the bag of flour, we proceeded with our journey but I was worried that there was going to be limited time for an exclusive interview with a man who, at that time, would rarely give journalists an opportunity to talk to him.

We arrived at Mama C. Tamanda Kadzamira’s Area 15 compound at 14:30hrs and, from the reception, we received, and the former official hostess’ tone, it was evident that Dausi was in daily contact with her.

As we sat at the front balcony, she was excited and narrated so many of her life stories to me.

In no time, lunch was served, and I knew that the core purpose of the trip was slowly being diluted.

“Mwachita bwino kufika, mundipelekeze ku mausoleum ku City Centre. I go there for prayers every day at 3pm,” she said.

We later left for Kamuzu mausoleum.

After an hour or so, as we were leaving the mausoleum, the busy leader of opposition called honourable Dausi to give guidance.

“I have already made arrangements kuti alendo athuwo akagona ku Area 3 kwa a Chimango.”

Luis Chimango was MCP Executive Committee member and Speaker of Parliament at that time.

“Am I going to spend a night at honourable Chimango’s house?” I wondered.

“No, he has a Lodge in Area 3; it’s called Area 3 Lodge,” Dausi seemed to be comforting me. It was close to 5pm and I was dropped at the said Lodge.

The next morning, Hon. Dausi came to fetch for me and we went straight to Area 10, JZU’s residence. We sat at the lounge, staring at the pictures of his children, who were all in their graduation gowns.

The furniture was kingship and not locally made; the environment was becoming intimidating for a hard talk interview.

Worse still, JZU came with a portfolio of three MCP National Executive Committee members who wanted to flank him during the interview.

I quickly demanded that we should be left alone— and they complied.

“I know you, agogo ako anali munthu wabwino kwambiri, wa ulemu, ndipo a Ngwazi ankawakonda kwambiri, osati ana amasiku anonu, simudziwa kulemekeza makolo. Uyu Nkondoguluka Phoya wa kwa a Magagula… A very good man,” those sentiments had the potential of derailing my confidence and make me lose truck, but Al Osman groomed me better than that.

The interview started but faced many interjections.

“Mmmmmmm, tiyambilenso. I didn’t want to say that.” I could conform but kept the audio. Slowly, we concluded the interview and he, then, started narrating to me stories about his family and experience under Kamuzu.

He went further to tell me about how arrogant Bingu was and that, according to him, the late Goodall Gondwe was the only one who was understanding in the entire cabinet.

Maybe this was because he was staying close to his house.

“A Gondwe anali pompano kudzanenelela nkhani yomweyi ya Section 65 versus budget. Simunadutsane momwe mumalowa pa gate? Fare thee well JZU, a Gondwe ali konko!