She is not coming until now. It is two years now since she left the country. If it were in those old days, we could be asking of whether she strayed on her way to the land of the whites. We could be speculating she met her fate in those tropical forests. We could send one of her courageous uncles in the village to search about the missing mother. Thanks, we are in the days, where news reaches us daily that she is alive, and beautifully, in good health.
As we used to do in Africa’s old days, when the uncles and fathers trekked to the south to find jobs in the mines, the return of one son of the village after years of no news about him, always took the whole village afloat. It was so, because these uncles had not deserted the village after committing any crime. They left with the approval of the whole village. Some prepared a big roasted chicken to see them their way. After they returned, it was the same.
But the return of Joyce Banda, we cannot tell, what it would be like. Will the village receive her with chickens as what we used to do with our uncles returning from the mines? What is obvious is only that, her return will be such a landmark event, either for good or bad.
JB, as she is fondly called, upon losing an election, willingly chose to live in strange lands. According to JB, the act was intended to allow the incumbent, President Peter Mutharika, rule without disturbances, and whatever that means. However, some claim that, her “self-imposed exile” is an act of running away from cash-gate cases. But we are not part of those claims.
But it is very interesting to see how everyone itches for her return such that every time she hints at her return and fails, the disappointment on our faces writ-large. We want her back home for different reasons. For others, it is simply a matter of being an African that once you move away don’t stay long in a strange land, remember to visit the extended family which you are a part. If it the rule of from the ancestors of the clan.
Heads and former heads of states love to visit the US or UK. The customary photographs of the presidents or former presidents and the US presidents or British prime minister, are brought back or sent home, so proudly. But when you overstay- the people back home never mind the photographs. They would like to see the real person.
The Joyce Banda we have known over the past year is the one in photographs attending some invited or gate-crashed women fora. Sometimes she is delivering a lecture in a university theatre, just to see her time away or to keep herself unnecessarily busy. To show those that are tired of waiting for her return that she not just there to dine away but on some serious business.
But what could her long absence and morbid fears of returning home mean? Could it be a sign of lack of faith in her own country- a feeling of being betrayed by people of own blood? But how do you fear your own people, relatives and old friends, whom you left in peace and at the time of departure, even wished you well in your journey? Moreover, Banda did not flee the country like a bird, whose nest has suddenly caught fire. She left with her peace.
First, it was understood that, her departure, was branded as a little restive from the gruelling tiresome campaign. Later she was portrayed as an internationally reputed woman who is very engaged doing a good service to her country by speaking at various women rights and empowerment forums, championing the global maternal health drive.
Later on, the reason for prolonged stay suddenly changed. This reason has now persisted and has been turned a trademark for her prolonged stay overseas, that the ‘she fears for her life’ and in that imaginary scheme and trances, she sees the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership as her tormentors. In other words, she has turned suddenly to become a woman who runs perpetually believing in that some ghosts that are chasing her.
What is called the former president’s press team has since her exit taken the trouble of producing and releasing press statements in defence of any stories against the former President. Today, for Banda, east-west home is never the best- it is the worst. This press team makes sure, these kind of statements come out consistently and periodically like some magazine.
But which is better to be keep away from imaginary figures than to stop and prove if really it is the real person or ghost chasing you? Will it not be better for the former Malawi leader to come home and face her fears? After all, she declared and sung the song of her own courage so many times and we listened. Or maybe the winds of the Atlantic blowing onto America have suddenly changed her character?
We rest the question. But it is the return of a leader of a party or state in Malawi that has become an interesting ritualistic event, and so an interesting topic we can start exploring. With the excitement, anxiety and anguish that builds up in the event of Joyce Banda’s long waited, now almost unrealistic return, it could now be that rightful moment to ask the question: Why do Malawi leaders wallow in the prospects of a hero’s welcome after a prolonged stay abroad?
Do the Malawi political party leaders delight in the illusion of supposing that ‘the return home’ euphoria, has a political bearing in helping them build their political parties and careers and win the hearts of many? Or, are the return of leaders an occasion of showcasing the leader’s care and love of the party members? Are these the moment’s leaders reach for the sympathy of their political enemies?
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