I was handpicked to rule Malawi!
How the god-fathers of dictatorial politics have suppressed democracy and good governance
by Veronica Maele
'I was handpicked to rule Malawi! How the god-fathers of dictatorial politics have suppressed democracy and good governance' looks at Malawi's worsening 'pseudo-democracy'. In twelve chapters, the book critically discusses the main features of Malawi politics. It comes in the wake of the premature and undemocratic nomination of incumbent president Bingu wa Mutharika's brother, Peter Mutharika and the continued tendency by opposition leaders to hang onto party leadership. The book argues that post-democracy leaders (1994-todate) have not allowed democracy to flourish due to their obsession for 'one-man rule' and inclination to 'cling to power' a trend which has, among other things, led to the near abolition of the post of Vice President.
The book further observes that the god-fathers of Malawi politics whose main-preoccupation is to accumulate wealth at the expense of millions of poverty-stricken Malawians are buoyed by strings of political patronage provided by extremely opportunistic politicians who are but interested in getting lucrative positions and business opportunities. And that, keen on accessing absolute power, manipulating the Republican Constitution and rule of law, Malawi's leaders have deliberately cultivated and entrenched dictatorship in party politics and the running of government thereby hindering the realisation of good governance.
The book concludes that Malawians have one clear choice. To defend democracy by endeavoring to relentlessly hold politicians and other public officials accountable. This is in addition to being courageous in rejecting the imposition of the next president, and electing a ‘new generation’ of capable and democratic politicians without fear and regard to; tribe, gender or religion.
© Veronica Maele 2010
