The Mutharika family puts Education first. They are studious and try very much to follow the rules. Anyone who does not follow the rules is jailed and the law is followed a la lettre. For Bingu wa Mutharika life is directed by established laws, not principles. Many literate Malawians prefer Bingu wa Mutharika because of his Education. He has a master's degree from the University of Delhi and a Phd from Pacific Western University (California). When looking at his political experience and education, it can clearly be concluded that Mutharika is qualified for the job of the presidency. After a term, many have compared Mutharika to Kamuzu Banda due to his nononsensical rule which at times can be interpreted as authoritarian.
The Muluzi Family puts the people first. This means that some rules may be slightly bent for one reason or another. Bakili Muluzi is a laissez faire Leader, though this may mean that some level of corruption can infiltrate itself into the government. Bakili Muluzi puts principles first and not laws. This has at times worked for the Malawi Nation because it lived under tyrany for many years under the colonizers and also under Kamuzu Banda. Though Bakili Muluzi is not as educated as Mr Mutharika, he accommodates the educated Malawians and puts aside a place for them to thrive.
Both Bingu wa Mutharika and Bakili Muluzi believe in a Malawi that is peaceful and economically strong, therefore differing from Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in objectives. Sadly, the duo have been in the political arena for too long. Mutharika is 75 and Muluzi is 66 and they have been arguing about who should replace the other for too long now. This is the time for a new face to dominate the Malawi polical scene. A person that will bring change. A person whose name is not Barack Obama.
The media around the world is currently focusing on Madonna's second adoption. At the same time, Malawians are looking forward to exercise their rights on May 19th when they will democratically elect a president, only for the fourth time after their country's independence from the British Colonizers in 1964. Late Friday, the main contender in the elections; Mr. Bakili Muluzi has been rejected as a candidate because he was the first democratically elected president for 2 consecutive terms. According to the Malawian constitution, Mr Muluzi is not eligible to run again after two 5 year terms. This has caused tension in the Malawian cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre. Many are fearing that this may turn into violence as Mr Muluzi has thousands of faithful supporters who have pledged their allegiance to him. The violence could also be sparked by the arrest of Mr. Muluzi late Thursday after finding him guilty of theft of monetary aid during his presidency. Mr Bingu wa Mutharika the current Malawian head of state claims that the arrest does not have any political motives. The current tense situation reminds many of the last Kenyan elections that escalated into unprecedented violence. While Malawi deepens into political chaos, the foreign media has fixed its unflinching attention on Madonna's ongoing adoption saga.
Apart from receiving thousands of dollars from his 5 albums, Malawi music guru Joseph Nkasa has received praise from many Malawians for tackling issues that affect them on a daily basis. The self proclaimed Phungu wa Amphawi or The Ambassador of the Poor sings about poverty and the secrets of attaining richess. He asks the poor to endure and wait patiently for their own day to arrive. In one of his hit song; "Zolembalemba" Nkasa says that it is already written that the poor ones will be rich. It is therefore a written prophecy waiting to be fulfilled at its own time. Joseph Nkasa also sings about politics, though he once said: "Ndale ndi kanyama koopsya" (Politics is a dangerous animal to pet). In his album "Wayenda Wapenga", Nkasa accuses the Malawi President(Bakili Muluzi) to have promised a car to the musician who in turn did not receive it due to greed of those surrounding Muluzi. Recently Joseph Nkasa sung "Mose Wa Lero" or Today's Moses, a song comparing the current Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika to the Biblical Moses. The song has caused some uproar in the Malawian music community. Some have accused the musician of changing his views on politics because of monetary gains while others especially those supporting the Malawian leader dance to the tune while in accord with the artist's comparison. The song "Mose wa Lero" has received massive airplay and it was the "theme song" of the convention of the Democratic Progressive Party(DPP) Convention where Bingu wa Mutharika "Today's Moses" was unanimously chosen to represent his Party at the May 19th Malawi Elections. Bingu wa Mutharika has danced at many public events to Joseph Nkasa's moving music. Watch a Video of Joseph Nkasa; Malawi music 'guru':
Watch women dancing for the President to Joseph Nkasa's Song; Mose wa Lero
Sen. John McCain agreed with 90% of President George Bush's policies. This meant that he would have continued the programs that are undertaken currently by the USA in Africa. George Bush through his government has helped Africa more than any other American President. Since 2001, aid to Africa has quadrupled ($1.3bn in 2001 to $5bn in 2008) and Malawi has benefited in many ways from it. Many projects became reality with the help of the American aid. The Election of Barack Obama and the Democrats may mean that some Malawian doctors will not receive any more funding and some hospitals may be forced to treat less patients. Sen. John McCain's pledge to further the Republican agenda meant that the African programs to fight malaria or Aids would have progressed. President-elect Obama's origins do not guarantee that he will help Malawians at the rate that the Republican President did. Just like George Bush, John McCain's policies could have saved millions of Malawian lives. Currently, almost every household in Malawi has mosquito nets which have helped in reducing Malaria, especially in children. The nets were most of the times distributed free of charge or sold at a price that every Malawian could afford. During Bill Clinton's Presidency under the Democratic agenda, mosquito nets were very expensive and not promoted by the Malawian government because of the lack of funds. During the last 8 years, many HIV patients in Malawi have been helped with antiretrovirals (ARVs) that have saved many lives. For some Malawians in Lilongwe or Blantyre, Barack Obama in the White House represents negative change to their lives. The continuation of the George Bush' policies by Sen. John McCain could have positively benefited Malawians. Many are looking forward to the upcoming Malawi Elections where they will choose between Bakili Muluzi or Bingu wa Mutharika.
During the 2008 US Elections, both President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain attacked the media for the negative portrayal of their personalities, agendas or personal lives.As the Leader of the Free World, the USA and its politicians are considered as an example to the many African politicians. It is therefore not surprising that the President of Malawi(a third-world-country); attacks the media in his turn.According to an article posted on the Nyasa Times website, Mr Bingu wa Mutharika, the Malawi President is quoted as saying: “The Nyasa Times has been part of the vilification campaign against me and my government. It has concentrated on tarnishing my image internationally for reasons which I don't know. Much focus has been on negatives only and not on positives about my government” The Nyasa Times which has been voted as 2008 Malawi Best News Website has at times through its articles taken swipes at Bingu wa Mutharika’s policies especially as the Malawi Presidential Elections are fast approaching. Just like President-elect Barack Obama attacked Fox News and Sen. John McCain attacked the New York Times, the Malawi Media should expect even more attacks from Mr Bingu wa Mutharika or his rival, Mr Bakili Muluzi before the May 19th Malawi Elections.
This a comment by an outraged fan of Evison Matafale, the African reggae King who died in Lilongwe, Malawi: “Evison Matafale died because of the truth. This is my warning to all you killers: One day it will be your judgment day.Tidzakumana pamtengo wa kachere, ngati si inu ndi mwana wanu, Koma tidzakumana (We will meet, if not with with you, it will be with your children for your well deserved punishment)” In November 2001, the Malawian reggae King, Evison Matafale passed away. He died in police custody. Many consider him as one of the best Malawian musicians of all times. When arrested, Matafale was in poor health and many believe that he died of natural causes, while others blame the use of force by the police and yet others do believe that the singer died as a result of Police negligence. We investigate.
Theory 1 Matafale’s music. His music was not very political in his first album; “Kuyimba 1” Songs like Malawi,Watsetseleka, Chauta Wamphavu,Poison is Sweet covered the themes of love, freedom and power to his fellow Africans. The same themes were emphasized again in his sophomore album; Kuyimba 2 which contained songs like Freedom, Timba, Yangana Nkhope. The Album also contained the hit Time Mark which was about the 2001 September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. In Matafale’s songs, no names of political parties or politicians were mentioned like other African reggae artists would do. (Tiken Jah Fakoly,Alpha Blondy and even the late Lucky Dube). Anyone listening to the albums finds NO apparent reason to use violence against him and his convictions.
Theory 2: Matafale’s ‘Violence’ Evison Matafale was not very happy with the piracy that existed (and still exists) in Malawi so he had a quarrel with the music distributors and the Copyright Society Of Malawi(COSOMA). Days before his imprisonment, Matafale went and broke a table at a music shop owned by OG ISSA a Malawian of East Indian decent as a demonstration that he was not happy for the distributors turned a blind eye on piracy.This incident that happened in Blantyre might have been the reason why he was imprisoned. Though there are still some skeptics.
Theory 3:The Letters to the President It is believed that Evison Matafale wrote letters to the Malawian president Bakili Muluzi to express his anger and unhappiness at the way things were run by the government. Among other things, the artist openly talked about the President’s alleged favoritism of foreigners over Malawians in business dealings. This is for many the real reason behind Matafale’s imprisonment at Maula in Lilongwe. Evison Matafale died at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe with Tuberculosis and some do believe that he died from complications related to the disease while others simply think that he was killed by the Malawi Police. Either way, Evison Matafale died in police custody.
Matafale’s death caused a great uproar in the Malawian music community. Matafale’s backing band, the Black Missionaries took over from where he left with the album Kuyimba 3. The album contained direct hits to the Malawi Government for its alleged negligence on Evison Matafale’s case. Many Malawian musicians mentioned Matafale in their songs and talked about the alleged injustice and corruption affecting the Malawian political system. Billy Kaunda, a musician turned politician sung about the death in a one of his song saying: “Chondigwere, chindigwere nditsatile Matafale” (I’m going to sing very openly and fearlessly so I don’t care what happens to me, even if it will be Matafale’s fate). Watch a Video by Matafale's Backing Band; The Black Missionaries. The Song Mwana Wa Munthu (Ndilibe Naye Chifukwa) accuses the negligence of the Malawi Government(Matafale footage appears in the video:
After getting pressure from the international community, the Malawian president, Bakili Muluzi ordered an inquiry. The inquiry was very controversial especially to the Rasta community because no Rasta was represented in the panel. The controversy even grew when Malawian musician Lucius Banda was also called to take part in the commission as allegedly had been at loggerheads with Evison Matafale. The results of the inquiry were released with the death attributed mainly to Tuberculosis. Finally, what or who killed Matafale? The question remains unanswered for some and answered for others.
Matafale was a nephew to Malawi music maestro Robert Fumulani (founder of Likhubula River Dance Band). The Black Missionaries were Evison Matafale’s cousins.The Black Missionaries are: Musamude Fumulani(RIP), Anjilu Fumulani, Chizondi Fumulani and Peter Amidu. The Black Missionaries are Malawi's most successful Band in terms of sales and popularity. Their video "Mwana Wa Munthu" was voted as the Best Video in the 2008 Malawi Web Awards. Matafale was a cousin to Malawian renowned musician Anthony Makondetsa who also comes from Chileka, a small town in Southern Malawi. He was also a childhood friend to Esau Mwamwaya, the London based Malawian musician singing with the duo Radioclit. Blantyre reggae artists Sally Nyundo and San B of the Pelemende and producers Ralph Chigamba,Chuma Soko and Ruben Chongwe have also collaborated with Evison. Evison Matafale was Born in 1969 and grew up in Malawi and Zimbawe.He died on November 27th, 2001 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Research and Interviews for this article were compiled and written for Mmalawi Blog
BinguWa Mutharika is set to win the 2009 Malawi Elections. Though Mmalawi Blog is not into politics, we decided to write 5 factual reasons why Bingu Wa Mutharika will win the May 19th 2009 Malawi Elections and Bakili Muluzi will be narrowly defeated.
1. Bingu Wa Mutharika is the current President, he is therefore going into the election period with the needed momentum.
2. Bingu Wa Mutharika has control over the Malawi Media (Malawi Broadcasting Corporation(MBC), TV Malawi)
3. Bingu Wa Mutharika is considered by the West as the saviour of Malawi, as he fought corruption and actually rid those who were corrupted, be it in his own Party or in other Malawian Political parties.
4. Bakili Muluzi’s and UDF’s close allies have defected to Mutharika’s political party’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). These include Lilian Patel and Patricia Kaliati
5. The other opposition party Leaders apart from Bakili Muluzi do not pose any threats to Bingu Wa Mutharika's reelection bid.
Top 10 Malawi Politicians to look for in 2009: 1. Joseph ‘Dimingu’ Tembo(It came as a surprise that Joseph Tembo entered politics. He secured his party’s nomination to represent Chikwawa in parliament)
2. Sunganani Banda (Lucius Banda’s Wife. Her husband is 101% behind her, doesnt she have a son called Bakili in honour of the former Malawian President?)
3. Bakili Muluzi (What will happen if he loses? What about if he wins the elections in 2009?)
5. Bingu Wa Mutharika (The current Malawian President might or might not win the upcoming elections. 2009 will tell)
7. Perth Msiska (Ex Miss Malawi 2008 who was encouraged by Sarah Palin to join politics, what will happen to her in 2009?) 8. Billy Kaunda (The Musician turned politician failed in the Primaries for the DPP but he is the vice Minister of Sports and Culture. What will 2009 bring for him?)
9. Joseph Nkasa (I know he is not a politician but I had to put him on this list because he is a self proclaimed MP. What will he sing next? After “Mose wa Lero” what will 2009 bring for Joseph Nkasa?)
10. Bauleni Mannaaka Dr Crowd (A musician turned politician from Dowa who is very charismatic and seems to be causing havoc and excitement in Malawian political circles. Lets see if the crowds will follow Dr Crowd in 2009).
