Sometime early last year when the country was politically getting
darker by day, Chancellor College (Not Chanceller College as MBC TV puts it) stole
some considerable attention. Probably the country most prominent politician
that time, Professor Peter Mutharika, invaded the campus to hold a public
lecture in the imposing Great Hall.
He was accompanied by a host of government officials from
his ministry and others (that time he was Justice and Constitutional Affairs
Minister).
The function, broadcast live on MBC TV had no pomp but was filled
with hype (This is Chanco we are talking about remember?) The students kept
shouting, jeering and cheering during the entire length of the event though
their most rapturous moment came when they demanded that Nicholas Dausi speak
to them.
Predictably, Dausi started his sentence with “Thomas Aquinas and Booker Taliaferro Washington of Tuskegee University.
More cheers greeted the overly repeated speech introduction.
Thereafter, the congregation was asked to ask the Law
Professor any question in relation to his career and what he had said in his
presentation.
A young lady who was shaking uncontrollably stood and asked
Peter to tell the gathering more about his life.
The law Professor never hesitated. Standing up slowly, he
stepped forward and positioned himself right in front of a stack of old-looking
microphones.
Hitting the microphones twice just to make sure that they
were working, (he likes that by the way, am planning to propose on being his
Public Relations consultant in 2014) he cleared his throat and started smiling.
“My name is Peter Mutharika,” The girl who has asked the
question was still standing, still shaking (I recall). Peter said some a million
other things in a minute and screeched to a halt.
Tacking his specs up, he looked at the girl and roared with
a grin “If you want to know more about me, just Google Peter Mutharika” The
Great Hall shook with laughter, cheering, whistling and all the conduct that
comes along with The Chanco Philosophy.
Amid the cheers, jeers and all that, the girl was stepping
backwards, using her hands to search for her chair behind.
Peter had made it clear; he is just not any other dude. His
profile can be found on Wikipedia through Google. Not a mean achievement at all.
How many of us would have our profiles floated on Wikipedia?
After that lecture, I started following Peter and his
campaign with keen interest. As he was being branded as Presidential material,
he wielded so much power such that his presence at any place was coupled with a
level of decorum beyond what a cabinet minister should get.
One time he was delegated to make foreign trips on behalf of
his brother. Another time he was spotted in Mzuzu using a chopper (helicopter)
that belonged to his brother. Never to mention about the cars that make part of
the presidential motorcade, Peter used some of them at will.
I have never liked the idea of brothers succeeding each
other, and Peter justified my fears. I saw a weakness with his strategy of
getting to the top of things. You never bulldoze your way to the top if you
want to make meaningful impact.
Peter Mutharika as the accomplished member of the bar and Member
of Parliament is already a force to reckon with in any spectrum of political
activity.
If he had allowed his name to be branded without hurting
others, people would have been flocking to him by now.
If his candidacy had not victimized others it would have no
problems in it. Look now, just because he remained quiet when DPP die-hards
were victimizing Joyce Banda on his behalf, the tide has automatically shifted.
I laughed in disbelief last week when the DPP walked out in
the middle of parliamentary proceedings. It was quite a humbling sight to see
Peter standing up in frustration, whisking his briefcase away from the floor
before joining his fellow members in the protest walk-out. Life has finished
its circle; only God knows our future.
Peter Mutharika? Walking out in frustration? It wasn’t the same Peter who was presented to
Malawians as their next president. Not the same Peter who had all cabinet
ministers giving him exaggerated respect just because of his brother. Not the
Peter who at one time was delegated by Bingu to swear in Commissioners of some
Presidential Initiatives.
As my mind recalls the Chanco event, I still sympathize with
Peter. Had his candidacy gone through the proper procedures, he wouldn’t be
struggling to re-brand his name now in a bid to appeal to the electorate.
I fear that his candidacy is going to be challenged by other
people within the DPP who kept quiet during the Bingu regime for fear of
political isolation.
Peter, I can google your name and be impressed with your
deep and rich resume but give me one thing; Strong leadership qualities.
Steer the party in these troubled times and show Malawians
that come 2014 you will still be relevant to the country’s politics.
In case you are interested to know the person writing this
piece, don’t google, I am not there. Just meet me in person; I am a common
Malawian looking forward to our politicians becoming better people.
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