Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lilongwe (Fides Service) - From famine stricken Malawi a missionary with decades of experience writes a letter: “To continue in a few lines the history of a country anxious to see the end of a year which will not go down in history as a year of glory. Political confusion, hunger and again hunger, numerous disoriented institutions and hope that the new year will be better. With regard to politics there remain only cartoons to remark, as if there were any need, on the fragility of the situation. And here there emerge the many theories of democracy imposed by donor countries which fails to take into account the people’s past, culture and aspirations. Thirty years of dictatorship, ten years of the United Democratic Front, one year of the Democratic Progressive Party: the history of postcolonial Malawi has still to be written and above all accepted as a lesson for the future”.
The week was marked by six by-elections. Voters in six areas were called to choose representative in Parliament to replace those who died since the 2004 elections. The electoral commission, chaired by High Court judge Anastazia Msosa (Catholic and Patron of Radio Maria Malawi) respected for her impartial leadership of the commission during the first elections in 1994, confirmed that five elected candidates are members of the president’s party DPP, whereas for one candidate there were no results because of asserted fraud.
Now the President is convinced he can lead the country and gain more seats. The opposition calls for an end to the practice that those in power use radio and TV for their own exclusive advantage. This happened also this time with only one version of events reaching the people who were unprepared for the elections except to vote for the party in power. One problem remains: section 65(1) of Malawi’s constitution which says that an elected MP in a party or as an independent who joins another party or’ Crosses the Floor’ loses his seat. The decision falls to the constitutional court. If it confirms the constitution over 27 MPs will lose their seats (13 are government ministers ex-UDF or independents). The government after the most recent results is not afraid to ask the electors for a mandate, the opposition after last week is weaker. What will happen? The election of 6 MPs cost 65 million Kwacha (about 430,000 Euro). It would take at least 300 million Kwacha (2,000.000 Euro) to elect 27 new MPs... and there is no money. The government cannot even afford to pay the return of 16 diplomats who were moved or where the embassy has been closed... although it does continue to pay their salary abroad. The court is due to announce its decision on 12 December 2005... and then Christmas which seemed so near, may be still distant, and then parliament will be convoked... and then hunger will be the same hunger as before”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 15/12/2005 righe 41 parole 584)
