Recently there was an article in one of the local newspapers where some people were saying that some of the policies governing this country need to changed in parliament because the country is being ruled by one tribe and region.
Those who are calling for the need to change some of the policies l think somewhere somehow they are right for the following reasons.
First of all, we need to know that we must remember that we are living in a democratic country where people have got the right to express their views and choose leaders of their choice without infringing other peopleโs rights.
The first multiparty elections which the country had in 1994 where former President Bakili Muluzi won people voted according to regions.
Dr Bakili Muluzi got most of the votes in the south, followed by former President Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda who got most of his votes in the centre and the late Chakufwa Chihana in the north.
The same trend repeated itself in 1999 and 2004 where the late Professor Dr Bingu wa Mutharika narrowly won with thirty six percent of the total votes.
This has been the same in the just ended May tripartite elections where incumbent President Professor Authur Mutharika won with thirty six percent.
Although people vote along tribal and regional lines,ย we must know that for anyone toย win in the presidential elections, he/she still requires votesย from theย other sections of the society.
Prior to the just ended tripartite elections former President Dr Joyce Banda opted for Sosteni Gwengwe as her running against the then vice president Khumbo Kachali on reasons that Gwengwe could bring her more votes because he comes from the centre than Kachali who comes from the north.
Unfortunately, this was not the case. Soon after the incumbent President Professor Authur Peter Mutharika appointed his cabinet there were calls from some quarters of the society that he is favoring people fromย one regionย .
This was so because most of the people that were appointed as ministers comes from the south particularly from his Lhomwe tribe.
The newly appointed information minister was quick to defend the President saying that the party got only four seats in the centre and six from the north and the president had to choose from those people on who to be included in his cabinet based on “merit and capabilities”.
Much as the information minister was right, the president is sworn in to rule anyone in this country regardless of religion, tribe or political affiliation.
Though it is impossible for the President to be voted by everyone not only here in Malawi alone but the world at large, the president has to be unpartisanย and work with everyone if we are to realize our dream of developing this country.
We may differ in politics but at the end of the day we are all Malawians.ย We live together, socialize and marry each other regardless of region and tribeย hence the need for us to work together and build mother Malawi.
The views expressed in this article are entirely those of the author and does not necessarily reflect those of Malawi Muslims Website team
