Malawi - A Beacon of Democracy in Africa?

South Africa held a General Election on 7^th May 2014. The election saw Jacob Zuma re-elected as President and the ANC maintain overwhelming majorities in the National Assembly and the new Provisional Legislatures. There were no surprises. The ANC vote was diminished slightly, perhaps due to the emergence of the EFF, but otherwise the status quo was maintained. This was the 5^th General Election in the democratic Republic of South Africa held since the end of the apartheid era and the ANC has dominated all five of these elections. Elections were unquestionably “free and fair” and the rightly winners were returned to office. This too many is an example of multi party democracy exemplified.
On 20^th May 2014 the people of the Republic of Malawi went to the polls to in the first tripartite elections the country has held. In contrast to the South African election there have been reports of chaos and failure of democracy in Malawi. The political intrigue is fascinating and as I have said before akin to the drama of House of Cards. Never the less I would like to argue that the 2014 Malawian election could potentially do more for African democracy than any election in the post colonial era.
Malawi is maturing as a democracy that cannot be doubted. There may be elements of subterfuge and at least political maneuvering by ultimately the rule of law and the Constitution has been protected by the High Court. In the past week Malawi has exemplified a model of restraint. Even in the midst of Joyce Banda trying to illegally nullify the election the courts stood firm and insisted that the MEC continued with the vote count in accordance with the Constitution. Thanks to the intervention of the High Court it now seems likely that a victor will emerge as the new President of Malawi. This is likely to be the nemesis of Mrs Banda, Peter Mutharika. The electoral process to my mind has shown real signs of political maturity. There have been many, far too many hiccups, by ultimately the Constitution is being upheld and it has emerged that Separation of Powers genuinely exists in Malawi. The High Court has acted independently from the Executive and has remained staunchly committed to upholding the Constitution rather than bowing to illegal proclamations from the incumbent.
There have been claims that Mutharika’s DPP party has rigged the election in his favour. Such reports are seemingly spurious. Firstly, one must question how it would be possible for an opposition party to fix an election against an incumbent and furthermore one recognizes that all the facts point towards a Mutharika victory. The PVT indicates that the MEC count is accurate and the results being declared are very much in line with the pre-election forecasts from Afrobarometer. Opinion polls are often maligned in African elections and often justifiably so. A culture of accurate psephology is only just beginning to emerge and the advanced scientific methodology of Afrobarometer has taken many in the region by surprise. Social Scientists now have the means, it seems, to predict election results based upon their surveys. Perhaps a new political landscape will emerge across the continent and in future psephologists will be more widely utilized by candidates in African elections. Perhaps in this respect Malawi 2014 will be heralded as a new dawn in African politics? It can only be good for democracy!
The role of the military and in particular the army should also be celebrated. The military have been deployed on the streets of urban centres frequently over the past week but have acted with great restraint and professionalism. In less developed democracies the military may have stepped into the perceived power vacuum in order to rule for the “common good” or to impose its favoured candidate on a nation. This has not happened in Malawi and again I argue that this is a sign of a country that is maturing as a democracy.
During the electoral process information has been freely available and local and international media have been able, it seems to me, to report without restrictions. I have read many differing political perspectives on the election process – in support of each of the candidates – this is refreshing. Of course media outlets and people using social networks have their own views and opinions but by and large the information emerging from Malawi has been balanced. There have been enough sources emerging to allow an observer to make judgments on the changing politic scene in the country. A free and fair media should not be taken for granted.
I started my article with reference to South Africa – a country that saw an election take place with little fuss and very few logistical difficulties. Results were published quickly and the process took place very smoothly culminating with the much-vaulted inauguration of Jacob Zuma. Some might say Malawi’s election exemplified the very opposite to South Africa and criticize the country for that fact. What with long queues, polling running into a second day, counting systems failing and results taking days to be declared amid claims of rigging and malpractice. I can’t disagree that the logistics of the election of been shambolic at times but I am compelled to celebrate the positives. Four candidates entered the electoral fray with some chance of being elected President in Malawi whereas in South Africa it was a foregone conclusion that the party of Government would be re-elected overwhelmingly. Malawi is potentially developing into a multi party democracy! In South Africa only the ANC can win. Similarly in Botswana, another country celebrated in the west as a model of African democracy, only the BDP ever win! Even in the USA it’s either Republicans or Democrats (with nothing to chose between them ideologically!) or the UK Labour or Conservative in the UK!
There is so much opportunity that can arise for Malawi as the new President takes over office. The country is demonstrating enhanced political maturity, Separation of Powers is a reality, the Constitution has been respected and despite a protracted process it seems the will of the people will be adhered to. Structurally things are sound. Much now depends upon those coming into government. A genuinely hung Parliament holding the Executive to account is crucial. Some may dismiss me as naïve or overly optimistic but if the incoming President can work with Parliament and not adopt the “Big Man” posture then hope is in the air. Similarly it’s essential that newly elected MPs do not seek to cross the floor in order to enhance their careers. A new era of consensus politics could see Malawi as a beacon of African democracy.

Non adherence to ARV's a huge problem in Botswana

This editorial from The Voice in Botswana caught my eye. It points to a very worrying trend facing those living with HIV in sub-saharan Africa. As I've alluded to in previous posts non-adherence to treatment is a big issue in Bots!

'There were two related reports that emerged at the recently ended 16th International AIDS conference in Toronto that caught our attention and hopefully the attention of every responsible citizen who don't want to see this country's human resources decimated by HIV /AIDS.

These are the reports that TB strains resistant to first and second line drugs have been found among HIV-Positive people in our neighbour, South Africa and another one which states that first line drugs are no longer working for a growing number of people living with HIV who are now in need of far more expensive drugs that are out of reach for the general majority of Africans.

In light of the above discoveries we sought a comment from a local HIV/AIDS expert who to our horror confirmed our suspicions that we are in the same boat with South Africa concerning the above worrying developments in the fight against AIDS.

In brief the expert explained that apart from the natural progression of people living with HIV towards resistance to ARVs ,the process is often speeded up by certain factors such as non- adherence and reckless living, which in many cases results in re-infection.

"We already have a growing number of people who are now on the much more expensive third line drugs mainly because of non-adherence. Many have also turned up with signs of new infections. If these drugs become resistant too all we can do is help such people manage the disease, avoid catching opportunistic diseases and hope for the best," he said

Suddenly it dawned on us that our modest achievement of having reduced Botswana HIV/AIDS infection rate to 17% fade into oblivion when placed next to the mountain we face ahead of us.

We applaud the government efforts to keep the sick alive by spending huge sums of money on providing individuals with ARVS.

We condemn those whose attitudes(and they seem to be many) have been undermining the government efforts by mistaking ARVs for a cure for AIDS.

We hope that the reports from the AIDS conference will be an eye opener and a strong urgent warning to many people, especially the 35% of our population which is already living with HIV some of who have clearly been lulled into a false sense of security by the abundance of ARVs dished out by government for free to wake up and take control of their lives before its too late.

The Zambian Alliance of Women & Home Based Care

All profits made through the charitable side of the Thembinkosi Foundation are shared between a number of organisations we are associated with in Zambia. Later we hope to venture into Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa but as for now we are a growing organisation and we know our limitations.

We are supporting the work of the Zambian Alliance of Women (ZAW). ZAW exists to promote the interests of women and children. It is committed to empowering women and does a wonderful job on a shoestring budget.

We are also supporting a number of 'Home Based Care' projects. Many Zambians carrying the HIV virus do not have access to treatment and certainly cannot afford hospital care. Home Based Care projects, often staffed by individuals who are HIV positve themselves, exist to support the weak and vulnerable in their own homes.

Back to Africa

I'm heading back to Africa for the first time in over a year this summer. I can't wait! My wife, son and I are flying into Jozie before heading up through Bots and in Zed. We may venture into Zims but that will depend on the 'situation.' I would like to see how things have changed in the three years since I was last there. I know it'll be heartwrenching and I'll hear dreadful stories about peopleI've known well. The trouble is that when we used to travel to Bulawayo regualrly we had a bakkie but this time we will be relying on buses and lifts from friends. If we do go the Bulawayo then we have to have maize meal, sugar, cooking oil, salt etc. The people need these commodoties more than anything.

Everywhere we go I will be armed with my camera. I want to take hundreds of pics to publish with the stories that go with them. One of my regrets about my time living in Bots is that I never took enough photos. I will take photos of development as well as poverty; of people happy and prosperous as well as poor and repressed. The negative images of Africa that the Western media peddles sicken me. Of course there is poverty, sickness and repression across the continent but this is the only image of Africa most Europeans/North Americans have. I love showing my students at school pictures of modern Johannesburg and asking them where in the world do they think this city might be? New York, Chicago, Rome or Berlin are common responses. When I tell them that it's Johannesburg in South Africa their jaws drop!

Nkosi Johnson - an true inspiration!

When I discussed HIV/AIDS with my younger pupils (11-14 years old) I focussed on the story on Nkosi Johnson. For those who are unaware Nkosi died of an Aids related illness on 1st June 2001 a short time after speaking out to the world at the Durban AIDS Conference in 2000. As a 10 year old Nkosi took to the platform in front of 10000 people, the world's media as well as President Mbeki and former President Mandela. Nkosi tlaked of his story of living with HIV but he was not bitter or angry - he was full of hope. He urged the world to tackle the pandemic and to ensure that children like him would not have to die. His word at the conference moved many to tears:

"Care for us and accept us - we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just like everyone else. Don't be afraid of us - we are all the same."

I have never been touched as deeply by a politician or world figure as I was touched by Nkosi and my pupils also find him an true inspiration. One of my older students actually commented that 'he would have been my age if he had lived.'

For more information about Nkosi's Haven and Nkosi's story visit http://www.nkosishaven.co.za/ The website has an excellent biography of Nkosi and a transcript of his deeply moving speech in Durban.