Opinion: Mbeki’s letter is right, but it’s too late now

Former President Thabo Mbeki penned a 8 page letter to the African National Congress Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte – “Re: Urgent Tasks of the Movement” dated yesterday on the 24th November 2021. This was his response to the failure of yet another Local Government Elections in the Republic.

Mbeki could easily see this coming and the ANC is own beast at this very moment. They are living on the past and on the stalemate they have on the political landscape. Yes, there are rising stars and movements, which can be a danger to them. However, it will still take time before they have manpower or capacity to overtake the ANC. That is what keeping the Movement alive and their current status as the ruling regime.

Cyril Ramaphosa haven’t ensured a better run state. No, the state is crippled and lacking service delivery, as it was under the reign of Jacob Zuma. They are both like kin, but Ramaphosa isn’t as conning and openly corrupt as his predecessor. Still, the systems are fixes, the financial forecasts aren’t getting better and neither is people changes.

The ANC have forgotten it’s purpose and seems to be a elitist and corrupt band of bandits on the top. They don’t seem to be fixated in governing or actually do what they promise to do. The same problems are reoccurring and generations are stagnating behind a cycle of lacking development. This is why they seek other politicians and parties. They don’t see any hope or promise in the ANC.


Why should they?

Yes, Mbeki says the ANC should implement Manifesto Commitments, but there shouldn’t be a need for a letter from a stalwart to do that. This should be basics, just like professionalising the public administration from the top to the bottom. However, that it get mentioned in 2021 is a travesty. When the ANC have been running the Republic since 1994 and had all the time to implement promises since then. This should be things they are busy doing already and if they are not. It says more about their nepotism, cronyism and their lacking concern with actually governing.

That’s why this letter is indicating what is lacking, but also what the ANC have forgotten to do. Which shouldn’t be thing in 2021. These should be the professionals and the grown ups in offices. Nevertheless, maybe fancy cars, siphoning funds and eating of the public plate is more important than, well actually do your job and fix the local government structures. It is easier to patch the hurt with a flair and boosting promises.

That’s why the words of the letter and the extracts of the pledges made only makes it more hallow. It shallow and not very promising. As Mbeki might mean every word and wants the ANC to succeed. What is striking is that this letter could easily just prove how the ANC has totally failed and is a failure of a governing party. When they need a reminder like this and to do what they said to do. This shouldn’t be the case… but it’s so in 2021.

Mbeki is maybe the conscience of the ANC at this point. He maybe has a heart and hope that he revitalize the ailing party. Nevertheless, his late to the party and the drinks have already been served. People are buzzed anymore, they are drowsy and some are ready to throw-up. Others are bailing out and wanting to go home. This party is a pity-party and his letter only shows what’s wrong.

Ramaphosa needs to address this, but don’t expect him too. He will let some of his handlers deal with this. His preoccupied with some sort of foreign expedition or conference to be bothered by this. Cyril hopes someone else can sort this out for him. Because, this is beneath him. Even if he is the head and needs to take charge. He won’t though.

So, Mbeki will not change things. The ANC is ailing and failing on it’s own merits. The ANC have created this and they can only change this… if they start to care or actually wants to govern. However, that is too much to ask and we cannot anticipate that in 2021. Peace.

Malawi Human Rights Commission: Rising Cost of Living and its Implications on Enjoyment of Human Rights in Malawi (23.11.2021)

ActionSA: ActionSA Will Always Choose County Before Party (22.11.2021)

Malawi: Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) – President Chakwera, MCP should exonorate themselves from recent spate of violence and threats (22.11.2021)

Malawi: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – Communique (20.11.2021)

Malawi: Chakwera will not save anyone…

President Lazarus Chakwera will not be there to keep his promises or be able to make a difference. This man is busy being a globe-trotter and a vagabond. Chakwera is busy speaking at international conferences and making speeches to settle his legacy abroad. What is happening in Blantyre or Lilongwe can be dealt by someone else. Most likely one of his cabinet members who can fall on the sword for the lack of results.

President Chakwera came in with plenty and bountiful of promises. As a long time opposition leader and alliance to make a change. Alas, he allied himself with another party and got a majority. He secured the job and ability to rule. In that way end Mutharika and DPP reign in Malawi. The Tonse Alliance was born and he took charge.

However, Chakwera haven’t made the economy better, his government is a hot-bed for nepotism and there is no end in sight of bad-news. There is a debt-trap and inflation. Prices on basic commodities is surging, while he is busy travelling with a huge entourage to foreign destinations.

The President is blaming the predecessor, the bureaucracy or anyone else than himself. It is just like his powerless and without any favours. He makes it seem like everyone is stifling his moves and it’s a global issues. Even when the toll-gate prices is made by himself. The scandals and the corruption is still viable to this day. Chakwera’s government is just acting as the previous administration and he cannot run away from it.

Rising costs on fuel and food, while the unemployment rate isn’t ceasing either. The President and his cabinet isn’t making headway in any regard to the matters hand. They are showing of some pet projects and publicity stunts, but not changing the problems of the common man. Neither is the President reviewing or even trying to amend the mandate of the Presidency. Directly backtracking one of his promises in the Fresh Presidential Elections of 2020.

It is Chakwera and his government fault that the Malawian government isn’t meeting the standards of the IMF and Wold Bank. That is not the fault of the DPP. Yes, the DPP is responsible for their time in office, but now it’s been over a year and the Tonse Alliance could settle the difference and ensure they followed the guidelines. Alas, there is a lie here and the probe will only be a political ammunition and trying to shift blame to the predecessor, yet again!

When we see how Chakwera back-pedals and shifts blame constantly. Don’t expect him to do anything. The President will not do anything about these things. He to busy to be in the spotlight, cut some ribbons and cash his checks. The President got a grand salary and perks. He don’t need to do anything and if anything gets bottled by anyone. Chakwera can just settle it and sack them. If not have an inquiry or a probe into their malicious acts in office. They will be the fall-guys and the ones who didn’t follow the words of the Presidency. Therefore, he will always get cleared and someone else will carry the weight of him.

Chakwera is a clear snake-oil salesman, a well-funded pastor turned politician. He spoke for a living and he still does… but he don’t act upon the words his uttering out of his mouth. Peace.

South Africa: Joint Media Release by ActionSA, EFF Plus, ACDP & UDM – DA’s Decision Puts Successful Coalitions at Risk (20.11.2021)

Malawi: Kalindo organized an demo against the government

Demonstrations planned to take place today in Blantyre have been cancelled amid serious chaotic scenes that are still unfolding, police have confirmed. Deputy Southern Region Police spokesperson Edith Kachotsa said organisers of the demonstrations, led by Bon Kalindo, have decided to cancel the demonstrations after some disagreements amongst themselves. As we compile this, most of the places within Blantyre Business District is awash with teargas, reaching to places such as Protea Ryalls Hotel, Sunbird Mount Soche and surrounding banks. Kachotsa said police fired the teargas to prevent more violence” (Malawi Nation Online, 19.11.2021).

In Malawi there been made a commotion and a demonstration against the Tonse Alliance after United Transformation Movement (UTM) Youth Director Bon Kalindo challenged the UTM to fire him.

This is not the first time Kalindo gets himself into trouble. The MP have gotten into issues before and this is not new. The Tonse Alliance is speaking of a financial crisis, while the nepotism and corruption runs rampant.

Kalindo is a firebrand and a man who has done this before. He has insulted the predecessor Mutharika and now Chakwera. The man even spent time in jail for doing so. This time he got of the hook and stopped being a member of the party.

It has just been 48 hours since he stepped down.

Maybe he hurt the Tonse Alliance by saying this: “Malawians can no longer breathe and we have leaders who continue to justify unnecessary increases of basic commodities. We have leaders who have failed to address corruption even in their backyard and when we say these have to stop then we are accused of insulting the leaders” (Kalindo, 14.11.2021).

The politician are now using the public and the grievances, which isn’t new, but is becoming more dire. Kalindo just proves a point. We can wonder if he used the public as a decoy in this. As Chakwera’s government only shows no mercy to demonstrators. However, Kalindo has been behind bars for his political activity.

We can just wonder what is his end-game this time around. Kalindo isn’t a fool, but a unique sort of politician. He will use his platform and office to build his own career. Most likely his using the struggles of the people and youths to his own benefit now. As a Youth Director he could easily connect with the leaders and activists to get them quickly to the streets. Therefore, Kalindo used this now.

Yes, Chakwera and his government have to fix things, but his busy spending fortunes on foreign trips and taking huge entourages abroad. He cannot run away from this. Kalindo might use this and excuse his own actions.

The demonstration against the government is righteous. The public has a right to do it. However, trusting Kalindo now is a fools errand. Peace.

African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL): ANCYL Statement on Julius Malema’s Dishonest Utterances (16.11.2021)

Malawi: United Transformation Movement (UTM) – We condemn any insults on the President and the Vice President, because we are a Party of Values and Rules (14.11.2021)