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| Columns |
| Twist to the tale |
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by
Edward Chsambo, 20 February 2004
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13:20:21
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Judge Chimwamasana was nursing a heavy hangover that also triggered a splitting headache. The rounds of Madeira he was ordering from Wendewende did little to soothe a nagging feeling that kept gnawing at his mind. It was about how cruel politics was to individuals.
The judge and fellow patrons wanted to catalogue a few events that were serious but looked a little bit funny in the end.
The first issue involved the UDF Blantyre City South constituency governor Anthony Dimu, who was allegedly beaten up by a group of Young Democrats led by the incumbent MP Elwyn Maluwa. Dimu, when visited, was seen in great pain and he was crawling helplessly around his lounge. The beating had been obviously heavy.
The allegations are that Dimu was beaten because he was campaigning against the incumbent MP for an aspirant in the turbulent UDF primaries. The incumbent has since won the primaries although he is on trial for beating Dimu.
“What makes the whole issue a comedy is that the UDF secretary general, accompanied by the incumbent MP, went to visit Dimu while nursing injuries. Why was there this change of heart? At the time of the beating, the party showed little interest but now they are showing compassion for a man who was allegedly humiliated by the peaceful party in front of his children, one 12 years old.
“It is just as well that Dimu does not trust the latest compassion shown by the UDF, especially the decision to take him to the best hospital in the country for treatment. The party’s image is already tarnished and what the UDF top officials should try to do is, maybe, stem further violence. But alas! That is not their way of doing things. This week the UDF even absented themselves from a peace commitment mission organised to, among other things, check violence before the general elections in May,” Chimwamasana paused and looked around before his eyes settled on Chofiira.
Chofiira, who had been ill for the past few weeks, was advised to stop taking alcohol by a doctor he continuously cursed. He, however, maintained his visits to KSG just for the sake of maintaining old company. This was a torture, especially when he saw his mates like Wangwiro and Namagetsi gulping down Abraham’s tears without mercy or prayer. Chofiira then decided to look at the other side of the UDF. The promises that the party has made and not fulfilled. This would help explain why Dimu was suspicious about the UDF offer to get better hospital treatment.
“The UDF has been in power for 10 years and on countless occasions, it has promised people better standards. At one point, the president told policemen within their camp in Zomba that government had increased their salaries with effect from that month. He even told their wives that if husbands brought the old pay home, they should be sure that he had spent the increase on other things. Being a joker, he did not rule out other women. That was three years ago and the cops have still not seen the increase.
“Then next is the gift of tractors from Libya promised in 2000. These farm vehicles, supposed to have been obtained to improve agriculture in this country, have not arrived until now. Mind you, this promise was also made by the President on arrival from Tripoli. What is funny is that just this week the Libyan ambassador to Malawi said the promise of tractors was just a joke. There never was any documentation to support it as an agreement between the two states. Another issue of 2,900 houses promised during the same trip was also a nonstarter since the private company that wanted to carry out the project saw that it was not profitable.
“So as you can see for yourself, there isn’t much you can trust about the UDF when you take proper stock in this election year,” Chofiira said, frothing at the mouth.
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