Someone has taken note of Mangochi... finally!

It took decades but it has finally happened. Mangochi has been elevated from a district to a town by President Joyce Banda, a step aimed at making the lakeshore town a bustling tourist city. I recently argued that former president Mutharika’s priority of Nsanje as a city may not have been a well thought out one.

Malawihas for the past few years been talking about finding an alternative foreign exchange earner to tobacco and tourism has been top of those alternatives. However there was very little work on the ground to show that efforts were being made to grow that industry. Many tourism facilities are not really up to international standard but not because that there has not been some sort of effort. In the past decade or so the road network has been greatly improved as has the recent hotel grading seen an improvement in lodging facilities. There have also been efforts by the Department of Tourism to market the country albeit not at the same level of quality as our neighbours. There is a lot more that has to be done however and I think this declaration is a first positive sign.

It is my hope that government will throw as much money and effort towards upgrading Mangochi, maybe even more, as it did towards Nsanje to make the district and town world class. Perhaps sooner rather than later the area will be a gateway to the other tourist attractions Malawi has to offer and at the same time attract the much needed investment and visitors the country needs to boost its ever dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

DPP on Joyce Banda's 100 days

I am not one to listen to much radio but today was an exception. I happened to listen to three different interviews on three different radio stations with three different politicians but all from one political party, the Democratic Progressive Party.


First up was an early Radio Maria interview with Nicholas Dausi who, if I recall correctly, is the new spokesperson for the party. In his usual fashion, Dausi was all emotional screaming down the microphone. For once he was not showing off with any fancy English nor was he quoting Socrates but as usual he was being very economical with the truth. When asked about the first 100 days of Joyce Banda’s presidency he claimed there is nothing positive to point out. All he has seen are dismissals and arrests. He mentioned Matilda Katopola, Alexious Nampota and I think Christoper Ngwira to drive home his point.


Later in the day on Zodiak’s Tiuzeni Zoona programme Peter Mutharika, the party’s interim president, was being interviewed. When it came to the question of the president’s performance his response was that 100 days is too short a period to make a fair assessment. He also stated that his aim is to work with the president for the betterment of the country. How sincere that comment is is subject to debate but he at least sounded it.


Capital Radio’s Straight Talk in the evening had secretary general Wakuda Kamanga as it’s guest. When asked about the performance of government his response was similar to Mutharika’s that 100 days is too short to give a proper assessment but went on to say it's been a mixed bag. On the negatives he pointed out the Section 65 stalemate and rise of crime – a relatively fair comment (and a debate for another day). Unfortunately the interviewer never really gave Kamanga a chance to state the positives but at least we know he has seen one or more if my understanding of 'mixed bag' is correct.


What surprises me is why Dausi was foaming at the mouth spitting fire and brimstone. Which Malawi does he live in? Which patch of sand is his head stuck in? Considering the damage the DPP did to this country is it not somewhat of a miracle the country is actually functioning? With details of plunder by the previous government emerging almost weekly I really wonder how long he will maintain his party’s moral high ground.

Time to Rebuild Brand Malawi!

Over the past year or so Malawi has not been projected internationally in very positive light. The warm heart has been mired in problems, shortages and intolerance of varying kinds and magnitudes. Just 16 days ago a group of men and women, one of them an expert in comparative constitutional law and a past recipient of the International Jurist Award, met in a series of illegal cabinet meetings in an effort to plunge the country into an even greater mess. They attempted to stage a constitutional coup. But alas the numbers just were not adding up, some members grew cold feet, betrayal set in and the plot fell apart faster than it was put together. Suddenly the nation saw glimer of light on the horizon. However the whole episode left Malawi with a battered image, a laughing stock!

Thebe Ikalafeng, a thought leader and branding expert, gave his opinion on how the authoroties handled, or rather withheld, the news of the death of President Mutharika so as to facilitate an illegal transfer of power to the deceased's younger brother.

Nepotism, cronyism and downright executive arrogance was indeed taking this country down a road where the (constitutional) law was thrown out to the dogs, the new law was that prescribed from the political podium. Its time to mend this broken image. Its time to grow Malawi into a strong brand. Its tough work because perceptions are hard to change. It will take time but it must happen and be given the priority it deserves. Every Malawian has his and her work cut out, it's not just a task for Joyce Banda and her government.

My prayer is that all the undesirable attributes Malawi became notoriously associated with over the past few months will be buried together with the late president Bingu wa Mutharika tomorrow never to rear it's ugly head again on this peace loving nation. Malawi has systems and resources, lets use them to build a strong brand Malawi!


God Bless Malawi!

RIP Mutharika, Congratulations JB!

Condolences to the Mutharika family and friends on the loss of their father and friend, Bingu wa Mutharika. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Congratulations to Joyce Banda on her ascendancy to the high office of the land. We hope that with God's guidance our land will heal and move forward with renewed hope.