By Burnett Munthali
A few months before the electoral commission officially opened the campaign season, I was in Nkhotakota working on establishing an irrigation scheme at our farm, N’thabi Farms and Produce.
While there, I drove to Linga to meet an irrigation field officer who was assisting with the setup of our system.
As I passed the Nkhotakota magistrate courts, I spotted Counsel Silvester Ayuba James standing alongside two police officers, dressed sharply in his black suit.
Though he appeared to be on official business, I knew he had already declared his candidacy for a parliamentary seat in his constituency.
Seeing him filled me with excitement—the political race was truly on!
As I drove by, I couldn’t help but shout at the top of my lungs, cheering, “Shikamo yanu mjomba, tiwonana bwino pa bwandilo!”
While other parliamentary aspirants in Linga and surrounding Nkhotakota constituencies were busy distributing K2,000 handouts to sway voters, James took a different approach.
He focused on empowering the youth in his area through initiatives designed to foster economic self-reliance, equipping them with skills to achieve financial independence.
Politicians often exploit the ultra-poor, using their economic vulnerability to manipulate votes.
No self-reliant farmer earning K5,000 a day would be swayed by a K2,000 handout unless greed clouds their judgment.
To transform the dynamics of our political landscape, we must start at the grassroots—within our constituencies.
We need to empower Malawians, particularly the ultra-poor, with programs that promote economic independence, not perpetuate dependency.
These initiatives should aim to graduate participants into self-reliance, not keep them as puppets.
This, I believe, aligns with the vision of a mindset shift championed by the late Dr. Saulos Chilima.
Congratulations, Counsel Ayuba! Go to parliament and represent your people with integrity.
One day, when I become the District Commissioner for Nkhotakota, we’ll sit down, share a drink in moderation, and explore more ways to transform our district.
As the saying goes, charity begins at home.
