By Jones Gadama
In the corridors of power where many boast about guns, bodyguards, and big titles, one man is different. While others sleep counting allowances, Minister Chimwemwe Mazabuka Chipungu sleeps counting his blessings and asking God to abide with him.
Yes, Chimwemwe Chipungu, the youthful, energetic and exceptionally hardworking Minister serving in the cabinet of His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, has become a case study of what it means to be a leader who puts God first. After spending the whole day running up and down, fixing problems, pushing Mutharika’s development vision for Malawians, he does not go to Facebook to brag. He goes to his knees and sings: “Abide With Me, fast falls the eventide.”
This is why Chipungu is succeeding where others fail.
Let us look at this hymn and you will understand why this minister is exceptional.
*Abide with me, fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide.*
Every evening, when the sun sets in Lilongwe and other ministers are entering lodges and hotels, Chipungu knows darkness is dangerous. He is a minister, yes, but he is humble enough to say Lord, be with me. The darkness of politics is deep. Only a man who invites God survives.
*When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.*
This is the humor and the sweetness of Chipungu. The man has a trained bodyguard, with a gun, with bullets, with muscles like a bouncer. But Chipungu knows a bodyguard can sleep, a bodyguard can fail, a bodyguard’s gun can jam. But God never fails. Despite having state security, he still says God is my ultimate bodyguard. How many ministers do that? None.
*Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day, Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.*
Chipungu understands what many politicians do not. That ministerial position is temporary. Today you are Honourable, tomorrow you are former. Cars fade, suits fade, power fades. That is why he works so hard during the day, because he knows life is short and he must deliver for Mutharika and Malawians before his little day ends.
*Change and decay in all around I see, O Thou who changest not, abide with me.*
Governments change, policies change, even friends in politics change. Chipungu has seen it all. But he has anchored his life on a God who never changes. That is why he is stable, focused and not shaken by social media noise.
*I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless, Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.*
Here is the secret of his fearlessness. How can a young minister face big contractors, big parastatals and big pressures and still smile? Because he knows with God at hand to bless him, no foe can touch him. No wonder he performs without fear.
*Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.*
Other people fear death, fear failure, fear losing their job. Chipungu does not. He knows as long as God abides with him, he is already victorious. That is why he sleeps peacefully after a hard day’s work.
*Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.*
This is the most spiritual part. When he closes his eyes at night, he does not see files, he sees the cross. He does not dream of tenders, he dreams of heaven. A minister who dreams of heaven cannot steal from the poor. He can only serve.
*In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me.*
This sums up Chimwemwe Chipungu. In life, in ministry, in Cabinet, in death, he wants God.
No wonder he is the most successful performing minister in President Peter Mutharika’s cabinet. Because he lets God go ahead of him and he follows behind. He is not leading God, God is leading him.
Malawi needs more Chipungus. Everyone must borrow a leaf. Power without prayer is noise. Title without God is empty. Gun without God is useless.
Chipungu has shown us that you can be a minister, you can be powerful, you can have a bodyguard, but still need God to abide with you at night.
