1. Posted on Friday 31 October 2008 - 09:00

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   madalitso

   

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   Madalitso kateta, AfricaNews in Lilongwe, Malawi Photo: Malawi gets ready for upcoming elections

   A new political party comprising of youths has been formed in Lilongwe, Malawi, as the country gears for its elections next year. Interim president of the yet to be registered Peoples Democratic Party Hebrews Misomali said the formation of the new party is the beginning of a new era in the country's politics.

   

   Misomali, a musician, producer and a film maker said Malawi has each day been drifting towards political and social crisis adding that political crisis has elsewhere brought economic instability.
   
   “Malawians chose democracy as our form of government, which is a government of the people for the people and by the people. Today the meaning of democracy has changed; it has become the government of the President for his party and by his People,” said Misomali.
   
   He said it was important for Malawians to know that they chose democracy as a system of governance because they wanted to get rid of dictators or rulers.
   
   “Rulers have no place in democracy, what we need are leaders. Leaders who are wise not intelligent, Leaders who are knowledgeable not educated, leaders who are politically, socially and economically capable not pretenders, “he said.
   
   He said there was need of fresh politicians and not recycled ones for democratic principals to prosper in Malawi.
   
   “We need youth full leader’s not retired human beings, and you can only find such caliber in the Youth, “he said.
   
   He condemned the current leadership which he said has brought economical instability in the country.
   
   “We saw those with monies they ruled this country, I don’t have to tell you where they brought this country to. Now you are seeing those pumped to be educated fellows, I don’t need to tell you how you are feeling now as far as rocket hiking of essential commodities and the political instability has became, “he said.
   
   He challenged the current administration of playing double standards saying the incumbent president Dr Bingu Wa Muthalika promised that political and ministerial position will be on merit, but he has never stood to his pledge.
   
   He said the current administration has not stood by its promise of empowering youths in politics. “If it is true that “akulu akulu ndi mdambo mozimila moto” Why then is it that Malawi’s political instability is provoked by the same Akulu akulu. Why they keep fighting while they are elders,” wondered Misomali.
   
   He said as the veteran polities have failed to reconcile youth in the country should not stand aside and watch the former and the latter president fighting their personal wars.
   
   “Should we believe that the former president has any good reason to bounce back into presidency?’ he queried.
   
   He said since the elders are now fire spark plugs the youth should teach them how to co exist in democracy and how to create jobs instead of loafers and how to live in harmony with each other despite every differences.
   
   “The time has come for the Youth of this country to bring the inevitable, practical and meaningful change in terms of social, political and economic development. It’s time to use our media for good course, not Makiyolobasi. It’s time to use our television to inform, entertain and educate not to suffocate,” he said.
   
   
   Meanwhile the newly formed party is asking youths that want to go into active politics with the mind to changing political platform to join the party.
   
   “Youths wishing to create modern politics and advance Social and economic situation of the country and are prepared to work hard and long, and are a born free and a democrat then this is the party for you,” he said.

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Reactions

1. Posted on Saturday 01 November 2008 12:48

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   tayanibanda

   

   Tayani Banda
   10 berichten
   Lid sinds November 2008

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   Forming a political party is a welcome development especially when it is formed by young people with a clear vision on what they want to achieve and do. I am a staunch support of young people and I am an advocate for you participation in policy and decision making and one of the means is by participating in politics because you then rise to positions of influence. I agree with Mr. Misomali that there are some political bickering in the country and that need to be addressed and that at some instances the leaders fail us. However that said, some of the problems we face as young people are self imposed.
   
   Firstly where was this party all this time? Elections are around the corner in about 6 months and that’s when these young people have thought of forming a political party?? I have respect for Mr. Hebrews Misomali but his decision and judgment has failed us. Forming, running and let alone establishing a party in the grassroots is not an easy task! Think of the current rung party, it has people with vast experience, knowledge, a lot of resources and a lot of MPs but just look at how it struggled to establish itself in the country! Thinking of six months to elections can we say these guys have a clear agenda and target o win the elections?? Seriously?? This party should have been formed 3 or 4 years ago. It is not easy to convince and win donors to support within such a short period and I will not be surprised top hear that this party has been swallowed by another bigger party or has decided to join some kind of coalition of some sort.
   
   
   Secondly Mr. Misomali alleges that we need wise and not intelligent leaders, leaders who are knowledgeable and not educated! WRONG! I don’t know if he is quoting someone but they are both wrong, and probably it is a quotation it must have been quoted out of context! We definitely deed wisdom but intelligence also. Knowledge is good but sometimes without education, it can be put to wrong use. Education drives us to make right decisions and choices, not only knowledge. We are way behind as far as development is concerned and we cannot leave the country to half backed leaders who will do nothing but plunder the country and pile befits to themselves, we need people who understand how the economy works, the legal systems, the development phenomenon and all. Leaders who don’t just take what advisors say but who can engage advisors and let the advisors convince him/her that what they are saying is right, leaders who can thing for themselves even without advisors. I know there are some instances where unlearned leaders have made strides but those are exceptions that rarely repeat themselves.
   
   Thirdly, he alleges that the current leadership has brought economic instability! WHAT?? Come again?? All determinants and indicators of economic stability in the country are positive and he says the contrary! By this point he has demonstrated that he cannot make a good leader in this country. He doesn’t know what is happening in the country. I don’t want to say much on this because I have a lot of information, I volunteer to sit with Mr. Misomali and explain to him how the economy works, the meaning of economic instability, how we know economic instability and what happens. I think he has started on a very very very wrong footing and I can volunteer to work on their Economic Manifesto (Am very serious)
   
   To quote shakespeare, “Men are masters of their own fate”, I we young people are not masters of our own negative fate!

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