Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Living the Chilembwe insipiration
A faculty member of Harvard and MIT who directs the program on intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution with the Kennedy School of Government who is also president of the World Peace Foundation Robert I Rortberg states that soon Reverend John Chilembwe returned to Nyasaland from the United States of America he established a chain of independent African schools, constructed an impressive church, and planted crops of cotton, tea and coffee. His main motive was instilling a sense of self-respect among his fellow Africans.
Close to a century later after the demise of Chilembwe the hero, the pride of Malawi, we look to him as an inspiring factor in the realization of political and economic emancipation. The big picture is; has the nation attained the self-respect that Chilembwe inspired us to attain. In some perspectives, yes we have. On the other side we are still struggling to live the Chilembwe dream.
At present, the Malawi nation is yet to reach the desired heights of embracing the spirit of nationalism and brotherhood. We are yet to devise a collective strategy that will fish out millions of the starving citizens of Malawi from the excruciating pangs of poverty. We are still ranked one of the poorest countries in the world, and while in such a state, our country boosts of an elite that has fortunes worth billions of kwachas while millions more deserving civilians of the country live below the poverty line. We are yet to provide the majority of the masses of Malawians dignity and self-respect through equitable distribution of the little wealth of the country.
The life of Reverend John Chilembwe inspires the citizens of the country to take a leading role in demanding what belongs to them. Chilembwe gives us an inspiring example when he challenged the British government at the moment it was recruiting the natives of Nyasaland to fight the Germans in Tanzania during the First World War. Chilembwe asked: ‘We understand that we have been asked to shed our innocent blood in this world’s war…but would there be any good prospects for the natives after the war?
As we enjoy the present freedom which was spearheaded by Reverend Chilembwe’s uprising, more so now in this democratic dispensation, we are inspired by Chilembwe to question our elected representatives and demand accountability regarding policies, laws, and decisions they make on our behalf. Chilembwe inspires us to take ownership in monitoring the way economy of the country is distributed, rural empowerment programmes are fostered and poverty eradication processes are implemented.
It is certain that Chilembwe led an agricultural revolution for the country. Through the encouragement of natives planting cash crops, he was setting the base for an agricultural based economic-led economy. This inspires the nation to go an extra mile. Many centuries now we are still trapped in the non-lucrative trading of primary products than value added goods. We still rely on the growth of an economy based on raw tobacco than processed one. As we are reaping economic benefits out of the input fertilizer subsidy philosophy and the much promising green belt initiative, it is time that we diversify our agricultural practices. We can only benefit if we industrialize and shift from the rain-fed agricultural methods to irrigation systems, and in the end, selling products that have been added value to.
One thing is noticeable in the Chilembwe philosophy: the leadership system. The goverance that Reverend Chilembwe initiated entails that quality leadership enhances productivity, economic, and moral growth in a country. For us to make remarkable strides in transforming our country with the little resources we have we need quality leadership at all levels of our society.
We are ably reminded by one of Malawi’s finest philosopher Dr. Paul A. Mwaipaya in the book: the importance of quality leadership in national development, with special reference to Africa, that the significance of quality leadership is that it engages in rational and objective thinking and tries to make policies that are not far removed from the reality of human nature. Quality leadership is consistent in its deliberations as opposed to mediocre leadership which acts either without following any kind of objective manner of reasoning or simply follows the dictates of feelings, passions, sentiments, or special vested interests.
By spearheading the establishment of independent African schools Chilembwe inspires us to devise an educational system that would be responsive to the needs of the country in terms of social and economic development goals. This challenges the government in power at present and any governments to come in future to prioritize the provision of education that will be answerable to the needs of the development agenda of the country. Not only that, the nation at present is challenged to provide tertiary education to its masses, hence the contentious debate of quota system. The bottom line is that our universities do not have the capacity to absolve a good percentage of many deserving students who could excel to become leaders in different sectors in the country.
We can as well go ahead to argue that the principles of governance that were being followed by the British during the colonial days were the ones that enforced Chilembwe to rebel against such a system. This therefore inspires us to jealously safeguard principles of good governance. We can hardly celebrate the Chilembwe day with great happiness if governance is not human centred. Adebayo Adedeji in the article: The case for remarking Africa that is published in the book Action in Africa stresses that no one in Africa, not even former and contemporary despots, doubts that governance is the very foundation of civilized society and that neither social and economic progress nor political stability and national cohesiveness and unity are possible unless and until good governance is in place. Good governance should by definition be human-centred, guaranteeing civil and political rights on the one hand and social and economic rights on the other hand.
May this year’s commemoration of Chilembwe day be a constant reminder to the nation of Malawi that the success of a country goes beyond political liberation. We achieved a political mileage through breaking the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. We further went ahead to successfully abolish the one-party system of governance that ushered us into this democratic dispensation. Certainly, that achievement in the political dimension could please Reverend Chilembwe.
We are however yet to attain self-respect for each and every Malawian citizen through economic liberation. We are yet to go beyond the text book economics that looks at economic terminologies and percentages than addressing the economic thorns hurting the people of our country. It is not calculations of inflation rates that matter to the common man who lives below the poverty line; it is the implementation of program and projects that can transform his or her life from the traps of poverty. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja reminds us that democracy is meaningless without economic and social rights. It means nothing to people who cannot eat properly, have a roof over their heads, find a job, send their children to school, and have access to a minimum of decent health care.
At last, we can say that Chilembwe inspires us to make any meaningful sacrifice possible to make Malawi a better country for its people. This is where all professionals in the country and diaspora have to take a collective action in devising and implementing economic strategies that will lead to economic emancipation of our beloved motherland: Malawi.
Close to a century later after the demise of Chilembwe the hero, the pride of Malawi, we look to him as an inspiring factor in the realization of political and economic emancipation. The big picture is; has the nation attained the self-respect that Chilembwe inspired us to attain. In some perspectives, yes we have. On the other side we are still struggling to live the Chilembwe dream.
At present, the Malawi nation is yet to reach the desired heights of embracing the spirit of nationalism and brotherhood. We are yet to devise a collective strategy that will fish out millions of the starving citizens of Malawi from the excruciating pangs of poverty. We are still ranked one of the poorest countries in the world, and while in such a state, our country boosts of an elite that has fortunes worth billions of kwachas while millions more deserving civilians of the country live below the poverty line. We are yet to provide the majority of the masses of Malawians dignity and self-respect through equitable distribution of the little wealth of the country.
The life of Reverend John Chilembwe inspires the citizens of the country to take a leading role in demanding what belongs to them. Chilembwe gives us an inspiring example when he challenged the British government at the moment it was recruiting the natives of Nyasaland to fight the Germans in Tanzania during the First World War. Chilembwe asked: ‘We understand that we have been asked to shed our innocent blood in this world’s war…but would there be any good prospects for the natives after the war?
As we enjoy the present freedom which was spearheaded by Reverend Chilembwe’s uprising, more so now in this democratic dispensation, we are inspired by Chilembwe to question our elected representatives and demand accountability regarding policies, laws, and decisions they make on our behalf. Chilembwe inspires us to take ownership in monitoring the way economy of the country is distributed, rural empowerment programmes are fostered and poverty eradication processes are implemented.
It is certain that Chilembwe led an agricultural revolution for the country. Through the encouragement of natives planting cash crops, he was setting the base for an agricultural based economic-led economy. This inspires the nation to go an extra mile. Many centuries now we are still trapped in the non-lucrative trading of primary products than value added goods. We still rely on the growth of an economy based on raw tobacco than processed one. As we are reaping economic benefits out of the input fertilizer subsidy philosophy and the much promising green belt initiative, it is time that we diversify our agricultural practices. We can only benefit if we industrialize and shift from the rain-fed agricultural methods to irrigation systems, and in the end, selling products that have been added value to.
One thing is noticeable in the Chilembwe philosophy: the leadership system. The goverance that Reverend Chilembwe initiated entails that quality leadership enhances productivity, economic, and moral growth in a country. For us to make remarkable strides in transforming our country with the little resources we have we need quality leadership at all levels of our society.
We are ably reminded by one of Malawi’s finest philosopher Dr. Paul A. Mwaipaya in the book: the importance of quality leadership in national development, with special reference to Africa, that the significance of quality leadership is that it engages in rational and objective thinking and tries to make policies that are not far removed from the reality of human nature. Quality leadership is consistent in its deliberations as opposed to mediocre leadership which acts either without following any kind of objective manner of reasoning or simply follows the dictates of feelings, passions, sentiments, or special vested interests.
By spearheading the establishment of independent African schools Chilembwe inspires us to devise an educational system that would be responsive to the needs of the country in terms of social and economic development goals. This challenges the government in power at present and any governments to come in future to prioritize the provision of education that will be answerable to the needs of the development agenda of the country. Not only that, the nation at present is challenged to provide tertiary education to its masses, hence the contentious debate of quota system. The bottom line is that our universities do not have the capacity to absolve a good percentage of many deserving students who could excel to become leaders in different sectors in the country.
We can as well go ahead to argue that the principles of governance that were being followed by the British during the colonial days were the ones that enforced Chilembwe to rebel against such a system. This therefore inspires us to jealously safeguard principles of good governance. We can hardly celebrate the Chilembwe day with great happiness if governance is not human centred. Adebayo Adedeji in the article: The case for remarking Africa that is published in the book Action in Africa stresses that no one in Africa, not even former and contemporary despots, doubts that governance is the very foundation of civilized society and that neither social and economic progress nor political stability and national cohesiveness and unity are possible unless and until good governance is in place. Good governance should by definition be human-centred, guaranteeing civil and political rights on the one hand and social and economic rights on the other hand.
May this year’s commemoration of Chilembwe day be a constant reminder to the nation of Malawi that the success of a country goes beyond political liberation. We achieved a political mileage through breaking the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. We further went ahead to successfully abolish the one-party system of governance that ushered us into this democratic dispensation. Certainly, that achievement in the political dimension could please Reverend Chilembwe.
We are however yet to attain self-respect for each and every Malawian citizen through economic liberation. We are yet to go beyond the text book economics that looks at economic terminologies and percentages than addressing the economic thorns hurting the people of our country. It is not calculations of inflation rates that matter to the common man who lives below the poverty line; it is the implementation of program and projects that can transform his or her life from the traps of poverty. Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja reminds us that democracy is meaningless without economic and social rights. It means nothing to people who cannot eat properly, have a roof over their heads, find a job, send their children to school, and have access to a minimum of decent health care.
At last, we can say that Chilembwe inspires us to make any meaningful sacrifice possible to make Malawi a better country for its people. This is where all professionals in the country and diaspora have to take a collective action in devising and implementing economic strategies that will lead to economic emancipation of our beloved motherland: Malawi.
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