To 2012/13 Blogger of the Year, President Joyce Banda and the Youth of Malawi

Well, tomorrow Misa-Malawi on May 3, 2013 will announce Malawi's blogger of the year. I wish to congratulate the winner as I was ineligible in the preceding year and more importantly as it was an inaugural award. Interestingly it is the only award I received locally despite the many prestigious certificates and awards of merits on different topic. I have always been proud of my award as the blog was a personal initiative, of the few after my youth work that I got from my own personal effort.

After a few false starts in January, many of my blogger followers, whom now directly number 16,000 across the World and with my all time peak of 200,000 hits a day during the July 20, 2011 demonstrations asking me to return to writing. Today I am proud to announce my official return to writing after a break of nine months and more importantly to make this blog, your blog, guide and decision making process for 2014 general elections.

I am proud to say that I have, through my work in the past 15 years, interacted with all politicians and I have been compiling materials for books for future publications. My official holiday ends on May 3, 2013 after which I will return to writing, and writing for the nation.

The other two initiatives that I will be involved from the 6th of May will be duly announced soon, though these include a probable Newspaper-investigative in nature and a project to push for greater public accountability by examining deals, tenders and loans which are not to the interest of Malawians.

Another project is that of guiding the "New Million voters" that the Born Free generation present. These are the people born between 1990 and 1995 who will be voting for the first time in the next elections. Should they vote for the people who spend time insulting others, or should vote for a young person just because he is young? Let us walk through a journey of discovery together, where time permits we have assembled a powerful team of young politicians and professionals to make the case of what this generation-THE BORN FREE GENERATION want. Some parties have been saying what they will do for us the young people, others have been insulting us. Just a reminder, the Late Aleke Banda whose picture is among the few on this blog started politics at the age of 17. I am not interested to go into debate with someone who believes 60 years later that a young Malawian has no brains to run the country. The calibre of AKB is rare among our crop of politicians whose specialisation is jumping from one party to another.

Further, it is high time Malawians closely are given an opportunity to examine what our Leaders stand for before the next election. I believe I have come across all of them, President Joyce Banda, Vice President Khumbo Kachali, Cabinet Ministers like Dr. Ken Lipenga, Honourable Sidik Mia, Honourable Uladi Mussa, Honourable Henry Phoya, Honourable Ralph Kasambara and even Honourable Sosten Gwengwe in the Peoples Party administration. Others like Honourable John Tembo,  Dr. Bakili Muluzi, Professor Peter Mutharika, Dr. Cassim Chilumpha, Honourable Henry Chimunthu Banda, Honourable Atupele Muluzi, Honourable Dr. Clement Chiwaya and many others we have interacted long enough that my analysis of them would not be far from the truth. The book series are almost done and hopefully I should publish before 2014 general elections.

The names that I will be looking at will be those that are seeking public office, many have used their money, power and authority on media to leave out some issues, others have been outstanding in their service to the nation.

For the last month, many have called to ask me 'hold on". I have asked some of them "hold on for what?" 

The cardinal mistake a politician would make is to trust a 'political gossiper' and unfortunately in all our major political parties political gossip is synonymous with being loyal to the dear leader.

Those that gossiped my next destination must be disappointed that I did not attend any party convention or meetings or did not join that club or group. I am a journalist, now a freelance and would, as I succeeded during the tough times of 2010-2011 bring the voice of reason, truth and justice to all.

In exercising that analysis of our politicians and political parties-BY THE WAY NONE HAVE OWN DISTINCT PHILOSOPHY- the blog will include pictures of all political parties and players. The monopoly that one party had due to nature of my old employment changes. It is an independent blog.

In the same breadth, let me join those that have expressed shock and disappointment that our President has refused to sign the TABLE MOUNTAIN DECLARATION on press freedom. I wish this announcement was delayed until after the May 3 celebrations. The President whose agenda has mainly focused on the rural poor should not be sending wrong signals to the World about her beliefs in democracy and press freedom. I hope she will rise up to the occasion before Friday May 3, 2013 that we can all celebrate her democratic credentials.

Lastly to the youth of Malawi, what is development? That is the question every youth should try to answer and best responses will be loaded here. Email at kmunthali@yahoo.com.

Let the journey begin towards 2014. First live updates on Friday, May 3, 2013 World Press Freedom and twitter follow @kondwamunthali

Until Victory Always!- Che