The Queens Jubilee, Cuba,ANC @ 100 & what happens next

The second day of 2012 has been quite cold in Malawi Capital, but for sure two things are certain that the African National Congress, that party of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Govani Mbeki and Jacob Zuma will definately mark 100 years since its formation in a church in 1912. I am sure there are a couple of 100 year olds around the world who would want to share the experience.



But after starting to a promising start, the South African dominant party has failed to uplift the standards of living for the many poor, average and rural black communities.



Ironically, people like Julius Malema have decided to ride on the back of such poor people-especially the young ones and claim to be their saviour. He rides a range rover, lives in Sandton but wants to sound like an Alexander inhabitant. I have heard say it is his part that matters.



I am sure the ruling Democratic Progressive Party will join the K2.5 billion (ZAR100million) lined up the whole year and for sure to be led by no other than President Bingu wa Mutharika who loves ceremonies and historical symbols.



However to many still struggling, to young people forced into crime due to poverty and to those that have lost jobs, it will be another pain seeing how the elected easily forget their promises. K2.5 billion can make a difference. I cannot wait to see what will come out of the ANC bash.



In Cuba, they celebrated their anniversary this weekend and nothing has changed. We should continue asking Raul Castro to make a difference in the new generation that has a potential to make it in the medical, agriculture and scientific field. The youth of Camaguey, Cabo Delegado, Boyeros and Isle of Youth were an insipiration to many of us who have been to this Island.



Contrary the Queen of England will be commemorating her Diamong Jubilee in June, the programme looks simple but more appropriate to the British Monarch. If it were an African it would be a huge cost without regard to the needs of the people.

Let our celebrations, commemorations and egos take into account the majority poor who cannot afford food and basic medicines than merry making on skinny bones!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Obama, Ntaba and the long walk towards Tobacco control

Today, a heart rendering and touching ceremony was heard at the Durban Convetion centre in South Africa, 40 million people have died since 1999 from tobacco smoking deaths. The diseases are many so it denial. The Framework Convention Alliance and many Civil Society organisations, are working tirelessly to inform the public on the dangers of smoking. I felt ashamed as a Malawian to hear Malawi mentioned now and then as a country which has not signed the FCTC a World Heath organisation treaty that advocates regulation of tobacco smoking. I am not sure what Bakili Muluzi was thinking, but I am sure my President Bingu wa Mutharika is intelligent enough to read the treaty and realise that in anyway regulating smoking does it kill our tobacco sector. After all as Yussuf Saloojee and Alison Cox say, the crop has not helped Malawians much in their 100 years of growing. I see poverty, we cry poverty and for years we continue to be among the poorest despite not having wars or any sort of conflic
Read more

Protect the Poor Madame President

Finally the evil we all pretended would never come has landed. The Malawi Kwacha for long held at an artificial rate has come crumbling down to an already worn out people. Malawians have moved from position of comfort to that of uncertainty in the past one also years. The devaluation this morning, could not have been as painful as this one will be, if the kwacha was let to float and make its own value stand. Controls should only be done in economies which are stronger to sustain themselves. Today, the dollar is at K252 officially and the countries largest Commercial bank is buying at K247 and selling hard cash at K257. Good news to exporters- especially tobacco farmers. Their take home will increase considerably though we are not sure how the corresponding cost of living will  be at the moment. The cost of living is already high for an average worker in Malawi. The administration of President Joyce Banda, as she personally say running to put things in order. She says Malawi n
Read more