As part of the analysis of the press statement that Vice President, Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Chilima delivered two days ago, on June 6, let me very briefly give you two political incidences in world history which I like very much. They are case studies very relevant and central to my analysis and commentary on Chilima’s speech.
On March 15, 44 BC when Emperor Julius Caesar had been assassinated by a group of Roman senators, a Roman politician and sympathizer of Caesar, Marc Anthony, having been spared by the conspirators had only one way to avenge the death of Caesar and overthrow the conspirators. He only requested for an opportunity to be allowed to give a speech and address citizens of Rome during the funeral ceremony of Caesar. Anthony knew very well that during the funeral all citizens of Rome will have their attention towards the podium where he would put the lifeless, stabbed and bleeding body of Caesar while he speaks.
During the time of speeches, Anthony was given the chance to speak last. When he to rose and spoke, he spoke in such a way that by the time he finished speaking, the citizens of Rome had moved into a riot. They burned down buildings in anger and destroyed homes and property of the murderers of Caesar. The murderers fled from Rome. All Antony needed was an opportunity to give a speech at the moment when all citizens would give him undivided attention. That speech at that very moment did not only help him avenge and overthrow the traitors but also sealed his fate to become Emperor of Rome.
That is an ancient example, but principles of the art of politics do not really change. That is why in a more contemporary example, Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez requested to have a press conference on television as a condition of his surrender to the coup d’état against President Carlos Andrés Pérez on February 4, 1992. Just like Marc Anthony, Hugo Chavez knew very well and calculated that since there had been a coup attempt, the whole country would be very interested to listen to what had happened and who was behind it. They would all have their attention to the television to listen to the man that had tried to overthrow the president.
When a politician has such a moment they give it their best shot and pray that they don’t miss. They make the moment count because great history is made and fate is decided right there and then or never again. I am very sure, and I won’t be moved that Chilima had this golden moment for himself but he just wasted it. It is very disappointing that he instead simply promised that he shall come again thinking that the country shall be interested in him again with the same level of attention, excitement and hope. Never! He blew it.
As of 10:00am every eye was glued to their televisions and all ears to their radios. Nothing else mattered in life but to listen to what Chilima was going to say about his candidacy and determination towards 2019. At this moment, Vice President Chilima was the most talked about person in the country and had more attention in the country than President Mutharika himself. This was the moment for Chilima to hit real hard that even children unborn would hear his message loud and clear and would talk about it in the future as if they were present on that day.
Yes, the coherence, flow and diction of his speech were excellent but these elements only assist to attractively package political substance for excellent delivery of the speech. And much as he also condemned tribalism, undemocratic tendencies, corruption and similar malpractices of government and resisted the temptation to play conventional politics of personal attacks, he missed it badly on the real substance of the context and moment that necessitated his speech. Unlike Anthony, or Chavez, Chilima missed the real opportunity to make history and influence Malawians to embrace him as the messiah that the country has been waiting for.
Chilima failed even to immediately announce his resignation from DPP after giving his audience more than enough reasons that would make him leave DPP without hesitation. Yes, he made it clear that his next step after withdrawing himself from wrestling with Mutharika will be a procedural resignation. But let us get serious people! What does that even mean? There is no substance here because he makes it look like there is a certain rigorous procedure that must be followed at all cost in order to resign. But what burdensome procedure does one follow to quit a party he accuses of corruption and nepotism and does not even have any position that might require handing over of files, responsibilities and equipment to facilitate smooth transition? What will Chilima are doing in DPP between now and his future resignation at an unknown date which is so important that an immediate resignation was not possible?
As far as I am concerned, Chilima has demonstrated high levels of indecisiveness and lack of a sense of timing to pounce on opportunities and take full advantage of them. In fact, he does not even know an opportunity when it is there. If he knew that he was not ready to declare his plans for 2019 or that he is not going to contest at all, then he should have just issued a written press statement through his spokesperson and get it published in the newspaper and other channels.
He should have reserved his day of public statement and appearance on television for serious things. He should have kept this moment for serious impact whereby he would stand and speak without even having to read a speech, but speak strongly and boldly from the heart to declare instant resignation from DPP and the formation of his party, and draw the battle line. On this day, he would have assured Malawians that the moment of new leadership has arrived, and he is ready to redeem them or die trying.
Unfortunately, Chilima has demonstrated that his is too careful for leadership of a political revolution that Malawi desperately needs. He takes too much of his time with details and hesitates to act. He can’t lead a revolution. Chilima is too much of a bureaucrat and the private sector still has too much of him. That is why he even thinks about following procedure to resign from a position he does not have. He is too much of a gentleman for the political leadership that this moment demands.
He is too good a CEO of a company in the private sector, but for a brave political leader of our time, Chilima is nowhere near that. And that explains why he failed to carry an effective coup against Mutharika within DPP. He does not have it in him. He is just an intelligent bureaucrat. But maybe that’s what our country needs. I still wish him the best!
Dr Sibande answer this question,,by clinging on the past do you expect to move forward?
The arguments are so far not focusing on the issue at hand but on whether one is a supporter of Chilima or not. I feel the Writer has done a very good job here. We all gave the VP our attention but what came out has only managed to make him less popular. Chilima is less popular and less important now than before he made that speech.
Kodi mamembala wamba Tizisevaso Notice tisanatuluke mzipanimu?I too am not in the NGC but will follow all the necessary procedures to resign from DPhi Phi.
Spot on. Missed opportunity really on his part.
This is not 44 BC and what you have read from William Shakespeare is just re-construction of events that happened. Mark Anthony’s speech was just made up by Shakespeare, those were not his exact words. There are so many events in the political history of the world. Why should Chilima choose to learn from these two examples you have provided? Is it because they appeal to you? Let Chilima be himself, not Mark Anthony or Yugo Chavez. Of course, leadership does not come packaged even from Yale, Harvard etc.
With this sort of thinking, little wonder there is so much mediocrity!
Doubtful if Chilima has read history that for back! As regards his intellect, that also is suspect. Intelligent leadership does not come packaged from University of Derby open courses.
I thought Chilima has display high level of political cowardace. He should have seized the opportunity to put his message across and outline his vision for Malawi. Chilima feels the DPP kitchen is hot for him but he is afraid to take sacrifices because he is uncertain of himself and the unpredictable political terrain. This was a missed opportunity for a budding young politician to make a lasting impression.
You are not Chilima and you don’t know what he wants. You are DPP so there is nothing good you can say. There are people who have made up there mind to support him and others like you who will not. And there is no one who is certain about the political terrain, that is why your president was in Ngongoliwa belt to plead with his tribesmen not to listen to the Judases.