By Deogratias Mmana:
In the book of Julius Caesar, the judgement Brutus made when he let Mark Antony speak at the funeral was the turning point which led to the downfall of conspirators.
Brutus’ final act of poor judgement was when he decided to attack Antony and Octavius at Philippi.
The general purpose of most speeches is to inform, persuade, entertain and commemorate or celebrate.
President Lazarus Chakwera’s speech on Thursday, a few hours before voting for National Executive Committee (Nec) members at the Malawi Congress Party elective conference, may have achieved one of the objectives of a speech—thus persuading some delegates to not vote for candidates that splashed money on delegates prior to the convention.
Some contestants were alleged to have splashed money on delegates prior to the August 8 to 10 convention.
Chakwera boldly told the delegates to not vote for people who gave them handouts and that, instead, they had to vote for people who had the interest of Malawians at heart.
The President said positions that are influenced because of money or handouts are not sustainable because voters may vote with the wrong reasons.
“N’zomvetsa chisoni kwambiri kuti ena pofuna mipando akhala nakutsogoza kugawa ndalama ndi chuma ngati kuti ku Malawi kuno kulibe malamulo oletsa katangale mu ndale kapena ngati kuti chipanichi ndichogulitsa, chifukwa wina asakunamizeni, mpando olowera ndalama suumakhalapo mokhazikika chifukwa anthu amakhala akukusapotera pa zifukwa zolakwika [It is unfortunate that some candidates splashed money on delegates in exchange with votes as if the country has no laws on corruption or as if the party is for sale. Positions that come under the influence of money are not sustainable because people vote for you with the wrong reasons],” he said.
Speaking on the issue, executive director (ED) at the Church and Society of the Blantyre Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Reverend Master Jumbe, said Chakwera’s speech had an impact on the candidature of those who splashed out cash.
Jumbe said in this democratic era when people are well enlightened on things, campaigning using money is cheap politics.
“The speech had an impact, especially for those who splashed money on delegates in exchange with votes. It is a lesson to other parties and candidates that money cannot buy people’s trust in an individual.
“If our democratic governance were to mature, let people vote for individuals with ideas and not money,” Jumbe said.
On his part, Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation ED Michael Kaiyatsa said Chakwera’s speech, plus other factors, may have had an impact on the results.
“Looking at the results, one might conclude that his speech had an impact on election outcomes but, then, there could be other factors,” Kaiyatsa said.
But, maybe, as the party’s director of recruitment Madalitso Kazombo claimed, some of the previous party leaders became untouchable, which proved to be their downfall.
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