Election Friction
For the past three weeks, I was on house arrest. Well, sorta. I could move out and around my site but I was strictly forbidden to go to town or near any crowds or political rallies. And I was to prepare to evacuate… just in case.
In case what happens, you ask?
Well, you know, America’s not the only country who’s having a presidential election! This is election year for us, as well as many other African countries. In case things go haywire, we have to go into panic mode and evacuate. O.K., maybe not panic mode because we have a detailed emergency plan all worked out. The likelihood of us evacuating is probably not likely, but Peace Corps doesn’t want to take any chances with the recent violent political uprisings in Congo, Somalia, Kenya and Madagascar… all in Eastern Africa.
This tension is strange… I’ve never felt this kind of tension during an election. It’s not the will-we-have-our-first-black-president or who-will-rescue-us-from-this-mess kind but the how-safe-are-we kind. Malawi has only been democratic for 35 years and a multi-party one for the last 14 years. But 30 of those years were ruled with an iron fist and the succeeding 10 years ruled by corruption. People say that it was only in the last 5 years that they’ve seen real progress and development in Malawi.
This month, the presidential candidates registered for the election and are awaiting the Malawi Electoral Commission to determine the results for the election. But the real drama is happening with the former president who had already presided for two terms but still wants to run again. There were debates over the sketchy phrasings of the constitution and his intentions for running against the incumbent president, as well as the charges he is facing. Our main concern isn’t about who will become candidates but more how they will respond, especially from one person and his followers who are notorious for violence.
Since Blantyre is the hub of all political activities and residences, all the southern volunteers were warned to stay away, especially from political rallies. There was news of clashes between parties that resulted in some injuries but nothing drastic. For the time being, we’re no longer being held at site and can move around but with vigilance. (I was so glad, because I didn’t have meat since the beginning of January and was craving so much for a chicken burger in town!)
The next few months will mark the last stretch of the campaign. If all are approved by the Malawi Electoral Commission, the showdown will be between UDF’s Muluzi (former president), DPP’s Bingu (incumbent president), and MCP’s Tembo (opposition party).
When I inquired people of their choice of president, many preferred Bingu, though some preferred Muluzi. Those who liked Bingu extolled his efforts at developing Malawi the last 5 years and others liked Muluzi for his notorious “hand-outs”. But one mentioned that he would vote for “whoever will bring food” because we are now facing a period of famine due to last year’s bad harvest. :(
With all the excitement in the air, Malawi Electoral Commission is also really encouraging for a peaceful and safe election. Ghana has hopefully set the precedence for a peaceful election recently (which apparently didn’t have any bearing on Madagascar). Mozambique also had their election just not too long before we went there for Christmas. There have been lots of radio advertisements and flyers about how to have a non-violent and safe election. Come May 19th, my hopes and prayers are set on Malawi proving herself to be the peaceful country that she is and to be a beacon of light for other African countries.
