“We in the DPP believe that if a government does not care about people, it has no right to  govern.”

This is an extract from the “Foreword” to the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) Manifesto. The Foreword was signed off by none other than Professor Bingu wa Mutharika.

Milton Friedman observed that:

“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results”.

Taking our cue from Friedman, we should desist from judging the DPP based on its original stated intentions, no. We must focus on the evidence that is on the ground as we have seen, lived and experienced it.

This is an open participatory review where you and I, will measure and assess progress made, if any,by the DPP, based its campaign promises. In the course of this evaluation, the proclamation above will be our central theme. Against this theme, questions that everyone should answer, without fear or favour,at the END of this process, are as follows:

• From May 19, 2009 has the DPP demonstrated care for the people of Malawi? [Please elaborate]
• And, depending on your answer to the preceding question, does the DPP have a right to govern? [Please suggest a course or courses of action in the light of your answer]

As I do not intend to pre-empt or influence your responses, I will for now, keep my own views to myself. I however believe that every Malawian, who can access the internet; has the capacity, intelligence, right and freedom to arrive at his or her own conclusions based on his or her experience of life in the second and final term of Professor Bingu wa Mutharika and further, defend his or her point of view.

The Mission of the DPP, verbatim is to:

“…instil confidence in the economy and to persuade Malawians to believe in ourselves that we can achieve macro-economic growth and reduce poverty through sound financial management and fiscal prudence; to create more jobs; to redistribute incomes by promoting significant domestic savings, foreign financing and investment in our agricultural processing, industrial production and manufacturing; and to thereby increase the supply ofquality goods and services for the domestic and international markets.”

It is a noble expression of intent by all means, but since we cannot judge by intentions, questions, in the context of recent developments andthe (true) state of the nation are as follows:

Has the DPP:

1. instilled confidence in the economy and to persuade Malawians to believe in ourselves that we can achieve macroeconomic growth?
2. reduced poverty through sound financial management and fiscal prudence?
3. created more jobs?
4. redistributed incomes by promoting significant domestic savings, foreign financing and investment in our agricultural processing, industrial production and manufacturing?
5. increased the supply of quality goods and services for the domestic and international markets?

The Convenant that the DPP made with Malawians:

This assessment will be incomplete if we do not review the promise that the party, unsolicited, made to the people. The undertaking made by the DPP, again verbatim, is:

“… to unite the people of Malawi, regardless of tribe, race, colour, religion or creed, political belief or affiliation, so that together we can build the kind of Malawi we want forourselves, our children and our grand-children; to provide sound political and economic leadership and to work with all Malawians, including those in the opposition, in a spirit of political tolerance, understanding and reconciliation, thereby consolidating peace, harmony, security and stability as the basis for prosperity of our country.”

Reading this, I know it is difficult to keep oneself from (and even to stop) laughing at the irony but I beg you, save the laughter for later and proceed with this last part of the evaluation.

1. Has the DPP united the people of Malawi, regardless of tribe, race, colour, religion or creed, political belief or affiliation?
2. Has the DPP created an atmosphere of unity and togetherness?
3. Has the DPP provided sound political and economic leadership and to work with all Malawians, including those in the opposition?
4. Has the DPP demonstrated a spirit of political tolerance, understanding and reconciliation to consolidating peace, harmony, security and stability as the basis for prosperity of mother Malawi?

Conclusion of this Part of the Evaluation:

Clause Number 153 of this coloured dream verbatim is:

“The Democratic Progressive Party will continue to develop an external policy that strengthens our national sovereignty and respect for our country. To that end, a new compact with the donors will be agreed upon that will ensure that Malawi participates and contributes fully in the development of a new world order.”

1. Does this  add up or make sense in the light of recent developments or rather, is this the root of recent developments?

But as I said earlier on, I do not want to influence your views, opinion, or thinking, or lack there-of.

Respectfully, requested are your comments, both quantitative (YES or NO) and qualitative. These will feed into the final part of this evaluation. Please revisit the Manifesto and if you can, peruse it, to re-acquaint yourself or get a fuller picture of what the DPP said it would deliver.

Please forward this to your friends, relatives, neighbours and everybody in all the three regions of Malawi – and beyond – so that we can get a result that is as representative as possible.

Your feedback will be analysed, and compiled into a report for a second round of discussion, as soon as possible.

This evaluation is being sponsored by the Nyasa Times – Malawi’s leading onliner.

*Wise One From The East