Malawi’s vocal academic freedom and human rights activist Jessie Kabwila has mockingly asked the government to also float people’s salaries if it clings to floating the local currency to the US dollar.

Kabwila said devaluation and the subsquent floatation of the kwacha before cushioning the poor has led to the current economic crisis Malawi is facing.

“People’s salaries haven’t been adjusted accordingly. Perhaps the government should also float salaries against the US dollar,” said Kabwila in Zodiak’s Tiuzeni Zoona program on Sunday.

Kabwila said the floatation of the kwacha is not ideal for a weak economy like Malawi hence the call for government to abandon it.

Kabwila joined the Consumers Association of Malawi mass protests on January 17 in which they gave the executive 21 days to fix the kwacha to the US dollar.

Asked what will be the reaction if the 21 days elapse without action, Kabwila said Malawians will decide.

“We will go back to Malawians to tell us the next course of action,” she said.

Ironically, major donors, IMF and some sections of the private sector have backed the floatation.

“IMF doesn’t stay here. IMF doesn’t rule Malawi so we can’t copy and paste anything they tell us,” said Kabwila.

Future Female President

Kabwila said the mistakes of President Joyce Banda which give the impression that she is dictated by donors will disadvantage a future female president.

“We will be judged by what she is doing. People are saying she has sold the country to IMF. Those are the things people will be saying that a female president failed so no chance for any female candidate,” she said.

Does she contemplates joining politics?

“Not now, not now. Time will tell,” said Kabwila.

Crumbling Marriage

Kabwila refused to disclose the reason behind the change of her name from Jessie Kabwila Kapasula to Jessie Kabwila, saying that was a non issue.

“I have decided to drop the Kapasula name and I will be known as Jessie Kabwila,” she said, her tone changing.

Put to her that this was a sign that she has been divorced she said that was not a public issue.

“I don’t want to talk anything on that. My marriage is a non issue. Let’s talk about the economic crisis not about my change of name,” she said.

Kabwila came in the limelight during the battle for academic freedom against the Mutharika administration.