February 24 2022

As I write, the Russian ‘invasion’ of Ukraine has invaded major world news outlets. But that, locally is dwarfed with a few things.

The ‘pangolin’ a moniker people on the street have given the K5 000 note has just been introduced. It is difficult to understand the logic that the introduction of this ‘pangolin’ was initiated to reduce costs of printing money.

Having notes that are of a very high denomination is a clear indication that the economy is not in good shape.

But, while that is happening, the Chewa Heritage Foundation (Chefo) has gone to town asking Reverend Yasin Gama to apologise for what he said on the pulpit, which is purported to have been offensive against the Chewa culture, especially to members of Gulewamkulu.

Is there a reason a man of the collar can go down to castigate a certain aspect of culture? Yet, on the other hand, is there any justification for the grouping to demand an apology for what a man of the collar says on the pulpit? Religious leaders have said palm wine drunkards will go to hell; that prostitutes will not enter heaven and that thieves are doomed, but have they ganged up to make the men of the collar to bleed an apology?

In Gulewamkulu there are certain masks that are taken off the Christian prayer book like Maliya and Simoni. Should the church act against such mockery?

That can be thought for another day.

Some Malawians are planning demonstrations in Lilongwe that will end at the doorstep of businessman Zuneth Sattar’s associate Ashok Kumar Sreedharan. Those organising the demonstrations are angry because Sreedharan has sued Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Martha Chizuma for defamation. The people feel this is impunity, as Ashok is on the ACB ladder for alleged corruption.

One can stand to question how a phone conversation becomes slander or libel. How do you defame someone when you were talking on the phone to someone you trusted but betrayed that trust and recorded the sensitive dialogue?

That, however, is up to the judges to decide who is right here on the matter. Yet, by going on the street, the people are demonstrating that they would not love to see spanners throw in the way of the corruption fight. They are saying: No tolerance for intolerance.

And, by the way, why has there never been a probe as to why the said conversation was recorded? I repeat, again, why was the one who was talking to Chizuma not called to explain why he recorded the conversation? Who was he serving? Was it for the good of the nation?

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