Dear judge Mbadwa,

Keeping one’s word, my lord, in this world which is by its nature in the state of flux, is not any easy thing.

There seems to be several factors that militate against one’s resolve to keep their word and we now have come to realise that it only takes resilience to be that doer of the word.

Oh! I never knew how very cheap talk is that regardless of the devalued currency, every ‘poor’ (meaning undependable) politician in Nyasaland—especially those from Tokha Are Liars— can afford it.

My lord, forgive me because a simple mind would think that I have started this letter cryptically, but I am really spelling out the obvious.

By now, my lord, you are aware that hardly three months have gone since Lazaro announced a series of austerity measures aimed at injecting some life into the moribund economy.

He has gone back on his word after deciding to fly to Zaire for a presidential inauguration.

The measures really came on the back of the approval of the $175 million Extended Credit Facility from the International Muzzling Fund (IMF).

So, my ears and I started leaving, when he started cataloguing the so-called measures that November because I knew Lazaro was not addressing Nyasas, but IMF and the entire donor community, trying to create a semblance of seriousness.

Many citizens knew very well that the apparent tough talk was a mere public relations façade they usually drew on when their approval ratings tumble down.

Take it from me, my lord, the Zaire trip is not a matter of life and death. There is no crisis anywhere that warrants Lazaro’s presence there after all he ceased being (chair of any regional bloc.

It is just an ordinary inauguration and Lazaro would have easily delegated the responsibility of attending it to the Nyasaland Foreign Affairs Minister or any other minister of his choice.

My lord, if we were to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the trip, we would realise that there is nothing that our economy would gain by attending that trip.

In these days of zoom or gogglemeet virtual meetings, a real crisis would not have waited for a physical meeting to be held and surely nobody’s house has been burnt down anywhere.

We know, my lord, that we have not earned a reputation of being one of the most travelling self-appointed African emissaries for nothing.

The trips were missed in these three months and there was a need to get back to what we are known for.

My lord, I feel I have a different meaning of sacrifice from the ones politicians know. The difference is shown where they refuse to participate in the process of sacrificing for the growth of the economy of the country while us the citizens are the unwilling participants.

My lord, I am waiting to hear that we have received a donation of diamond or gold from Zaire on the account of this trip.

Regards,

John Citizen

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