Slow down on the Mid night 6

The fact that people in power become untouchables shows how undemocratic Africa will ever be. In Africa, citizens reach a point of begging those in power to resign first so that they can be prosecuted for whatever crime but this plea usually goes on deaf ears. Sometimes not so deaf because some will come in the open and refuse to resign even when the alleged crime is heinous.

In 1994 government of Malawi under Former President Bakili arrested late former President Hastings Kamuzu Banda for the alleged murder of the Mwanza 4. One MP and three cabinet ministers namely Aaron Gadama, Twaibu Sangala, Dick Matenje and David Chiwanga. I do not know what crime these noble men had commit to have their heads smashed with heavy metals (according to the findings after the autopsy 9 years after their death.) Ministers cannot just be killed like dogs, even a dog killer can be merciful. But we were told that the policemen then were behind this atrocious crime, they went to court and gave testimony. I remember some were saying that they will sleep peacefully after having this secret for nine years because even their wives never knew that they were sleeping with a killer, on the same bed.

After some time Late Dr Banda and his accomplices John Tembo, now leader of opposition and Mama Cecilia Kadzamila were acquitted, the courts said there was no evidence to prove that John Tembo and the other two were behind the four gentlemen. Just like the Robert Chasowa issue, we were told the four had were involved in a car accident, they said they hit a tree but those of us who have been to Mwanza have seen the tree and no way can this tree kill a four people at once. It must have been a small tree then, even if one wants to commit suicide through car accident he cannot use this tree unless he is insane. In the Chasowa saga, the Police Publicist quickly went on radio and told us that the young chap commited suicide. It was not after 9 years for Dr Charles Dzamalala to tell us that Chasowa was killed, not just killed but strangled.

Now, when Muluzi arrested Dr Banda following the death of the Mwanza four everyone, even those of us who have never seen Matenje before clapped hands, ‘good move Muluzi’some were saying. Muluzi was a hero; I remember I was at Civo stadium when the coffins of the four were to be re buried with full military honours, Muluzi walked majestically and grandly in the stadium when he went to lay his wreaths on all of the four coffins before they were taken to their respective homes. Muluzi, had done a good thing, arresting John Tembo and Dr Banda wow!!

Came President Bingu wa Mutharika in 2004, people said Muluzi too should be arrested for arresting the “old” Kamuzu. It was strange that Malawians, the same who clapped hands for Muluzi because he arrested Kamuzu, now knew that Kamuzu was old in 1994. They did not say Muluzi should be tried for allegedly swindling MK1.7 billion (about US$17 million), what they were after is to see Muluzi in court like how Tembo was not to seek justice. Even Nicholas Dausi, whom many say he was Banda’s dictator, once said Muluzi camp should not worry “because he [Muluzi] too arrested Kamuzu in his frail, old state. One thing I know for sure is that justice is indivisible it does not matter how old one is. Augusto Pinochet knows this well. My stand will always remain that Dr Banda had to stand trial before he died so that he should be cleared or sentenced. If Banda was not arrested then we would have believed that Kamuzu killed those for fathers, uncles, brothers to some people who are still alive now but the courts say no there was no proof, by the way it does not say he did it or did not. The good thing is that when the three were acquitted there were no more arrests of treason to claim that Dr Banda had connived with some senior Brigadiers and former General, what have you to take over power. That would have been personal now. If Muluzi had done this he would have been the most stupid President ever. But he let Kamuzu go. He even went to visit the old man at Mudi with his the then wife Anne, good looking and polite lady (she never told NGO’s akagwele uko) and the young Atupele (he must have been 16 then, now he a cabinet minister how time flies). Muluzi even ordered that no pictures of Kamuzu should be taken at the Airport when Dr Banda was on a wheel chair, almost half dead going for his last trip to South Africa’s garden city where he died.

Nicholas Dausi

 

Currently, since Muluzi’s predecessor Bingu Wa Mutharika is no more, some are saying the Midnight 6 should face justice. One of the six by the way is Nicholas Dausi, Banda’s former bodyguard. Now, These 6 must have been crazy to swear in a President at night. What they were to do would have proved that elections in Africa are useless, these people really rig elections for sure and they wanted to ‘rig’ against President Joyce Banda. Many are saying justice should prevail, that is good. But they should not do it because they tortured Atupele, Ralph Kasambara and Joyce Banda when the 6 had a chauffeur and a Malawian flag on their cars. They should do it to seek justice, they should seek justice in the event that in some not too distant future no one should come and say ‘arrest Joyce Banda because she too arrested the crazy midnight 6.’ An eye for an eye will take us nowhere, tit for tat which late President Bingu Wa Mutharika started will take us nowhere (ask Lucius banda what comes to mind when he hears the word tit-for-tat).

It’s good for Muluzi to answer the corrupt charges; it can clear him as well. It was good Dr Banda was arrested acquitted. The 6 must face charges as well, and many more corrupt charges. Vwaza Marsh I hear!!

In the process of seeking justice, we too must not be doing injustice. Justice is a free thing it flows automatically. Martin Luther King, Jr. was right when he said; a right thing which has been temporarily defeated is stronger than the evil which is triumphant. Take heart do not rush on the Midnight 6.