Chilima's Dedza foray, Malawi's New Politics

After Friday's presidential aspirants debate at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Vice-President Saulos Chilima only had to wait for the night to subside to trek to Dedza District in the Central Region to address a public rally.

By 03:30pm, he was at Mlanda Secondary School Ground, where women and students gathered to be the first to be publicly addressed by the Vice President after the debacle of BICC. 

Well, gauging by the attendance at the meeting, the 2019 elections are not dusted; they are an affair unpredictable.

That Malawians vote along tribal lines is a misconception. Maybe Malawians of old; for they knew nothing but three of four parties-- especially after the 1994 multiparty elections.

Since then, things have been changing, more so because, every five years, when Malawians go to the polls, a new horde of youths join them at the ballot, pushed by the excitement of 'first-time' factor.

It is the same situation this year, where thousands of new voters will have their first experience.

At the Mlanda Secondary School rally, the youth were in abundance.

In fact, perhaps for the first time in Malawi history, students calling themselves Mlanda Secondary School UTM Wing danced.

Normally, it is university students who do so.

Perhaps Malawi politics is changing, for, even in public universities such as Mzuzu University, student-teachers, some of them are already civil servants and in the civil service, have been donning political party clothes.

Not just ruling party branded clothes; those for the opposition too.

Meanwhile, political parties have introduced different strategies, including the old strategy of door-to-door campaign. Just that, today, they have 'bought' it new colours.

When not on the road, politicians are in would-be-voters' houses.

When not at BICC, they are in church or mosques.

For the established parties, they are doing little to entice the youth; confident in the blanket or duvet of tribal-line politics.

Well, it is time to reflect on things that are taken for granted.