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Save for the continuous flow of words through loudspeakers, which myriads of people have planted in different parts of Malawi with less than one hour, 40 minutes before the Constitutional Courts makes a determination on whether Malawi's May 21 presidential election was poorly managed or not, silence is the main course of the meal.
Indeed, institutions such as Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian declared February 3 a holiday for employees, with other private institutions following suit.
However, the government of Malawi announced that the day would not be a public holiday. But this has not been enough to give February 3, which Malawi media has described as "Judgement Day", a semblance of a busy day.
If anything, it is only the five Constitutional Court judges led by Healey Potani that are the busiest, going through their 500-page judgement but by bit-- which, although the judges have said that they are not going through it word-for-word, seems agonisingly slow for citizens on the edge.
At 4pm, the judges announced that there was two more hours remaining before they can announce their determination, and went further to declare a 10-minute break so that they could consult with security personnel-- in this case, because the stakes are high, the law enforcement personnel include Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service operatives--on whether to continue with judgement or subject Malawians to 24 more hours of waiting.
To the relief of all, Potani announced that they have been assured of security and will continue with the judgement for the remaining two hours. At least 40 minutes have elapsed now.
Meanwhile, cities such as Blantyre, Lilongwe-- where the court is sitting--, Mzuzu, Zomba and Mangochi Town Council, business has come to a stand-still as shops and offices remain closed. The offices can be excused for now, for a typical working day in Malawi starts as 07:30am and ends at 5pm. So, most offices, which were closed for the most part of the day even during business hours, are closed now.
In Mangochi, just like most parts of Malawi, the feeling is that of fear, fear that soke people may go on rampage if things do not go their way.
But, so far, so good.
The feeling of heavy expectation is so aromatic in the air that it can be smelt. Literally.
In less than one hour fourty minutes, it will be the moment of truth-- truth which the five Constitutional Court judges, four men and one wokan, have been keeping close to their chests.
Indeed, institutions such as Nkhoma Synod of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian declared February 3 a holiday for employees, with other private institutions following suit.
However, the government of Malawi announced that the day would not be a public holiday. But this has not been enough to give February 3, which Malawi media has described as "Judgement Day", a semblance of a busy day.
If anything, it is only the five Constitutional Court judges led by Healey Potani that are the busiest, going through their 500-page judgement but by bit-- which, although the judges have said that they are not going through it word-for-word, seems agonisingly slow for citizens on the edge.
At 4pm, the judges announced that there was two more hours remaining before they can announce their determination, and went further to declare a 10-minute break so that they could consult with security personnel-- in this case, because the stakes are high, the law enforcement personnel include Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service operatives--on whether to continue with judgement or subject Malawians to 24 more hours of waiting.
To the relief of all, Potani announced that they have been assured of security and will continue with the judgement for the remaining two hours. At least 40 minutes have elapsed now.
Meanwhile, cities such as Blantyre, Lilongwe-- where the court is sitting--, Mzuzu, Zomba and Mangochi Town Council, business has come to a stand-still as shops and offices remain closed. The offices can be excused for now, for a typical working day in Malawi starts as 07:30am and ends at 5pm. So, most offices, which were closed for the most part of the day even during business hours, are closed now.
In Mangochi, just like most parts of Malawi, the feeling is that of fear, fear that soke people may go on rampage if things do not go their way.
But, so far, so good.
The feeling of heavy expectation is so aromatic in the air that it can be smelt. Literally.
In less than one hour fourty minutes, it will be the moment of truth-- truth which the five Constitutional Court judges, four men and one wokan, have been keeping close to their chests.
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