*SOME KEY LESSONS THAT CAN BE DRAWN TODAY FROM THE CABINET CRISIS OF 1964* .
1. Inadequacy syndrome* should not be given room when it comes to national leadership. As long as one has been mandated by the majority to lead others, he/she must not feel inadequate and throw in the towel like what the leaders of Nyasaland African Congress (Orton Chirwa, Masauko Chipembere, Kanyama Chiume etc) did in 1957 paving way for Dr Banda.
2. Anybody whose *background/behavior* cannot be ascertained should never be given a chance to lead, let alone be a national political leader.
3. The *terms of reference* for a leader should be well stipulated in the organization’s constitution for members to follow. No member/leader should be recruited on special personal terms which are outside constitutional agreements.
4. No member should have a *monopoly* of any organizational leadership positions (ie life presidency)
5. If Dr Banda had been subjected to such scrutiny prior to his ascending into power, may be the political history of Malawi would have been more human and more development oriented
– Dr Banda realised very early in his political career that he was leading people who had no clear vision about their destiny and therefore formulated his own personal vision which he imposed on the people of Malawi.
– At the time cabinet crisis of 1964 occurred, many Malawians were prematurely gripped with euphoria of independence and as a result, were indecisive. Such indecisiveness gives room to political opportunists to take charge of the situation and mislead everyone.
+++++++++
*Source* : Suffering In Silence_Malawi Women’s 30 Year Dance With Dr Banda by *Emily Nkamanga* (2015).
Comments