Malawi: the death of President, police corruption
Note: the photo is of protests 2011 the people of Malawi against Mutharikha
When you cross a country, Malawi, you get to the flag at half mast because its president has just died, everything is possible, even you can not enter. In Africa, many times, after losing a proxy has been a bloodbath, a struggle for ethnic change in power, an attempt to democratize institutions and governments, unfortunately, end up with new times that are good to very bad previous. Everything was possible when you want to enter a country that has just run out of head of government and there is a power vacuum. Maybe a revolt, an uprising ... A part of me was preparing to tell with some emotion professional, witnessing the preferred.
Everything was possible when you want to enter a country that has just run out of head of government and there is a power vacuum. Maybe a revolt, a survey ...
Bingu wa Mutharikha, the president who had died from 2004 in power, was another case of excesses and corruption. Last man of spotless before the votes are "crowned" king, had worked at the UN, World Bank and was considered a brilliant economist who had contributed to the development of the area. The first legislature met the expectations of the international community, I saw clear structural reforms, and the second came the excesses of who assumes the post of a farmhouse from which to enrich their own. It ended with a break of diplomatic relations in 2011 with the UK, after the expulsion ordered by the British High Commission Mutharikha (Ambassador of the Commonwealth), alerting of Malawi's democratic breakdown in diplomatic cable made public. Never mind that the British will provide nearly 50 percent of the economic flow of an impoverished country, it is important for a satrap dominate farm with an iron fist. The same criticism rained down from the U.S. Embassy or the Catholic Church, of which the "good" the president was devoted. The threat of a new Mugabe seemed to come true. His last act before dying were prohibited to be criticized in the media and begin to monitor and close social networks.
His last act before dying were prohibited to be criticized in the media and begin to monitor and close social networks
When we reached the border around the predictable uproar that seemed far away we might expect. There was a total calm, a few cars, some starving goats crossing the desert border and hustler always waiting to trick the foreign. At the bottom, gnawed, a country flag banner hanging from a halfway ground and sky. After sealing the passports, not paid visa, Victor goes to make the car entry papers.
It began just over an hour of discussion with corrupt customs officials alleged cahoots with insurance agents car insurance denied our international, South African, in Malawi included explicitly, was valid. You had to take a new and curious types out there that took care of them wandered. Cops looked long and heated discussion sideways, as if it were not with them all this farce. A theater perfectly fitted to steal abroad. If you will not pay here two miles later, where a police check will ask you papers and tell us that our insurance is not valid.
Cops looked long and heated discussion sideways, as if it were not with them all this farce. A theater perfectly fitted to steal abroad
The story is already written, the rules are nonexistent. A fine and three miles later insurance or accept a humiliating theft on that frontier? Finally accept eternal worn by a discussion in which we intervened Dani, Ana Paula, Victor and I. They, while, repeat the same nonsense message and wait for the pressure of heated arguments go drown our. They have time, lifetime, we do not. Then prepares a paper type, paid 50 dollars and, in the voracity of Pedidor, your "thief", snuff and just asking you a tip for work done. Send him to take down ... and the smiles and wishes you bon voyage faced not understand your anger.
We were in Malawi, beautiful country of mountains and a decent road. People are friendly, especially since the car seems smiling. "The road to Lake Malawi mythical not seem to be Complicated", I , but 60 kilometers later we stop at a roadblock.. The face of the agent and informer I think Dani commented that it is not clean wheat. Start asking other theater roles, ceremonious, always begins with scrutinizing the car looks. Then, after a minute of spinning the vehicle, is uncovered and requires the triangles. "Here are", Victor replies. The agent knows that you only need ask for more. "Show me the extinguisher". "Extinguisher? ¿What Extinguisher?”, says Victor. "In Malawi extinguisher is mandatory on cars", replicates our police. The phrase you despair, you know that starts another row, but this time we're exhausted from indiscriminate robberies. Victor, after discussing, it rises to the ceiling of 4×4 and removes the gas camping. "Here the extinguisher", tells her. The police, difficulty that can differentiate a barbecue fire extinguisher, get stuck, thoughtful. At that time under the car and I'll talk to him. He taught my press card and I explain that I'm angry working for the government of his country and that this retention is damaging our work. Doubt, think maybe he will be involved in a major problem with a superior, and decides to let go with a face of disgust. "Mutharikha not seem so dead", I think when you return the car.
"Here the extinguisher", tells her. The police, difficulty that can differentiate a barbecue fire extinguisher, get stuck
The power of the country over the next few hours taking in the Constitutional mandated Joyce Banda, Vice President and enemy of the late President. A woman will rule in Africa. U.S. pressure and the refusal of the army chief to intervene to change that appointment was that there was no bloodbath, a coup in favor of brother and Mutharikha, then, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Death from heart attack caught him off guard the president, no time to liquidate your enemy, Allied years. Malawi is at peace, for the time being. People tells us in the days after they are hopeful about a change of political direction. Fuel today to buy black market petrol stations while waiting for rain from the sky fuel (in their own service stations is managed and illegal purchase carafe), food is not distributed, rising prices of raw materials, Poverty and AIDS. The country seems to fall apart, precipitated into an abyss of oblivion. His true splendor of yesteryear is now a dust layer peeling. Her great beauty collides with reality. Rest in peace Mutharikha
