Thriving Through Trials

My beloved Malawi, once again your democracy has spoken and this time, it has shaken the continent. In an election where the current president lost and a former leader, now 85 years old, returned to power, the world is tempted to focus only on personalities. But the true story lies deeper in the soil of your villages, in the hands of the poor, in the ballots of the rural majority who carry this democracy on their backs.

I am not Malawian by birth, but by love. I have followed you for years, and I proudly call you home. What drew me first was your peace and kindness. What keeps me is your people, their loyalty, humility, and wisdom.

For too long, these Malawians, poor by material standards, limited in Western education, often dismissed by the powerful, have been misunderstood. They bow to authority, nod politely, clap and dance when politicians arrive with promises, even when the words sound hollow. They show respect, not because they are naive, but because they are loyal. Yet when the ballot is placed in their hands, they reveal their true strength. The village may bow to authority in silence, but at the ballot box it rises with a voice that cannot be ignored.

This election has proven it: Malawians no longer vote simply by region, tribe, or party. They vote with memory, with frustration, and with vision. They punish betrayal. They reward authenticity. They have shown that their silence in the village is not ignorance, it is patience. And when their patience is tested too long, their verdict is clear and decisive. The educated may govern, but it is the uncelebrated poor who decide who governs next.

To the incoming government: you have spent five years on the bench. You have watched, you have listened, and now the people have given you another contract. The terms are simple—serve them, honour their needs, and keep your promises. Fulfill the contract, and they will walk with you beyond five years. Break it, and they will remind you again who holds the real power.

To the outgoing government: take time to reflect. Learn from the mighty people you underestimated. The true contract of leadership is not written in manifestos, but in the trust of the people who vote.

And to my beloved Malawians: stand tall. You have shown Africa, and the world, that democracy lives in your hands. Your unity, your peace, and your discipline are what make me proud of you. I pray that other African nations will look to your example and see that the true guardians of democracy are not the powerful, but the people.