Mbwiiye,

First things first, I apologise unreservedly that last week I did not write you or get in touch.

I understand that this gave rise to wide speculation among some ‘Karangas’ that I had been ‘sconed’ so that I should stop being critical of the Capital administration and its cohorts, blaaa, blaaa blaaa!

Mbwiiye, let me assure you that all this is rot. You know me; throughout all the regimes, I have always either stood on the side of the downtrodden or plied the middle road, but certainly not been on the side of the rulers and their sycophants. My belief is that most times Capital ‘dogs’ are there to eat, to worship their stomachs and fleece government at any possible opportunity.

Mbwiiye, my other belief is that most Capital cohorts, especially the CEOs, are folks who have failed elsewhere, then they want to make up by moving into politics. That is also why these fellow don’t translate as they don’t know what they are dealing with and what hits them.

Honestly, I was out in the rural areas with the masses, talking serious matters with the people, not the cassava politics that is now awash in towns.

Mbwiiye, I was with the people in the villages to hear their concerns regarding the current economic and governance mess. You see, Mbwiiye, you don’t get that type of feedback by sitting in the Capital Bungalow listening to so-called advisers and Cabinet ‘dogs’, no; these fellows as I have just said above, have different interests altogether.

Their aim is to eat as much as possible and to retain their positions.

So, as I a shrewd politician, who has also sat in reputable international forums, I get to the grassroots. That is why, if you are honest to your good self, you will see the large crowds that are following me and my campaign teams out there.

Mbwiiye, I was out there to see the glaring discrepancy between textbook, urban civil society and political economics on one hand and real issues on the ground, on the other.

In brief, Mbwiiye, this Republic has collapsed. Don’t be cheated with the so-called Economic Recovery Plan. That is just yet another smoke-screen, after the non-ticking 2012/13 national budget. The people also say they have not been consulted on the so-called plan.

The people are not impressed with all this. They want three basic meals on their tables. They want decent places where they can place their heads when night falls. They want their children to attend the nearest schools. They want affordable transport to and from their businesses or work places.

Mbwiiye, the ordinary folks, the povo, want affordable goods and services, not what is now happening all over.

What, they ask, is the type of economics where you hold salaries yet continue increasing the price of flour, water, paraffin and all basic commodities? Is this not asking for unnecessary trouble from the ordinary people?

Mbwiiye, the people out there are also dismayed with the type of fiscal deals taking place in the Capital. Some, if not most, Capital servants are always trying to eat where they did not sow? Read the newspapers.

The people are questioning why the reputed 30 percent drain on public resources is not being plugged? The people told me they know that the Capital authorities are deliberating ignoring the leaks and loopholes because everybody eats from the same ‘pot’ while the plebeians are suffering in the villages.

Mbwiiye, the people are also surprised with the many tourist presidents, former foreign leaders, etc, who are trooping into our country. So far, according to the people on the ground, these ‘tourists’ have brought nothing to resolve the country’s plight.

Yet we are wasting so much on them: expensive red carpet treatment, dinners, kilometres of convoys, virtual stoppage of business in the Capital and places visited.

Mbwiiye, the people are sensitive to all this and are not amused.

In fact, some of them told us that they are only waiting for the constitutional 2014 election date, to kick out the current leadership. If you don’t believe me, get yourself onto a minibus, travel just five kilometres outside the city limits, you will get all this live into your face. Anthu sakubisanso ayi.

The people are also saying betele the late Moya. He may have been as rude as the murdered Brother Leader Muammar Gaddafi and not articulate on his management style and policies. But, the people argue, the ‘old man’ of Ndata had a vision. He knew where we were coming from and where he should take us all.

His bashing of the Washington-London-Bonn consensus was based on experience, profound education and understanding of global as well as national issues.

Here we are, kudhya mar’ribwi, practically eating stones, as the donors are now shifting goals, insisting on little nothings and fresh conditions.

Which is why the people have lost their patience. One powerful world leader donated a bull to our citizens the other day and this time one has signed a cassava trade deal with our Capital. Are we, as a nation, serious with ourselves?

Mbwiiye, the people are crying. They have also asked us in the party to organise a day of prayers and lamentations at the late Moya’s mausoleum one of these days. Some of the people say they want to go and apologise to the ‘old man’s’ spirit so that it should guide us in these trying times.

Mbwiiye, I am not talking politics or obsession with faith fanaticism here. I am talking about survival issues and the people yearning for practical salvation.

Which is why they have advised our party to get organised, not being busy with ‘scones’ at the Capital. But to ensure that come 2014, we should bring back the ‘moyanomics’ to our economy.

The people have assured me that the ruling authorities achonganso come 2014.

As for you, I seek your maximum support. Ignore those that have jumped from our boat and joined the scone-eating colleagues from our party and other political groupings. Two years is not far away; we will deal with them at the ballot.

Mbwiiye, I am still writing you all this for and on behalf of the late Moya original, whose sound economic and leadership ideas people are now agreeing with.

Again, think about these things as we head for 2014, in the name of:

The late Rt.Hon.K.L.Mphwanye,

OSP, OLM, OCK, OLT

Achiever of MDGs, Professor of Government

Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa), Western Pacific