Democracy a market ideology and misunderstood

Democracy a market ideology and mis-understood.
As we approach the general elections, a lot of political parties are trying to build their popularity in the grassroots population. It is however interesting to note that all the major parties are preaching the virtues of democracy, UDF, DPP and MCP, have embraced this concept as a market tool to the people. Muluzi has often times stated that he is a true democrat, a Bingu nawoso chimodzimodzi, however for John Tembo, it is an interesting case, as a person he preaches democracy, trying to sell himself as a changed leader, but his personality refuses to change, he still threatens his juniors, his party on the other hand, has greatly embraced the democratic values, Majoni's case being an example of such.

UDF and DPP on the other hand are the parties that i felt should have read the signs of time pretty well but lo! DPP is saying no governing council elections during its convention, protecting the elite of the party, UDF on the other hand is saying no primaries in certain constituencies, where there are sitting UDF MPs.

MCP, has in my opinion built up the right tempo of approaching the election, unification of its leadership at all levels has been the key, through people's vote, although John Tembo has been bull dozed into the affair. For DPP their conventions would result in frustration among the aspiring elite of the party, the same applies with UDF, its aspiring MPs who are being repressed would not be helpful to the party as it approaches the general elections. Just like any organization in which there is oppression, apathy becomes dominant, which is antithetic to progress. If these political parties knew what they were doing, they could have realized that true democracy belongs to the people, let the people command, let the people take control of the party decisions, for it is these people that have the power to vote, otherwise handpicking individuals without the grassroots consent breeds failure and is a symbol of political immaturity and lack of political acumen.

The case of Barack Obama, is a classical example of what lies in potent when true grassroots involvement is enacted. Otherwise our politicians though embracing the paradigm, democracy, do not know what it means and what it entails, they do not even understand that potential that lies within its fold. Our political masters are in themselves retrogressive to the development of our nation, they embark on campaigns that ride on tribalism, regionalism and personalization of their very organizations which rely on the very people they neglect when it comes to decision making. Malawians have lived like divided people as a result of these politicians who never grow and read the time, our Malawi needs political maturity, the kind we see in other countries in the region, like Botswana.

It is imperative to indicate that a leader who does not have grassroots popularity will always remain threatened, and thus promote undemocratic systems of governance, the 2009 elections as already it appears, will bring more divisions among Malawians as a result of these leaders who do not have political insight, they do not have the best interest of the people. For them democracy is a market ideology to buy the people’s vote but within them and their parties, they are as dark as ‘the party’ that governed us in the first epoch of our independence. While appreciating that most of these leaders were previously MCP cadres, and may be that is where they learned their leadership styles, they should have however appreciated that MCP has moved on to the people although still with some dents.
If this country has to develop, it is really upon us Malawians to critically assess these people who claim to be our leaders, upon serious critical reasoning, we will appreciate that most of them just want us to employ them through our vote but they seriously do not have that capacity to be our leaders, they come to us now for our vote but they are as unethical as they were some few rains ago. Our leaders need to know that beyond the jobs that they want there is a vote of that Malawian who toils day in day out to eke for a living, yet within that he finds time to go and deep his/her finger in ink and throw that important vote in the ballot that gives these people the power and jobs. That person needs respect and protection for that is where real power lies.