TRACING THE UNTHOUGHT

When notes on the misuse of public funds during festive times at Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) were shared in 2008, they made news. People were amazed. Many found it irritating just to learn that a public-fueled body would exploit such millions of kwachas which they, in trying to be responsible citizens, patriotically contributed, and still were, through taxes – all in the name of parties.

What people noted bizarre was not necessarily the idea of having parties, especially during such rare moments when parties are adored most, no. It was the amount; so strange, and really, blood-curdling.

But parties, as we hold, have been there and will always be. It is their tradition to come and immediately go. They are like visitors; they are just for a moment. This is a moment of spending money (Chilembwe?) through eating and drinking with friends, relatives, workmates, and, of course, lovers while appreciating and exploring the beauty of this life. But the costs annually incurred through such parties matter.

And, while people continued sharing the news about Escom, a dispassionate look on the issue would see almost every being accusing himself of shouldering an intimately-related blame. We are often involved in such activities that in a way contribute to either our- or others’ lack of sufficient income necessary to ensure an adequate standard of living.

It is a practice that is so rooted in us that we can hardly imagine it is bad, let alone something that contributes to poverty, that vicious cycle. With the status quo, future generations are likely to go on embracing this ritualized practice. It leaves no place, starting from organization to household levels.

History says Malawi has scarcely complained about starvation in any other months in sheer exclusion of January and February. These twin-like months have remained the most agonizing and seemingly longest months in this Warm Heart of Africa. These are months that demand substantial financial muscles for a number of important tasks to be performed.

The issue of agriculture usually tops the list of those important ones to care for immediately after entering every New Year. Both commercial and subsistence farmers need fertilizers during this period. And fertilizers, we know, have never been cheap if truly their fruits on crops are to be realized. Nsima, that well-liked staple food which is very easy and simple to prepare, comes from maize which requires applying more than one type of fertilizers. It is maize, too, which is the most widely grown crop in the country.

Then, there is education. This, just as agriculture, also becomes demanding this time. Most schools open their academic calendars during this period. As a result, school fees, uniforms, and other related items are needed.

Coincidentally, this period follows one of the most recognized and unforgettable seasons, a season of partying and merrying – a festive season. Two major eventful days are always at the centre of this season: that of Christmas and New Year. None wishes to find himself in this season with empty pockets. This, yearly, sees people making financial plans and keeping desirable sums in readiness for this season.

When it finally comes, as anticipated, the monies are spent. To a family, an amount that has been sustaining its welfare throughout a whole month previously now becomes inadequate for a single long-awaited period, a season of happiness. Breadwinners know that it is this time or twelve months later when they can satisfy expectations of their family members on Christmas time and New Year celebration.

This breeze of seasonal joy does not blow outside corners of companies and organizations. These, too, having read the period well, attractively spend through parties an amount well enough to fund some needed managerial operations or a project or even sponsor a pitiable orphan that keeps on struggling to attain education.

Excepting these seasonal parties, there are many others that are held intra-yearly at institutional level. All these do milk such institutions a lot financially. In organization politics, this – satisfying, valuing, and recognizing employees through parties and the like – is part of good leadership as it acts as a motivational factor.

Undesirably, it is the government umbrella that shelters most of such companies and institutions from any injurious forces. When celebration time is over they go back to business. Soon they realize that they have run out of funds for their smooth operation. And it is to the government, as usual, where they lay all their problems for solutions. Such solutions need money.

As was the case with Escom, the money spent on parties held in a year is enough to fuel a number of tasks without asking for government intervention.

But old habits die hard. Especially those habits that appear to add some value to human life. To us, it is a habit of parties and celebrations. They come and go; and they are mostly seasonal. They are rare moments when we, for a while, come to forget some hurdles we face together with friends, relatives, workmates, and, of course, lovers. But their costs matter. And they are such costs that perpetuate the extent of depravation in this beloved Malawi.