Presidents, dead and alive, plus dogs rule the wk

Saturday, 31 July 2010 16:27

Written by RAPHAEL TENTHANI

REVIEW:

BLANTYRE--Presidential woes and doggy escapades again fought for domination in Malawi media this week.

"Shanil Sues Muluzi" was the headline in The Nation reporting that former First Lady Patricia Shanil Muluzi took former president Bakili Muluzi to court for not giving her a cool 2 million Malawi kwacha (US $13, 000) being allowances accrued to her from the Malawi government for looking after her husband when he was sick in a London hospital last year.

Sensational as it was the story the story sent tongues wagging as it was news that wives had to be paid for looking after their husbands, no wonder "Mystery Over Muluzi Marriage" was the subsequent headline in Malawi News quoting Muluzi as stating that it was unMalawian "to pay Shanil for taking care of me" in hospital.

Muluzi was not the only ex-president hogging the headlines. Under "Jumani's Episodes" the Daily Times reported on escapades by a 37-year-old Swedish Malawi who is claiming to be biological son of Malawi's founding father the late Hastings Kamuzu Banda. In this story Banda's family, whose company owns the Daily Times, was reported to have got an injunction stopping Jim Jumani Johansson from visiting Banda's property. This was after "the man in the news" last week reportedly toured Blantyre Newspapers, the Daily Times holding company.

But that didn’t stop Dr. Banda--or his son--from making further headlines. "Jumani Can Use Kamuzu's Name" was another headline in The Nation reporting on a High Court ruling that "people should be free to use names they want".

It was not as if it was only dead or former presidents that made news in the Malawi media this week. "Flag Bill Not Assented To" was the headline in the Daily Times reporting that President Bingu wa Mutharika was yet to assent to a bill to change the design of the Malawi flag.

Now this is one hell of a bill that has sent tongues wagging with many a commentator challenging the reasons for the change. "In Bingu Endorses The Flag Bill" The Nation reported that Pres Mutharika finally put pen to paper on the contentious bill to change one of Malawi's national colors stating that "Malawi cannot remain at dawn 46 years after independence". The president was explaining away the former rising sun to the full son on the new flag.

But the dogs, that exercised the mind of no less a figure than Mutharika himself, didn’t leave the headlines this week. "Activists March Against Dogs" was a story in The Nation reporting on activists who staged street demonstrations marching against the dogs that mauled a guard two weeks ago. The story reported on the marchers' demands for the deportation of the dogs’ owners for demanding an HIV test on the 72-year-old guard against his wishes suggesting that they feared that the dogs got HIV from him.

Malawi may still have four years to go before the next elections but the fight to succeed Pres Mutharika is already on. "DPP Nominates Peter Mutharika" was the headline in the Daily Times reporting on a resolution by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party putting forward Mutharika's kid brother to replace him when he retires in 2014.

"DPP 2014 Race Hots Up: VP Refuses To Comment" was another headline in the Weekend Nation reporting on the woman who has genuine expectation to lay claim to the top job, Vice-President Joyce Banda, refusing to say anything on machinations by sections of the DPP to campaign for Mutharika to be replaced by another Mutharika.

The week ended with the same blast from the past that has been dominating headlines for week now. "We Are Not Dating" was the rather dour headline in the scandal sheet, The Weekend Times, reporting on speculations that the man who is claiming to be the biological son of Malawi's founding father Hastings Kamuzu Banda is dating popular former reality show Big Brother housemate, Hazel Warren.--maravipost