You! Get out!
http://www.nyasatimes.com/politics/malawi-issues-official-deportation-order-to-british-diplomat.html
Fine. You get out too!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mobile/world-africa-13205729
As much as we expats and Malawians all make the obvious jokes on the issue (“Did Fergus fart and get deported?” . . . “But what about the Royal Wedding Garden Party at British Consulate?” - the party did happen by the way but all Malawian government officials invites were withdrawn), this is actually getting pretty serious. Things are already not great in Malawi: no fuel, no forex and apparently we are one bad harvest season away from another famine. So potentially losing our biggest foreign donor over a leaked cable that criticized the President is a big deal. Bingu’s inability to take criticism has now resulted in something that will likely have a major impact on Malawi’s people, and as usual – it will be the poorest of the poor who suffer. Bingu will still have his private jet to run away on when the going gets tough. Before this incident, donors had begun to speak out against Bingu, and talks of pulling aid had already started after Bingu told his supporters that they should “discipline” people who were against his regime. In addition, a protest against the on-going fuel crisis here in Malawi was squashed and organizers arrested before it even began. Will my blog posts be the next to be censored? And as we plod along, unable to protest, unable to speak out, Bingu is lining up his brother to be the next President. And do we really think China can fill the UK’s shoes in donor aid? I’m not overly aware of China’s presence here in Malawi. All I do know is that they are building a 5-star hotel . . . and the majority of the labour being used is Chinese . . . and they are refusing to install any of the electrical fixtures in the hotel (which is very expensive). I’m not convinced that relying on China is the smartest idea.
Ran with Kate and Sinead this past week and chatted Malawi politics. Nothing like fueling your anger during a run to keep you going! Still fighting with motivation issues.
1 comment:
Leanne-this is a very real concern I think-and David Cameron has overtures of Harper in his government's response to these situations. Everyone knows that with China there is always the concern of a hidden agenda. What do they want from Malawi??? Is there some undiscovered natural resource that they expect to be able to exploit? Or is it a presence that they want so that if the time ever comes with a disconnect between China and the West- the people will point to them and say -look what they did for us.
Don't get caught up in the politics when your safety is at risk -we want you home safely ! xoxoxo
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