By Comrade Jumbe
There is a saying in African wisdom: “When the foolish man lights the bush on fire, even the wise will lose their path.”
Today, Malawi is that bush—burning not from drought or disease, but from the recklessness of its own leaders. At the center of this fire is none other than Vitumbiko Mumba, a man whose ambition has outrun his wisdom, and a ruling party—the Malawi Congress Party—that confuses noise for governance and confrontation for strategy.
Mumba, in his hunger to appear powerful, has ignited a trade conflict with our own lifeline—Tanzania. How can a man, entrusted with national responsibility, declare silent war against our closest neighbor and expect peace to reign in our borders?
“He who throws stones at his neighbor’s house forgets that his own walls are made of clay.”
Tanzania has now responded. It has blocked all agricultural produce from crossing or transiting through its land. This isn’t just about politics—it’s about maize, tomatoes, beans. It’s about the very lifeblood of Malawian farmers, transporters, traders and ordinary consumers.
Every roadblock at the Tanzanian border is a padlock on our economy, and yet the MCP leadership sits in comfort as our people suffer in silence.
The economic complications of this are far-reaching. Thousands of livelihoods hang in limbo. Foreign buyers and importers will withdraw. Prices will collapse. Hunger and frustration will rise. And all of it began with a single man’s theatrical performance—Mumba, closing shops with cameras following him, as if governance was a reality show.
“The lizard that jumped from the high tree and landed well should not think he is a crocodile.” Power without wisdom is the enemy of progress.
Vitumbiko Mumba has shown no strategic foresight. He governs with excitement, not experience. He acts first and thinks—perhaps—later. His decisions are not rooted in patriotism but self-display. And as we warned before, he is a man intoxicated with authority, not equipped with vision. Malawi is now paying the price.
The Malawi Congress Party has become a government of illusions. It has no plan. No vision. No roadmap. Just loud declarations and short tempers.
“A drum makes the loudest noise when it is empty inside.” And today, we are governed by drums, not minds.
To damage trade relations with Tanzania—our nearest and most vital border—is not just foolish. It is economic suicidal.
Tanzania is our route to global markets. Our gateway to growth. Our partner in peace. To damage this relationship for the sake of performance is to bite the very hand that feeds us.
In times like these, we need diplomacy, not drama. Leadership, not loudness. Negotiation, not narrow-mindedness. We need leaders who understand that “Wisdom is like fire. People take it from others.” But Mumba listens to no one—not to farmers, not to traders, not even to the elders of reason.
Let this be a national awakening. Malawi cannot afford to be led by the blind while the sighted follow. The MCP must be held accountable. And Mumba must be reminded that governing a nation is not the same as winning applause. It is measured in the prosperity of people, not the popularity of politicians.
Let us rise. Let us speak. And let us never again allow ambition to lead us into the wilderness.
My pen 🖊 is mightier than a sword
