I have seen the every government of a land really does concerned with the issues that affect real people. Things like poverty, famine, sickness and in our malawian day today, fuel shortage.
I just watched todays news, two ambassadors of USA and Ireland presenting their credentials and pledging to support the government on its undertaking to implement the green belt project. This is the governments concern to ensure that there is food security in Malawi and more to export.
There was a draught at one time in Rumphi, the government was quick to respond in tendering consultants to implement irrigation facilities so that Rumphi district does not suffer famine from the draught.
We still have food reserves constructed, we still have fuel reserves in plans for construction if it hasn't already started, we have a petroleum importing body being established amidst the current fuel shortage, I hear the forex shortage problem is easing up, we have fewer forex earnings than we require per year due to the poor tobacco sales. But the worry we would have had in these shortages, might ease if our major import which is fertilizers and other farm inputs is supported as the American ambassador pledged.
These are things the government is doing outside the radios and outside the television.
Do we have needs that we need in our areas? The press cannot reach all the areas. The government cannot also reach all these areas. But we have tools of communication.
There Facebook groups created by various people for various reasons from business groupings to fuel watch, etc, etc. Almost everybody has a little access to Facebook these days. I just know by the words that I have said that I meet everywhere I go. Even in the villages, these Chinese phones, the nokias, they do allow a little access to Facebook for these people.
Is there a problem that you have in your area you wished the government could resolve for you? Is it issues of oppression, food shortage, disease outbreaks, whatever problem you have, these tools of communication allow you to take pictures, and videos and they allow to post messages for your needs. Report these things for the government is concerned about the welfare of its citizens. If you are neglected it is only because such problems do not get reported to the people who should assist.
If these problems are timely reported, we should not have protests as has been in Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and in Malawi recently which resulted into lives lost.
We have a good situation in Malawi. Presidential terms are limited. We should not have conflicts even in the middle of a presidential terms.
Report these problems amicably, someone will look at them with concern and give the required support.
God bless, Malawi.