Major changes, maize, mustard greens and money!

Two months away and so much has changed... and one can only hope it is all for the better. Unfortunately the president, Bingu Mutharika died and one can only feel for him and his family, but, on the basis of a silver lining, he has been replaced by the Deputy, Joyce Banda, who seems to be getting Malawi back on a much-needed track.

I don't believe that wishing for the death of someone should ever be seen as a resolution, but there is no doubt that Bingu's untimely death has brought benefits for the Malawian people. Having started so well he seemed, in his second term, to be moving in directions which spelled disaster for the country, and now he is gone. The word was he took advice from his friend Mugabe, who continues to 'soldier' on in the morass of what once was a stable and viable country. Too many African leaders when they get into power become obsessed with remaining in power at any cost; a cost more often to their country and their people than to themselves. 

As the BBC reported recently there is also a move to restore Malawi's old flag, a step which symbolises returning to a healthier 'past.'

Malawian MPs have voted to restore the national flag of a rising sun scrapped two years ago by the government of the late President Bingu wa Mutharika.

Mr Mutharika, who died in April, changed it to a full sun to reflect what he said was Malawi's move from a developing to a developed nation.
A BBC reporter says the move was deeply unpopular with the people of Malawi.

"You cannot rewrite history midway for no apparent reason," the justice minister told the BBC after the vote.

A former economist, Mr Mutharika governed Malawi for eight years, but had latterly been accused of mismanaging the economy and becoming autocratic.

Following his death, his vice-president, Joyce Banda, took power and has reversed many of his policies.

She had fallen out with Mr Mutharika over his succession plans and left his Democratic People's Party (DPP).

Photo: Joyce Banda, Malawi's new president and only the second female president in Africa.

The British are pledging support for the Malawian economy following devaluation and the new president is looking to change legislation which discriminates against homosexuality.

With a 'new broom' sweeping the corridors of power Malawi looks to be facing a brighter future. Another important step was yesterday's vote to repeal censorship laws brought in by the previous president.

Nairobi, May 31, 2012--The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Wednesday's vote in the Malawi parliament that repealed a sweeping amendment to the country's penal code which had allowed the government to ban any news "not in the public interest."

The amendment to Article 46 of the penal code was first introduced in November 2010 under the late President Bingu Wa Mutharika, and passed last year, but was never implemented, according to news reports. The law would have allowed the information minister to ban any publication it deemed contrary to public interest for an unspecified period of time, news reports said. Its implementation was suspended pending constitutional review after it was challenged by local and international press freedom and civil society groups.

The driver who picked me up from the airport tells me the petrol queues have gone and while people are unhappy about devaluation of the Kwacha, the international donors are once more holding out their hands in support. I take it as a positive sign that Malawi now has new 1,000 Kwacha notes which lessens the laborious counting out of 500 kwacha notes and they are smaller, very crisp and  symbolic of a fresh start.

The new Kwacha notes represent a 'fresh financial note' for a country which remains one of the poorest in the world and whose people deserve far better than they have had. It's easy to be negative about Africa but when good things happen, even if they are sourced in 'bad' things, it is important to hold onto hope and a believe that the world and the future can be a better place.

The other positive is that the Wet Season was good and the maize crop is abundant. Malawians are happy if they have their maize supplies. And if they can get it for a good price. Andrew asked for an advance when he went to his village so he could buy maize at a cheaper price for his family. Costs have certainly gone up but with donor funds coming back into Malawi the Forex problem should be eased soon, if not resolved.

This is the dry and cool time of year although the sun still shines and a few dark clouds drift across blue sky from time to time; releasing occasionally, the last of the rains so they may fall  into small puddled memories of the Wet.

While the saying is that 'the more things change the more they stay the same,' one can only hope that the more things change in Malawi the more they do not stay the same and that the roller-coaster ride to economic disaster has been brought to an unexpected and welcome stop!

The avocado tree still has some fruit and the limes I picked before leaving are still in the fridge waiting to be juiced. Limited has been busy tending my pots of mustard greens which were planted before I left and the next task is to find some recipes to make good use of them.  They are related to kale, cabbage and collard greens and I am thinking that a light saute might be the best way to deal with them.

Mustard Greens Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced onions
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 pound mustard greens, washed and torn into large pieces
• 2 to 3 Tbsp chicken broth.
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon dark sesame oil

Method

1 In a large sauté pan, sauté onions in olive oil over medium heat until the onions begin to brown and caramelize, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook a minute more, until fragrant.
2 Add the mustard greens and broth and cook until the mustard greens are just barely wilted. Toss with sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper.