By Tom Sangala

Copyright times

We are at a time when, as a country, we need to reconsider our approach to our own survival. The direction of the global winds indicates that something is changing in the world around us.

We can no longer afford to be complacent and dependent on donors whose funds we misuse as though they owe us anything.

Those in positions of authority cannot continue their wastefulness as they have over the years.

Our politicians must stop feeding us empty talk when nothing is being done on the ground. We are at a point where we must awaken from our deep slumber.

When Donald Trump regained the American presidency a few months ago, he announced some radical measures aimed at making America great again.

Many ridiculed him and some resorted to name-calling. There were numerous sceptics who believed Trump was bluffing.

However, as days have turned into months, we are beginning to realise that the United States (USaid) President was serious.

Most of the reforms he is implementing are focused on foreign policy, and countries dependent on aid, such as Malawi, are bound to suffer.

What is even more concerning is that other donors, including the United Kingdom, have also warned that aid will no longer be a priority. This should concern us – or should it?

Already, over the past few months, many Malawians have lost their jobs due to aid freezes on projects funded by organisations such as USaid.

Only last week, the US announced a sudden termination of funding from the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

That alone has brought road construction projects to an abrupt halt. This means that the Malawi Government must seek alternative sources of funding if these projects are to be completed.

Yet despite all these disruptions, our government has not clearly communicated any plans to mitigate the challenges that are bound to emerge from these turbulent changes.

To make matters worse, we continue to exacerbate our own problems as though we are unaware of better practices.

The Trump administration, for example, has made it clear that it views us as careless and irresponsible. It is not that we are incapable of self-sufficiency, but we are overly inclined towards dependency.

This is how we have structured our society, and now we are paying the price. Corruption is rampant and even our most esteemed institutions are being questioned for enabling it.

The recent, embarrassing denial of American visas to so-called “Malawian diplomats” should make it clear that the world recognises that something is wrong with us.

Listening to the statements made by the US Embassy, one cannot help but feel shame upon realising that our systems are so porous that even our approach to diplomacy cannot be trusted.

This is a country that once issued a diplomatic passport to a convicted Nigerian man on the basis that he would construct houses to improve the morale of certain politicians.

Ours is a nation where a former minister, arrested and convicted for immigration fraud, was pardoned and now walks free.

We live in a place where convicted murderers and other serious offenders can be released from prison because of their political connections.

If you were in charge of making decisions about Malawi from a wealthy, distant country, you would not want to spend your money on us either. We are that pathetic and shameless, and we seem to take pride in the filth.

Malawi deserves the challenges it is about to face because we have wilfully chosen to be unethical and irresponsible.

This country is rich in resources and holds great potential for development, yet we have placed our future in the hands of shameless individuals.

For a long time, well-meaning people have condemned corruption, overspending and the lack of discipline, but these warnings have fallen on deaf ears.

It has become the ambition of every successive political regime to exploit this country as much as possible, leaving nothing for future generations.