After reading a controversial article in the local paper the other day about discrimination of foreigners and preferential treatment for nationals I decided it was worth something to think about. First of all I asked myself is there racism in this country? Well, that is a hard one to answer because the majority in this country is black and they are all Malawians with an exception of refugees, immigrants and tourists. The flaw in this definition is that immigrants or refugees after staying here for a while do become citizens. Therefore for the sake of clarity I will be a racist and use the colonial separatist method. A Malawian is anyone born in this country of Malawian parents and a foreigner is anyone despite color who either immigrates to this country or was born here. I will ask the reader to keep in mind that the Malawian and the foreigner fall under one umbrella of citizen because they both possess the national passport. Now that we have a clear definition is countthere racism in this country? My answer is yes and my aim is show why I believe there is racism in Malawi.

First of all, I disagree with the assumption that since the majority is black thus there is no racism. The situation on the ground is quite the contrary; the locals of this country are affected by racism, an economical racism. Economical racism differs from color defined racism which involves; beliefs in the superiority of one race to another. Racism as a concept reinforces the idea that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics thus demands that races (people of different color) should remain segregated and apart from either because one race is superior to the other. On the other hand, economic racism is about ‘financially’ imposed superiority of one class in society over another. It is about the elite (the rich) and ‘everyone else’ (the poor despite nationality, race or occupation). Economic racism is the type of slavery that the average Malawian has been bound in and does not realize that it is a problem and there is a need to fight against it. 

Since time immemorial this country has been divided into a class society where you have the ‘elite’ and ‘everyone else,’ the middle ground has always been murky because they have a tendency to gravitate towards the extremes depending on what political power is in government. Unfortunately for the black nationals in this country economic power does not belong to them hence the saying “dziko ndiwanu ndalama ndi yathu” (you may own the country but we own your money). This statement I am quite sure was made years ago but it rings true today, the average Malawians seem to be not good at investing their energies in productive schemes instead we have rampant cases of alcoholism, drug abuse, incest, violence and corruption. In a way I guess I could regrettably note that it is a subtle and frustrated war cry but I believe we are going about it the wrong and it is destroying us. Conversely, the ones that have chosen not to react have instead taken on a fawning attitude towards the foreign investors and are more than happy to watch ‘others’ prosper with ‘their’ resources. It is no fault of our own, I guess it was reinforced in our forefathers that ‘what is not of us is much better’ and miserably this mentality has been passed on. Unfortunately for us though this belief had become a secret  a truth  ‘foreigners’ have long known  before settling into this country. They have known that a combination of wealth, income, status and occupation, access to education and health care, connections and geographic and social mobility equals to power. These ‘foreigners’ have known that being static and lack of creativity coupled with a mastered incompetence is one of this country’s key quality and they have managed to make its people believe in it. And this is the reason why trained black Malawian doctors or degree holders are not employed to help their own people; instead experts are called in to do their job for them. This is ironic because the government then starts complaining about the number of trained people leaving the country to be servants all over again. Really, we can it blame them because the so-called-non-governmental institutions keep emphasizing the fact that they are not good enough? The government itself is to blame to the lack of   innovative thinking to cure the problem of the thousand graduates applying for one job every year.

Frankly, I also have to be objective because it is not just the ‘foreigners’ that have achieved to do in this country what we as Malawians have failed or the government. I believe it is us that are the main problem. There is always someone referring to the Asian countries when the topic of economy is mentioned and so I will not bother with that. I believe it is the social and cultural psychology of the people of this country that needs to be addressed in order to take ourselves from the ’everyone else’ to become part of the ‘elite’. I know this is a pipe dream but you will never know if you don’t try. If the average Malawian was sensitized  not only on just getting loans from the banks and other firms to do what everyone else is doing, as usually the case, but  to become more innovative and creative enough to build a market using natural resources and their hard work  I am sure certain of economic power would be gained. In fact I commend those that have already broken the socio-cultural barrier. The people of this country need to realize that the fact that they are domestic workers, minibus call boys or just unemployed is because they want to be that way. I know it sounds patronizing but I am tired of hearing the sentiment expressed by most people and that is of waiting for someone to do something for them. Everyone needs to do something for themselves and that’s how the ‘foreigners’ have gotten along. They have exploited the warm heart of this country, free labor and charity, all for the spirit of community. Our so-called qualities are our doom and we as a nation have sunk our own boat.

Now, at this point the self pity begins to settle in for that is another thing we are good at but this is no time to despair. As youth it is a time to reflect and act. We are the ones that can change the mind set. We need to be more aggressive even if the doors close we can always find another that is open. We need to realize that there is so much potential for success around us we just need to tap into it and take it to another level. The worst thing you can do is establish a business and then get comfortable in it, do not, for someone else will come and make your dreams theirs in a much bigger and better way than you would have ever imagined. Help fight this war, for the sake of your grandparents who fought for your freedom, your parents who strive everyday to set you up in life and for you and your children for their economically racist free world. It is up to you to liberate yourself from a self imprisoning mindset and achieve what was never thought possible. Be that person on the Malawi’s wealthiest list but mostly live to tell of it. It all starts with one idea, so open your mind, educate yourself, take a look around and free yourself from economic slavery.

Afrocentric would like to let its readers know that the views expressed in this article are the opinions of the writer and not a collective expression.