Say less than necessary, Mr. president
“When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and less in control…”—Robert Greene, 48 Laws of Power.
President Lazarus Chakwera loves speeches. Well, he loves his art—talk, talk, talk. And the hard times we are in, his pep talk perhaps can soothe our heavy-laden souls, poor souls drifting into the gaping bottomless pit of inflation, hunger and sheer lack of essentials.
On Wednesday he addressed the nation, and key on the agenda were three things: his desperate measures to end chronic fuel shortages, hunger, and a veiled condemnation of the political violence ahead of next year’s elections.
Soon after the televised speech, social media erupted, cherry-picking what the Malawi One had said. It was evidently clear that there was resentment. Generally, the feeling was that the president fell short to inspire as regards to when this economic malaise would peter out.
However, when president Chakwera’s speech attracted patronage, more especially in his infancy years of his presidency. His oratory prowess coupled with well-woven worded speeches, hooked millions to their radio and television sets. His American accented-English was the icing sugar.
Such was how alluring his speeches were. But things change—and they have changed drastically because people have familiarized themselves with the words he likes to say and the aura he exudes on the podium.
In other words, the more he speaks, the more familiar he becomes to Malawians. His words now aren't enough to impress the weary Malawians, who have left everything to fate. At present, no poetic words knitted with embellishments can suffice.
Robert Greene’s book 48 Laws of Power is a handy guide to how leaders ought to handle themselves. Rule number four states that powerful leaders impress and intimidate their subjects saying less.
In this way, Greene argues, makes leaders wield more power and control because they leave their subjects guessing. Unfortunately, president Chakwera has been doing the opposite. No wonder, his public speeches in times of crises are always predictable.
When Covid-19 funds were abused in 2021, he talked with fire and furry, promising to punish those who had pilfered the public funds. But that fire quickly doused to ashes, and nothing has moved ever since.
In 2022, President Chakwera also talked tough when sacked then Agriculture Minister Lobin Lowe and his deputy over a “incompetence and negligence” following a botched 750,000 euros fertilizer deal with a British agent, who turned out to be a butcher.
When former Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director Martha Chizuma was arrested in 2022, he also fumed, pledging to defend the beleaguered Chizuma and bring to book those who orchestrated her arrest.
Yet again, it was just another word salad seasoned with his flowery words.
Therefore, these incidents and many more others, have drawn Malawians further away from his speeches. Whatever he says is now taken with a grain of salt. He issues threats but falls short to act on his words.
For him to re-assert power, therefore, he needs to say less and see to it that he honors his words. President Chakwera needs to know that where hands are needed, words and letters are useless. So, say less than necessary Mr. president.
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