Blantyre Mayor Jomo Osman has become a local star. He is often seen on the streets wearing work boots, clearing rubbish, directing traffic, and chasing away beggars—always with TV cameras close behind. People are excited, and social media is full of praise.
But socio-political commentator Dickson Kashoti says everyone is celebrating too early.
“I understand the buzz of excitement over the populist mayor, Jomo Osman, over his populist actions in the streets before cameras,” Kashoti wrote. “However, the heap of praises… are coming too early for the unpredictable mayor with a moody behaviour.”
Kashoti says this is typical of populist politicians: “go on the streets and convince anyone that they are working hard and smart.” But he warns that these actions are only temporary.
He says the truth is simple: when Osman and the cameras leave, the old problems return. “As soon as Jomo and the TV cameras disappeared, the chaotic life on the streets of Limbe returned in full swing,” he wrote.
Kashoti believes a mayor should not act like a street cleaner or traffic police officer.
“What Jomo should do,” he says, “is be in office with his council officials and find ways to increase revenue so they can hire city police officers.” These officers could then keep traffic moving and remove child beggars in a sustainable way.
He also criticizes Osman’s habit of dressing in work gear and removing trash himself. “Instead of him putting on a working suit and boots… him and his council officials need to be in office, formulate policies… buy enough waste collecting vehicles and employ more waste collectors,” Kashoti says.
Then he asks a sharp question:
“For how long will he work himself like a city police officer, a waste collector and a street child remover?”
Kashoti ends by saying that Osman may be good at looking busy for the cameras—but that does not mean he is doing his real job.
“Jomo Osman is successfully doing it as a polished populist politician,” he writes. “But what he is doing is not sustainable and he is not doing his job.”
