If Charles Mhango were an animal, he would undoubtedly be a Bololo—an enigmatic cricket-like creature from Chichewa folklore, famed not for its wisdom, but for its remarkable ability to emerge spotlessly clean from the mud it wallows in. Yet, in the world of law and politics, Mhango takes this metaphor to an alarming new level. He dives headfirst into the complex mud of legal discourse and political debate only to resurface, not with clarity or resolution, but with a style of bewildering bravado that raises serious questions about the state of the legal profession in Malawi.
For those unacquainted, the Bololo symbolizes a puzzling resilience. It escapes the consequences of its messy escapades, but in Mhango’s case, we are left to ponder whether he sprouted from the same proverbial swamp. Armed with a legal degree from Chancellor College, now the University of Malawi, an institution recognized for producing intellectually astute graduates, Mhango’s case leads one to wonder: did his gown conceal a degree of merit, or merely a certificate of attendance? With every public pronouncement, he parades a confidence akin to that of a Bololo, blissfully unaware of his own contradictions.
His social media presence is a veritable treasure trove of legal misadventures, wrapped in an audacity that suggests he perceives his every utterance as law gospel. Indeed, his utterances might serve as a living testimony to the saying, “Empty vessels make the most noise.” Yet, as Malawians—who inherently value collective wisdom—it is imperative to remind him of Abraham Lincoln’s sage advice: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt.”
As a committed citizen deeply invested in the integrity of our legal and political systems, I feel compelled to offer Mhango some pro bono advice. Although thankless, this labor might be crucial in preventing the legal Bololo from succumbing to his self-inflicted mudslides of confusion.
First, Mhango would benefit immensely from a crash course in legal writing. There is a pervasive belief that he emerged from Chancellor College with little more than muddled thoughts expressed in the guise of legal arguments. His attempts to address matters of national interest on Facebook bear the hallmarks of someone attempting to solve a constitutional crisis while failing to address even the most rudimentary misunderstandings of legal principles. Dear Mhango, social media is not the milieu for jurisprudence; it is better suited for entertaining cat videos than for convoluted legal theories that fail to resonate.
Second, there is a profound power in restraint, one that Mhango seems to overlook. At times, the most compelling argument is the absence of one—especially when one struggles to delineate between a court ruling and a Facebook comment thread. In this regard, he could learn much from seasoned lawyers who understand that law is a discipline defined by precision, not by the theatrics of social media bravado.
Lastly, a fundamental aspect of being an advisor is recognizing one’s fallibility. Ironically, Mhango epitomizes the paradox of legal advisors who are in desperate need of guidance themselves. He expounds on constitutionalism while careening perilously close to positions of absurdity, unwittingly dragging the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) credibility down his slippery slope. Could it be that his relentless pursuit of the limelight is fueled by a desire to reclaim the Attorney General’s seat should the DPP regain power? Perhaps so. After all, engaging in fruitless public arguments only serves to dilute one’s own image and credibility.
This dynamic could elucidate why many legal minds have opted to steer clear of public debates with Mhango, especially on platforms like Facebook. Yet silence is not always golden; it can validate and enable a legal Bololo, rendering it unchecked in its muddling through Malawi’s political mire.
Charles Mhango, consider this your moment of reckoning. Before you next unleash the torrent of legal rhetoric from your keyboard, remember that even the Bololo understands when it’s best to remain hidden in its muddy refuge. Allow its wisdom to guide you: sometimes, the most prudent course of action is to exercise restraint and reconsider whether your interventions align with the dignified role of a legal advisor to a party fervently yearning for governance.
It is no wonder that in leaked audio from virtual meetings, you were among those pleading with Arthur Peter Mutharika to safeguard your position within the party as Legal Advisor at the DPP’s forthcoming elective convention. After all, it doesn’t take a legal mind to recognize that, if left in the hands of the delegates, they might consider anyone but the Bololo for a pivotal role in their future. In a realm where integrity counts, perhaps the most arduous journey you face is one of self-reflection amidst the muddy landscape of politics and law.
