Usi, Malawi’s Daniel, Stands On The Truth

‘The writing on the wall’ is an idiomatic expression that suggests a potent of doom or misfortune, based on the story of Belshazzar’s feast in the biblical book of Daniel.

It is one of the most popular Bible stories “The Writing’s on the Wall” which many scholars have narrated in various ways but leading to nothing but doom ahead.

According to the  story in Daniel 5, where, during a feast held by King Belshazzar, a hand suddenly appears and writes on a wall the following Aramaic words: מְנֵא מְנֵא תְּקֵל וּפַרְסִין‎ (mənē mənē təqēl ūp̄arsīn,“ numbered, numbered, weighed, and they are divided”) (Daniel 5:25).

Daniel interprets the words as pointing to the downfall of the Babylonian Empire.

However, during that period the Bible states that it took the then Babylonian king, Belshazzar, to send his men to hunt down the one who would  interpret the vision.

The bright and sunny yesterday morning in the heart of Malawian’s capital, Lilongwe, provided the scenic setting for the country’sTourism minister, Michael Usi ‘aka’ Manganya in the drama circles to play the Biblical truth to the amazement of agitated crowd. He wore the courage during the Kamuzu Day memorial service to tell attentive President Lazarus Chakwera what many observers describe as the timely truth from a patriotic Malawian.

Without fear or favour while continuously referring to some Biblical examples, Usi told president Chakwera that some top government officials in Tonse administration are not performers and wear masked smiles to hoodwink him.

“Some people holding high positions in government are not performers (m’boma umu muli anthu opsyetsa mtima kwambiri) they come to you smiling looking very cheerful like as if they can assist you in running government affairs, but alas!” said Usi while the audience was resorting with some cheering choruses and loud applause especially from the women clad in party regalias of MCP and UTM.

In what look likes  typical drama performance, the ever frank-speaking and ironical Usi also commented on the need to help poor Malawians by referring to the  current popular hit, ‘Vinyo Watha” by Macdonald Mlaka Maliro. He said “Vinyo Watha” for poverty-stricken Malawians hence the Tonse Government needs to be strongly united to give people something to survive on.

“People should not go up to the extent of singing songs saying that the wine is finished, no there is still plenty of wine, (anthu asafike potiyimba nyimbo kuti vinyo watha, no vinyo adakalipo)” he concluded.

Usi also cautioned any of the alliance partners not to abandon the other in the middle of the ocean. This was insinuating to what some politicians on MCP have been advocating for Chakwera’s second term in 2025 recently, which is seen as creating a wedge between MCP and UTM as the latter seem poised for their turn to lead in 2025 according to some political sources privy to the secret alliance agreement.

Writing on his Facebook page on Saturday evening, president Chakwera reported that he  joined fellow Malawians in commemorating Kamuzu Day in honour of the nation’s Father and Founder, Ngwazi Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda at an event held under military honours and a memorial church service at Kamuzu Mausoleum in the capital city, Lilingwe.

Chakwera states that the attributes of the historic day invoke great memories of a statesman who laid down foundations of the nation of Malawi on four cornerstones of Unity, Loyalty, Obedience and Discipline.

“As a nation we remain obliged to remember and celebrate Kamuzu Banda’s life and contribution for it is from his legacy that the nation draws a number of lessons that are key to the progress, his life must impress upon all subsequent generations a spirit of hard work, unity, nation building, contact and dialogue,” Chakwera said.

Meanwhile, the president has directed the responsible Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, Michael Biswick Usi to engage the family of Malawi’s third President, late Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika, to agree on how best government can help in caring for his resting place at Ndata Farm in Thyolo.

According to the Wikipedia, Michael Bizwick Usi is a Malawian movie actor, playwright, politician, and musician, as an actor, he is most famously known for his role as “Dr. Manga” in the film Dr. Manga and also the director of the MBC Television series Tikuferanji.

Usi worked as a Country Director for Adventist Relief  Agency (ADRA) for a number of years before he joined mainstream Politics under UTM he is a vice president in the party to the country’s Vice Pres President Dr Saulosi Chilima and he holds a Doctorate from Southern Indiana University