As I cruised along the relatively grand (by Malawi standards) dual-lane Chipembere Highway, heading towards Blantyre, a car suddenly darted out from Kidney Crescent Road at Kristwick and drove through a pass to the side of the road that motorists going to Blantyre use. With little warning, I had to slam on the brakes to avoid a crash. The chaos rippled behind me as several other vehicles screeched to a halt, all forced to make way for the reckless intruder.
The pass this rogue driver used is meant solely for those heading towards Blantyre, either to turn onto the Kidney Crescent Road , merge onto the inner road running parallel to the highway, or loop back towards Ginnery Corner and beyond. What this driver pulled was not only wrong, but outright dangerous. In their mind, they were likely thinking, “If I can get away with it, I’ll take this shortcut—it’s more convenient than driving all the way to the roundabout at Universal Biscuits and doubling back.”
It was pure selfishness—”me, myself, and I.” The driver could not care less about the inconvenience or danger caused to others. As long as it worked for him, nothing and no one else mattered. This same mindset runs rampant among our minibus drivers. Their priority is always their own convenience, with little regard for anyone else on the road.
Perhaps this is a reflection of our society at large. We’ve become a self-centered nation, where the once-cherished spirit of ubuntu has faded. The philosophy that once bound us—“I am because we are”—has been replaced by a new, selfish creed: “I am because I am, and that’s all that matters.” The collective sense of responsibility and community that used to define us seems to have evaporated, leaving a culture of individualism in its place.
It is this troubling paradigm shift, dear readers, that has given birth to all the scandals that plague our nation today. The logic seems to be: “If I can dip my hands into this fund without getting caught, I’ll enrich myself, and my family or clan will share in the spoils.” It’s all about me, me, me. The fact that society will suffer—that hospitals won’t have medicine, people won’t have food, or essential services will crumble because funds meant for them have been diverted into someone’s pocket—doesn’t even register as a concern.
One of the wisest instructions ever given by a human being is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In other words, if you genuinely enjoy having your drive disrupted by others breaking the rules or taking illegal shortcuts, then by all means, you’re justified in doing the same. Likewise, if you would be perfectly happy seeing funds meant for projects benefiting you siphoned off by someone else, then feel free to do the same—without a hint of remorse. But if not, perhaps it’s time to rethink this self-serving attitude.
The man who gave this instruction over two thousand years ago had countless followers then, and even more today. One of his early disciples, in an effort to echo his Master’s teachings, penned letters to various communities to inspire them. In one of those letters, he urged, “Consider others better than yourself.” These words, like his Master’s, go against humanity’s natural inclination toward self-centeredness. Instead of focusing on self, these men encouraged their followers to shift their mindset—to be others-centered, fostering a spirit of humility and service over self-interest.
Being others-centered is exactly what Malawians need to embrace if we are to restore any semblance of sanity in this country. Right now, we are speeding down a dangerous path, and the sooner we snap back to our senses and start considering others in our actions, the better it will be for all of us. This prevailing dog-eat-dog mentality is leading us nowhere fast, and unless we shift our focus towards empathy and community, we are bound to face even greater challenges.
It has been argued that poverty drives Malawians to actions that disregard others, or in other words, that poverty leads people to steal. I reject this cause-and-effect argument. In fact, the opposite is true—Malawians remain trapped in poverty because of the rampant self-centeredness in our society. Every nation begins with humble beginnings, but those that valued integrity and an others-centered mentality were able to rise from the depths of poverty. There is no shortcut to overcoming poverty—selflessness and a commitment to the collective good are the only true paths to national prosperity.
Dear readers, search within your conscious to see where you stand – on the side of self-centredness or others-centredness.