By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, February 15, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has urged Malawians to take an active role in shaping ethical leaders by nurturing individuals with strong moral values from within their communities.
Speaking on Saturday at the burial of veteran broadcaster Lucius Chikuni in Thyolo, Usi emphasised that leadership begins at home, stating that “bad leaders come from bad people, and good leaders come from good people.”
“A lot of things are going wrong because we look up to politicians as role models. Yet, politicians come from within our communities, and their behaviour is shaped from there,” Usi said.
He further called on society to cultivate integrity and compassion in individuals from an early stage so that they become responsible and ethical leaders in various spheres, including politics, the church, and their professional careers.
“If we fail to do this, we will continue having bad politicians because we neglected to mould them from the start,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi, Golden Matonga, hailed Chikuni as a pillar of Malawi’s media industry.
“Chikuni played a huge role in shaping the media landscape. He established The Inquiry newspaper, which provided a platform for critical discussions on how multiparty democracy could work.
“His influence extended to the establishment of Zodiak Radio and his appointment to an ambassadorial role,” Matonga said.
He described Chikuni as a professional with umunthu whose integrity was recognized across different administrations.
“In this election year, we should emulate his character by fostering unity rather than division and avoiding unnecessary tensions,” Matonga urged.
He also called on politicians in attendance to honour Chikuni’s legacy by respecting journalists and upholding their rights as they cover political rallies.
Veteran politician Ziliro Chibambo also paid tribute to Chikuni, describing him as a remarkable leader who contributed significantly to the fight for multiparty democracy in Malawi.
He said his contributions to the media and democracy remain a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations to uphold professionalism and ethical leadership.
