Joyce Banda decides democracy not so great after all

When Malawi's electoral commission released preliminary results showing President Banda a distant second in this weeks presidential race, she immediately discovered massive voting irregularities and declared the election null and void!

Banda has long been a favourite of the West, one of a supposed "new breed" of African leaders comfortable in their role as perpetual second-class citizens in the global village, unlike an earlier generation of self-styled freedom-fighters and anti-colonial agitators.

What's shocking is the absence of Canadian election observers on the ground in Malawi. I guess they're all busy in Ukraine this week. Doesn't the Harper gang care about democracy in Africa?

Does this have undertones of racism?

Or is it just because there are no significant numbers of Malawian-Canadians voting in the next Canadian election?

Madonna is not the only western witch with a hex on Malawi

It's the other one that Joyce Banda should be worried about.

Banda drew great accolades for her recent diss of the globe-trotting do-gooder Madonna. If only she had the courage to be so forthright with that other witch from the west, IMF boss Christine Lagarde. Instead, Banda has obligingly "opened up" to IMF blandishments on the ever-popular "structural adjustments" universally demanded of the poor nations by the rich nations.

Banda's major achievement as leader, economistically speaking, has been a devaluation of the Malwian currency. That may have pleased the overlords at the IMF, but has displeased the vast majority of the populace, who have seen their cost of living rise by over 20%.

That's why the public spat with Madonna was such an image boost for Banda. She is a strong African leader who won't be talked down to by rich white celebrities.

But she is quite content to take her marching orders from the rich white bankers at the IMF.