By Mustafa Makumba

When we look at our country today, especially after the speech by the President Peter Mutharika last Friday 13th February, everyone is talking about the billions of Kwacha being sent to our local communities through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). It is a time of great hope but also a time where we must think deeply about what it means to be a leader. 

In Islam, leadership is not just a position of power or a way to accumulate wealth; it is a heavy trust known as Amana. This money is not for the Member of Parliament, Ward Councilor or the chiefs to use as they please, but it is a trust from the people to build schools, clinics, and better roads for all Malawians. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, gave us a very serious warning about this.  He said that every one of you is a shepherd and every one of you is responsible for his flock (Bukhari). 

This means that whether you are a high official in Lilongwe or a committee member in the village, you will one day stand before the Creator to explain how you managed what was put in your hands.  The taxpayers’ money is not just something to misuse, it is their hard-earned money and any misappropriation has its consequences in this world and in the Hereafter. 

When we hear about mining licenses being checked or ghost workers being removed from the government payroll, we should see this as a way of protecting the Amana of the nation. Our faith teaches us that the wealth of a country belongs to everyone, especially the poor and the vulnerable who are struggling with the high cost of maize and fertilizer. 

When resources are managed with honesty, the whole community prospers and there is Barakah (Blessings) in our efforts. But when greed takes over, the heart of the nation becomes sick. We must all be like watchmen for one another, encouraging what is right and speaking out against what is wrong. 

If we handle these new resources with the fear of God and a sincere heart to serve, we can truly lift our families out of poverty and build a Malawi that honors the dignity of every citizen while also building a self-reliant middle income nation.