Memories of Lumbadzi police cell to Peter Mutharika et al: Billy Mayaya

Perhaps you are in my corner

Counting the mosquitos as they come in for more blood
Perhaps you cant believe that in Malawi
There is another world
Most people dont know
Will never know
Of depravity
Of evil

Perhaps you are thinking
“I never thought I would ever come to this place”
“I, the Peter, the once and future King
I, the Patricia, the once and future Queen
We had the power to change this place
We had the power to wish this stench of urine away
We had the power to wish these mosquitos away

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Peter Mutharika: No bail yet

We once slept in beds of gold
We once ate in plates of gold

Perhaps you are scratching your name
On that wall
Over my name

“Peter Mutharika was here”

Perhaps you are looking for signs
of God’s compassion
Perhaps you are thinking
Of the last campaign
The next campaign
That may come
That may not
Your day in court
That may come
That may not

I hope you are thinking of us
Peter and Patricia and the rest of you
You are thinking of man who stole a goat
And sits in that cell next to you
You are thinking of Habiba Osman
Who slept in the cell next to you
of Comfort Kobayashi E Door
Whose name you may not have heard of
Of Ben Chiza Mkandawire

We hope as you stare at that irritating light bulb
you think of Brian Nyasulu and John Kapito

We are not having the last laugh
We are just shedding the first of tears
that may perhaps steer your eyes
to the tattoos of our names on your conscience
and those of countless people who have slept in that corner
of that cell
once thinking of you
when you didnt think of mosquitoes
or of urine
but of power