In the last month the main road into Zomba has gotten a lot more brightly colored. Along the massive, old trees that line the road, multi-colored flags have begun appearing, adding a flurry of excitement and expectation to the environment. In fact, each one of these different-colored flags represents a political party here in Malawi, and they have gone up all over town as we have drawn closer to the general elections, which were held last Tuesday.
It is always interesting to watch the election process for a country that is not your own. Comparing and contrasting systems of government, watching our Malawian staff compare and contrast promised policies, waiting in expectation as someone whose visa status can be affected by new government, it is always a swirl of mixed emotions, much like all the bright flags along the main road.