Fading face of DPP-led government

Malawians are well aware of their poverty, no matter how much the government can sugar-coat it by saying it will soon be over.
During his swearing in ceremony in May in 2014, President Peter Mutharika’s speech created great expectations about Malawi’s future. He promised to turn around the poverty situation as soon as possible. He also said that he was going to improve security in the country. Above all, he appealed to Malawians to be united.
Meanwhile, a year later Malawians are still deep into poverty. The security has worsened to the extent that people are witnessing the most unprecedented gruesome murders. The government seems to have run out of ideas on how they can stop the carnage. Honestly speaking, the high level of insecurity creates a feeling of having no caring government, let alone caring leader. The hope that people had in the President and his government seem to be fading fast. There is no light at the end of the tunnel to show that security will improve anytime soon. Imagine, most people, especially in town and cities have a sad story to tell of being confronted by thieves armed with panga knives and even guns. These thieves have no mercy. They kill at will after stealing everything.
It is appreciated that the theme of the country’s 51st Independence Anniversary celebrations was ‘Transformation and inclusive development’. The President should know better that there can be no room for transformation, let alone development, in such an insecure environment that we have in Malawi at the moment. Everyone expects the police to work hard to protect people and their property. They are doing that to the extent of even laying down their lives. But, honestly speaking, and to be fair to the police, how can they continue to work hard  when they are paid very little and, worse still, the little pay does not come on time? Look at the tiny houses they live in. It is really pathetic and a real sacrifice.
With the high insecurity in the country, the much talked-about recent investors meeting that government is bragging about might end up just as a wishful thought. The statement that the President said about Malawi being a peaceful country might not be enough assurance to the investors.
The President also talks about unity. Yes, indeed, united we stand and divided we fall.  However, it is no secret that there is lack of unity in this country. People seem to be more divided than ever before because of nepotism, tribalism and regionalism. The media has been awash with stories about all this. Even the President has been blamed for practising nepotism and tribalism in his government. As long as all this goes on, the President should forget about achieving any unity in Malawi. Even if the President denies what is stated here, there is a clear example that most people can see and this is in State dinners. It is the same people each time round who are invited. Changing the venue is just a formality for hoodwinking people. How can people feel united when there is a deliberate policy to segregate some as second class citizens?
After his recent visit to Mozambique, Mutharika said he admired the unity between the current president of Mozambique and his predecessors. With all due respect, the President should know better that the presidents in Mozambique belong to the same Frelimo party. Therefore, their unity is not strange. If the unity was between them and Dlakama—leader of the opposition Renamo party—then it would have been indeed worth admiring and commenting on.
The other thing, which is fading the DPP government, is the seemingly ‘we do not care attitude’. After the controversial sale of the Malawi Savings Bank (MSB), some of the ministers when asked about it, answered arrogantly as if people are worthless. The ‘we do not care attitude’ also comes out when the government decides to spend K300 million on celebrations when civil servants are not paid and hospitals have no medicines.
The few issues raised here and many more that suffering Malawians talk about are indeed fading the face of President Peter Mutharika’s government. n