Malawi needs fixing, not politicking
O Tuesday June 23, 2020 Malawians went to the poll to elect a president following nullification of the May 21, 2019 presidential election by the High Court.
Some of major issues that Malawians fought against then, were issues of corruption, nepotism, tribalism and regionalism that saw some well deserving Malawians missing out on opportunities because of their tribe and for not being politically connected.
Tribalism, cronyism and nepotism which characterised the past regime should remain in the past and never again should this country be divided based on regions and tribal leanings.
Malawians also fought hard against the reckless plunder of public coffers which to this day continue to render the country in economic ruins. Many argue that though Malawi is rated one of the poorest countries, it is not the lack of capacity that has seen Malawi’s economy tumbling, rather it is lack of political will, corruption, greed and nepotism that have brought this country’s economy down to its knees.
Coming into power at the back of public anger against these vices, one would think that the Tonse government, while in opposition, was taking notes of the things that Malawians want to change as a matter of urgency. However, it seems, they learnt nothing and seem unwilling to learn anything, if the plunder of Covid-19 funds at Department of Disaster Management (Dodma) is anything to go by.
It is very strange that to this day, the president and the task force for Covid-19 are failing to come in the open and tell Malawians how they spent the K6.2 billion. Instead, what is blame shifting. I say the buck stops with the president. What more with the fact that the taskforce reports to the president? What have they been reporting to the president if not reporting figures of Covid-19 cases and figures of how they money is being used to fight the pandemic?
Tonse government should have hit the ground running but, to the contrary, this government indecision and lack of laissez faire approach to rooting out the vices that very reasons why Malawians booted the DPP government out, is what has brought the country what it is, moving in circles.
Tonse government should have made rooting out corruption their number one priority. It is a known fact that, it doesn’t matter how much money this country can get from donors and within, if corruption is left to thrive, the country will never develop. The Tonse Alliance administration should not have joined the thieving crusade.
As if the thieving is not enough, some Tonse Alliance members are busy politicking, jostling for positions and back-biting each other and dismissing critics of the government. This country needs fixing now. The country cannot be in campaign mode forever. There ought to be time to build this country by putting the politics aside, hard as it may be.
Fixing this the country will be easy and possible if you pay attention and listen to those who are critical of you. Do not outright dismiss them. The past regime was known for not listening to dissenting views and we all know how it ended for them. You are there on trust and once Malawians lose their trust, you too just like your predecessor, you will face the wrath of Malawians at the ballot box.
Mr. President, you have a huge task of uniting Malawians and fixing this country. You have a task of rallying every single Malawian, including those who did not vote for you, to work with you to develop this country.
Let there be no witch-hunting but, anyone who has stolen from Malawians, has to pay back every single tambala they took. Those who committed crimes let them face the long arm of the law. This is also part of fixing this country. No one who stole from Malawians should be let scot-free.
Do not let Malawians down.
