Friday, April 16, 2021
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Adverts
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Columns Emily Mkamanga

The right to question govt, the leadership

by Emily Mkamanga
20/08/2016
in Emily Mkamanga
3 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

Part of the definition of democracy says ‘it is a government for the people’; therefore, it is not wrong for Malawians to question the government in power, which is there to serve them. More, importantly, people expect the government to respond to their queries or whatever they are saying.

Unfortunately, this seems not to be the case with the DPP-led government. Any suggestion is perceived to be the voice of opposition parties who are considered as failures. For goodness’ sake, even if it is the opposition parties querying government, so what? After all, those people in the opposition parties have the same rights as those in government or the ruling party.

RelatedHeadlines

Longevity in power no solution

All time lessons from Magufuli

No corruption is safe

Meanwhile, by failing to respond to people, the government must know that it is sending a wrong message of telling people to shut up. Such are dictatorship tendencies which have no room in a democracy. In the same vein of not willing to respond to people, it is now clear that the discussions between the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and government are dead and buried. This is very unfortunate. President Peter Mutharika and his government should know better that failing to respond to the PAC report is the highest order of shunning the people of Malawi. The report had views from Malawians across the country, and more importantly, they charted the way forward on how best to be governed. Needless to say that if all stakeholders had known that the PAC report would yield nothing, they would have not wasted their time discussing and coming up with recommendations to the President.

So far the government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati MP has come up with a statement on the failed dialogue. From the statement, government seems to be faulting PAC for disregarding that the government side was busy with the sitting of Parliament. The fact is that PAC might have been seen to be in a hurry because some of the actionable resolutions had proposed time-frames which were supposed to be adhered to, to make the resolutions meaningful. Now, after all is said, the fact still remains that the President has failed to respond to issues Malawians raised during the All-Inclusive PAC conference.

Indeed, people have the right to question government and the leadership. Some of the ways to do this is through petitions and peaceful demonstrations. Surprisingly, the government looks at petitions as if they are illegal; hence petitions are not taken seriously. As soon as a petition to the President is delivered to the DC or city council, the story ends there. What usually follows are castigations and name-calling of petitioners by government agents on the public radio and television.

It is time that public officers avoided getting heated up under the collar when queried. They should be reminded that Malawians introduced multiparty democracy so that they can be free to suggest on how best to be governed. This is what democracy or government for the people is all about. Therefore government should not be wasting time and resources trying to shut up people. This can easily backfire.

Avatar
Emily Mkamanga
Previous Post

‘Luso la mpira ndilo lidandidolola’

Next Post

Donors senseless on full-board

Related Posts

Emily Mkamanga

Longevity in power no solution

April 11, 2021
Emily Mkamanga

All time lessons from Magufuli

April 3, 2021
Corrupción | The Nation Online
Emily Mkamanga

No corruption is safe

March 27, 2021
Next Post

Donors senseless on full-board

Opinions and Columns

My Turn

A cry of an up-and-coming musician

April 16, 2021
Rise and Shine

Conducting personal career reflections

April 15, 2021
Business Unpacked

Pre-budget consultations should strike a balance

April 15, 2021
My Turn

Debate Abortion Bill

April 14, 2021
https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf https://www.mwnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/WFP-Afikepo-1-2.pdf

Trending Stories

  • Has over 25 cases to handle: Silungwe

    Chakwera, AG meet over MEC

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Which way MEC?

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Heartless plunder

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 3 make final list for ACB top job

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Made See needs help—Namadingo

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2021 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.