Emily Mkamanga

Transformation opportunities stifled

To assume that soon there will be transformation in Malawi under the leadership of President Peter Mutharika and his DPP-led government is a mere wishful thought of the highest order.  Currently, this country has been be-deviled by all manner of corruption which has left Malawi paralysed.  Honestly speaking, it is time the President declared corruption a national disaster requiring immediate solution.

It is embarrassing that whenever a diplomat has reached their end of term in Malawi, the popular parting statement is an appeal to the President and his government to fight the rampant corruption.  It is now believed that corruption is at every level of government.  Hence the shock about the recent media revelations in which President Peter Mutharika is alleged to be beneficiary of K145 million which was suspiciously donated to DPP.

The crux of the matter is that the money was deposited into an account which the President is the only signatory.  So far, the President has already denied the allegation of using dirty money.

Whether the allegations against the President are true or not, it is up to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to prove and the courts to administer justice.  But the worrisome thing, nationally with corruption allegations levelled against the President, is that Malawians get scared and, therefore, conclude that the President and his government cannot fight corruption because the President is benefiting from it.

Furthermore, some corrupt individuals might think that the President has given them greenlight to go deeper with corruption.  This might be assumed up to be the DPP policy.  People who belong to corruption gangs are getting richer while the rest of Malawians are getting poorer.  Imagine, those people who were poor in 2014 are worse off now.  People in the corridors of power are getting richer while opportunities to the rest of Malawians are stifled.

The danger with the type of corruption levelled at the President is that sooner than later this country will run according to the dictates of those foreigners who are ready to heavily corrupt leaders with any amount they want.  In the process, such foreigners will be the ones running this country by controlling the leaders in choosing who is to work where, for the corruption deals to run smoothly.  Malawians should watch out and take action against corruption which destroys even the systems of government by involving the President.  Failing which, this country will only be a sovereign State by having a flag and a national anthem while gangs of business crooks will be in charge.

Meanwhile, with such high level of corruption in Malawi, one can conclude that the economic growth figures being narrated by the Finance minister are fake because they have no correlation with the abject poverty levels in the country.

In 1994, Malawians voted for change and little did they know that some of the leader’s objective was to paralyse the country.

Lastly, one can only appeal to the courts  not to defend corrupt people by giving them non descript charges such as abuse of office and others which are difficult to prove.

If someone has been found with stolen tax payers’ money, they should be charged likewise.  Furthermore, investigations should not last forever, even where the case is straight forward.

In conclusion, it does not make sense to say that Malawi will transform soon.  Any sensible leader must ensure that practices that stifle progress must not be tolerated. n

 

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