Malawi: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – Communique (20.11.2021)

Malawi: Chakwera will not save anyone…

President Lazarus Chakwera will not be there to keep his promises or be able to make a difference. This man is busy being a globe-trotter and a vagabond. Chakwera is busy speaking at international conferences and making speeches to settle his legacy abroad. What is happening in Blantyre or Lilongwe can be dealt by someone else. Most likely one of his cabinet members who can fall on the sword for the lack of results.

President Chakwera came in with plenty and bountiful of promises. As a long time opposition leader and alliance to make a change. Alas, he allied himself with another party and got a majority. He secured the job and ability to rule. In that way end Mutharika and DPP reign in Malawi. The Tonse Alliance was born and he took charge.

However, Chakwera haven’t made the economy better, his government is a hot-bed for nepotism and there is no end in sight of bad-news. There is a debt-trap and inflation. Prices on basic commodities is surging, while he is busy travelling with a huge entourage to foreign destinations.

The President is blaming the predecessor, the bureaucracy or anyone else than himself. It is just like his powerless and without any favours. He makes it seem like everyone is stifling his moves and it’s a global issues. Even when the toll-gate prices is made by himself. The scandals and the corruption is still viable to this day. Chakwera’s government is just acting as the previous administration and he cannot run away from it.

Rising costs on fuel and food, while the unemployment rate isn’t ceasing either. The President and his cabinet isn’t making headway in any regard to the matters hand. They are showing of some pet projects and publicity stunts, but not changing the problems of the common man. Neither is the President reviewing or even trying to amend the mandate of the Presidency. Directly backtracking one of his promises in the Fresh Presidential Elections of 2020.

It is Chakwera and his government fault that the Malawian government isn’t meeting the standards of the IMF and Wold Bank. That is not the fault of the DPP. Yes, the DPP is responsible for their time in office, but now it’s been over a year and the Tonse Alliance could settle the difference and ensure they followed the guidelines. Alas, there is a lie here and the probe will only be a political ammunition and trying to shift blame to the predecessor, yet again!

When we see how Chakwera back-pedals and shifts blame constantly. Don’t expect him to do anything. The President will not do anything about these things. He to busy to be in the spotlight, cut some ribbons and cash his checks. The President got a grand salary and perks. He don’t need to do anything and if anything gets bottled by anyone. Chakwera can just settle it and sack them. If not have an inquiry or a probe into their malicious acts in office. They will be the fall-guys and the ones who didn’t follow the words of the Presidency. Therefore, he will always get cleared and someone else will carry the weight of him.

Chakwera is a clear snake-oil salesman, a well-funded pastor turned politician. He spoke for a living and he still does… but he don’t act upon the words his uttering out of his mouth. Peace.

Malawi: Kalindo organized an demo against the government

Demonstrations planned to take place today in Blantyre have been cancelled amid serious chaotic scenes that are still unfolding, police have confirmed. Deputy Southern Region Police spokesperson Edith Kachotsa said organisers of the demonstrations, led by Bon Kalindo, have decided to cancel the demonstrations after some disagreements amongst themselves. As we compile this, most of the places within Blantyre Business District is awash with teargas, reaching to places such as Protea Ryalls Hotel, Sunbird Mount Soche and surrounding banks. Kachotsa said police fired the teargas to prevent more violence” (Malawi Nation Online, 19.11.2021).

In Malawi there been made a commotion and a demonstration against the Tonse Alliance after United Transformation Movement (UTM) Youth Director Bon Kalindo challenged the UTM to fire him.

This is not the first time Kalindo gets himself into trouble. The MP have gotten into issues before and this is not new. The Tonse Alliance is speaking of a financial crisis, while the nepotism and corruption runs rampant.

Kalindo is a firebrand and a man who has done this before. He has insulted the predecessor Mutharika and now Chakwera. The man even spent time in jail for doing so. This time he got of the hook and stopped being a member of the party.

It has just been 48 hours since he stepped down.

Maybe he hurt the Tonse Alliance by saying this: “Malawians can no longer breathe and we have leaders who continue to justify unnecessary increases of basic commodities. We have leaders who have failed to address corruption even in their backyard and when we say these have to stop then we are accused of insulting the leaders” (Kalindo, 14.11.2021).

The politician are now using the public and the grievances, which isn’t new, but is becoming more dire. Kalindo just proves a point. We can wonder if he used the public as a decoy in this. As Chakwera’s government only shows no mercy to demonstrators. However, Kalindo has been behind bars for his political activity.

We can just wonder what is his end-game this time around. Kalindo isn’t a fool, but a unique sort of politician. He will use his platform and office to build his own career. Most likely his using the struggles of the people and youths to his own benefit now. As a Youth Director he could easily connect with the leaders and activists to get them quickly to the streets. Therefore, Kalindo used this now.

Yes, Chakwera and his government have to fix things, but his busy spending fortunes on foreign trips and taking huge entourages abroad. He cannot run away from this. Kalindo might use this and excuse his own actions.

The demonstration against the government is righteous. The public has a right to do it. However, trusting Kalindo now is a fools errand. Peace.

Malawi: United Transformation Movement (UTM) – We condemn any insults on the President and the Vice President, because we are a Party of Values and Rules (14.11.2021)

Malawi: Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) – Mr President, Show Servant Leadership, Share the Pain with the Masses (12.10.2021)

Malawi: The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) – Total Hypocrisy in COVID-19 Restictions (13.09.2021)

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC): Press Statement Condemning the Arrest and Ill Treatment of Human Rights Activists (17.08.2021)

Malawi: Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) – Tonse Government, Fading Hope amid Governance lapses: Where is the Political Promise? (08.08.2021)

Malawi: Malawi Government concerned by Inaccurate Reporting by the Times Newspaper of the United Kingdom (28.07.2021)

Opinion: Chakwera doesn’t care

Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera is no different then the ones he took over from. Why do I say that? Well, the President is appointing his family to positions, hiring associates and officials within the ranks of the Tonse Alliance. This has been proven and he does what he promised he wouldn’t do.

Chakwera went after the previous President and his actions towards appointing family members into government positions or offices. The current president hired his own daughter and gave her job. This is why he has already caught flack for that this recent week.

Now to top it off, he is travelling to London, United Kingdom (UK) in the middle of a global pandemic. To participate in a virtual conference. Meaning a conference, which will be held online and be on the internet. This will not be held in a fancy hotel and be like ordinary conference with food, pleasantries and meetings in various of rooms at the venue. However, no… this will be virtual. Meaning, the participants can be anywhere as long as they have the code to enter and be part of the program as scheduled. That is usually sent from the ones running the conference to the speakers and whatnot. Therefore, the President flying to the venue or the nation of the conference is just foolish at best.

The President clearly doesn’t care. As his been mentioned to say the “internet” and the “connection” in Malawi is unsteady and not reliable. That’s why he has to cross half-of-the-world to participate in this conference.

By doing so… he is indirectly saying the ICT sector and the Internet isn’t good enough for him. Not like he has any power or ability to make it better. The President could invest in better broadband and ensure steady electricity. As these things are big investments of fibre- or secure the electricity companies deliver continuously and not have “blackouts”. So, he has a job to do and he could push the other ministries to make this happen. However, that is most likely since he gets a few free rides to other capitals by not doing it.

Chakwera is reckless and doesn’t care. That is clearly the visible message, as he went on the plane yesterday. Because, it is very “rich” that he can spend public funds on a travel like this to London to be a speaker and a participant in a virtual conference. Not like he couldn’t done that from the State House or any government facility. He should have trusted his government and internet connection they have.

The President is mocking his own country and citizens by doing this. It is not a sign of greatness, but of how willing he is to take a plane to live lavish elsewhere. He will enjoy the spoils of London and be a dignitary in the United Kingdom. Where he can eat, drink and spend like there is no tomorrow. That’s what will happen.

The President will enjoy the silver lining and be at a 5 star hotel most likely and possibly eat a Michelin star restaurant every night. If not have specialized procured and made by an expensive chef. So, don’t be shocked if the billing for this trip is out of the roof and the President doesn’t want transparency over this. Because, it will look bad publicly.

Chakwera promised to be different than his predecessor, but his current day actions is copying the ones before him. He is just acting like them and taking the people for granted. Peace.