Chakwera blames Malawi state of disaster to ‘gawky’ leadership

The main opposition’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president who is also leader of opposition in Parliament, Dr Lazarus Chakwera  has commented on Pesident Peter Mutharika declaration of  the state of national disaster following  hunger situation  due to persistent of floods and dry spells. attributing persistent hunger crisist o lack of political will toward eradication of problem despite huge investments on Farm Inputs Subsidy Program (FISP) .

Chakwera and MCP leadership at the news conference
Chakwera and MCP leadership at the news conference

Chakwera and MCP leadership was speaking in Lilongwe during a news conference to inform the nation on his tour from Portugal where, among others, he was handed over the Vice Presidency for the Christian Democratic Institute (CDI-Africa region).

He argued that most officials in government  have taken advantage of the program reaping public funds without putting strategic ways in addressing the challenge.

“Climate change whose impacts including dry spells, floods, heavy rainfalls are natural phenomenon which we can’t blame God for that. This is the situation all over the world but it’s the political will which cope up with these challenges.

“Why could the entire nation be starving of food with plenty of water bodies whereas irrigation farming can be Ideal for Malawi? But what we see, it’s huge investments in FISP which is marred with corruptions as most governing party officials reap a lot from the initiative. The unfortunate part is that they don’t take advice when we say the nation needs to graduate and put coping mechanism in addressing the food crisis.

“Therefore, it’s good news to here that the current leadership has succumbed to pressure of buying the irrigation idea as the way forward for this nation. Even declaring this time around a state of natural disaster, has come too late while those who could support starving families are far much to reach as were waiting this call long time ago”, observed Chakwera.

Chakwera was accompanied by Deputy Secretary General ElsenhowerMkaka, Director of Legal affairs, Peter Chakhwantha and Director of Elections, Maxwell Thyolera.

Commenting on tobacco marketing, Chakwera called upon tobacco buyers to consider increasing prices of buying the leaf at the auctions in order to allow farmers be able to repay their loans.

He asked the government to be at the forefront protecting the farmers.

Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) President Alfred Kapichira Banda recently expressed dissatisfaction over the tobacco prices on the first day of tobacco sales.

Kapichira Banda said tobacco farmers will not be able to repay their farm input loans.

“These poor prices coupled with the appreciation of the kwacha will diminish projected earnings of the farmer,” he said.

He said the tobacco farmer was growing tobacco when the kwacha was hovering around K1000 to a dollar saying which means they took the agricultural loan when the kwacha was trading at K1000 to a dollar.

However he said they are selling the tobacco when the kwacha is hovering around K600 to a dollar.

Mkaka wondered why the green gold’s buyers were offering low prices with high rejection rates while the same buyers were buying the crop with good prices in neighboring Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique attributing the same to poor leadership where investors dictate for this nation instead of the authority that be.

Chakwera has since called upon Government to find lasting solution over the problem.

During the news conference Chakwera also queried high interests rates by local bank.

This comes following reports that Malawi is ranked among ten countries in the world with high interests rate.

Commenting on state of the nation disaster, Chakwera asked government to speed up humanitarian efforts in order to lessen suffering of the Malawians in the flood-hit areas like Mzuzu.

Chakwera took time to apologise to journalists  who protested that the party takes them for for granted by keeping them for hours unattended to every time it calls for a news  conference.

For today, let me take the blame for the delay. I was held  up somehow on my way here. I was attending to some pressing issues I cannot give details on right now but I agree it was not fair holding you up like that.

“As a party, we are very sorry. We hope to improve on time management.” Chakwera said.

The news conference was scheduled to start at 10:00 AM, but reporters had to wait for almost two hours before  Chakwera came to address them.

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Mchipeta Chatsika
Mchipeta Chatsika
7 years ago

Two lessons to Chakwera: Climate change is human induced and never comment on issues that you are ignorant about as people may not tell the difference.

rabson
7 years ago

Monday coach!!!!

Gogoda
Gogoda
7 years ago

And some fools commenting here think the leader of opposition should be the one implementing solutions for the country otherwise he is a failure. Poor souls! And anthu oti kasukulu pang’onon adachitapo. Pathetic. And wina ati MCP apepese. Did MCP kill 21 people on 20 June 2011? Robert Chasowa? Issa Njaunju? K577bn? Who should apologise?

santana
santana
7 years ago

Does Chakwera still believe that he can one day be elected as president for this country? Can he mention just 5 people from his MCP who can make his cabinet? PP should also produce 4 which it thinks can make a minister. The whole opposition combined has no members who can make something in Malawi. Be at that side of the august house and be trained how to run govt. 2019 is too early for you guys.

pido
7 years ago

Numbr 6 If you are not in the country the shauli yako. At the very beginning of Chakwera Term in MCP he apologised for the past of MCP. How many times should he apologise. Osangokamba popeza mwapeza pepala lolembapo follow the issues.

Number 2. Read the story again so that you see solution already articulated earlier. He has just repeated what he told government to do

koma abale inu eeh
koma abale inu eeh
7 years ago
Reply to  pido

“No. 6” here: I am right here in BT., FYI.
How about the compensations?

Shoerubber
Shoerubber
7 years ago

Vuto lake bwana president Chakwera amatsutsa posaenera kutsutsa nkumavomera zosaenera kuvomera,, anabalalikanso ndithu mkulu ameneyo,, akulephera kuthetsa mkangano wa chipani chake ,, nde mavuto adziko angazatani nawo bwana amenewa, Ndivomelezane ndi onse amene akunena kuti Olemekezekawa alibe mphatso ya utsogoleri,, munthu akalephera kusesa nka nyumba kakang’ono sangakwanitse kusesa mu hall , zomawe akupanga abwanawa nkufuna kusesa mu hall .

mayor kachoka
mayor kachoka
7 years ago

Carry on honourable Chakwera I for one know better that u have good leadership skills even recognised by international geniouses..the only problem is that ur good advices fall in deaf ears which treats every advice with a political injection..no wonder the ship is sinking NYASALAND NO PROGRESS!!!!!!

Peter Mathanyula
7 years ago

Seeing the comments on this forum it clearly indicates that DPP followers do not wish this country any better. If a mare follower behaves like this what will happen with Mr. Ibu, who does not even want to see Chakwera eye to eye?? Mr. Ibu can not take any advice from Dr. Chakwera. I remember during last year’s budget session in parliament, Juliana Lunguzi MP advised gvt to request Illovo to grow maize in their sugarcane farms in order to avert impending famine, the response from the gvt was pathetic. The responsible minister said the MP who’s near Illovo should… Read more »

capitalist nigger
capitalist nigger
7 years ago

Most of the comments are typical of Malawians. A nation without future and doomed. Our comments are a manifestation of our stupidity and how immature and undeveloped we are. No wonder our colleagues are wondering as to whether we are a country with direction or death..let’s assess ourselves and make comments good for the development of the country. Shame on us people without future but with party affiliations

Phwisa
Phwisa
7 years ago

Did Chakwera tell his supporters to start winter cropping to avert hunger or he want to be asking Government come January that the Government should give his supporters free maize. Why have you not blamed cashgate peple eversince it cameron out. O Chakwera mumaonekatu ngati munthu wa nzerutu muli ku tchalitchi. Timaona njokarunzi eti

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