Chakwera says Mutharika’s 25-minute speech ‘lacked substance’

Leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera has criticised the State of the Nation Address delivered by President  Peter Mutharika at Parliament in Lilongwe on Friday, saying it was too short and lacked substance.

President Mutharika greest opposition chief Chakwera
President Mutharika greest opposition chief Chakwera
Mutharika in parliament
Mutharika in parliament

Mutharika made an historic 25 minute address to parliament when he opened a 46th session of the National Assembly.

“It is just too short. There was a lot of information we expected from him especially in recovery plan for the economy,” said Chakwera in an interview soon after the President’s address.

Mutharika broke the record for making just a 25 minute state of the nation address as opposed to the tradition two hours.

Chakwera said he will say much on Monday when he will take the floor in the 193 strong House to respond to the address.

Virginia Palmer, US ambassador to Malawi welcomed the address, saying it was to the point and factual.

Writing on her Facebook wall, veteran lady journalist, Suzgo Khunga of the Nation Publications Limited, who has covered parliament for many years, said this was the first time in her career she heard a 25 minute state of the nation address.

Among several issues, Mutharika said his administration is now getting tougher on medical drug thefts on public hospitals, hinting the malpractice is now on the decline.

Palmer this week warned the US would pull out its massive malaria drug aid package if government failed to address rampant drug theft.

“We are also arranging to amend the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Act in order to strengthen the legal framework for punishing those who steak drugs,” he said.

“Time for stealing medicine is over!”

The President said there are enough drugs in stock.

Mutharika entered the chamber amid shouts of boma! boma! from the government benches and silence from the opposition.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
103 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Honeycomb Chidyauzu
Honeycomb Chidyauzu
8 years ago

Please can some one advise the President how to lay a wreath. The way he did it yestreday according to televion pictures was some how disrespectiful. Why did he lay the wreath using one hand.

Mr Pheee
Mr Pheee
8 years ago

#74 watch your mouth, mudzachita nazo manyazi mawa munthu ameme mukumunyozayo atakutorani pa nseu HIV itakukutumula zisanaoneke,ili ndi dzikotu, ngati ndi nkwiyo wakwanu uzithera kwanu komweko osati mwayambana ndi ma hule uko basi kubwera pa nyasa mkumadzanyoza munthu amene simukumudziwa komwe wa chokela mwava man?wandikwiyisa kobasi #yanga ndi +777367689908 check me

Petro
Petro
8 years ago

KUZAMANI KU ESCOM ANTHU ATSALA PANG’ONO KUPANGA ZA IWE MA LOAN AKAZI UMAPATSA NDALAMA ZABWINO KOMA AMUNA ANZAKO KUMANGODULA UKUFUNA TIKAKHALE PA GWAFA ULEKELETU NGATI AKAZIWO UKUMAKWATA ZAKO ZIMENEZO

Foxyandy
Foxyandy
8 years ago

A CHAKWERA SEES ZINTHU IN WHITE&BLACK.I’M SURE MUTATENGA BOMA MUZAVUTIKA NDI “CRITICISM”.ZIKAZATERO,TIZAONA ‘CONGRESS’ TIMAIDAIONA IJA. tangoonani “leadership” mu party. yanu

mbani
8 years ago

why r pple putting imaginery words in the speach poor malawi

Mwala-Ku-Mwala
8 years ago

Chakwera, you say the speech lack some info, which info? if you have that info, why cant you just share with us? U.S. Ambassador says it was nice one. (brief and to the point) and you say the opposite out of jerousy , shame on you>

Sir Bentby
8 years ago

Very shameful.
25 mins like speach ya primary headteacher, headless speach from deluded president.

Chilungamo Chimawawa
Chilungamo Chimawawa
8 years ago

yes, 25 minutes is good for him coz he has nothing important to tell the nation

mr malawi
mr malawi
8 years ago

it was nyc speech by the president, keep it going.

Romento
Romento
8 years ago

The opposition should take APM to task for lopsided priorities in providing for huge amounts of money for his pet projects of malata subsidy and community technical colleges while failing to employ nurses and junior doctors.

It leaves a sour taste in the mouth that Lesotho will reap where it did not sow by getting a good number of our junior doctors. As for the nurses, they will probably be on their way to the UK now that the UK has lifted its self imposed ban on employing Malawian nurses…

Read previous post:
Malawi Police officers cry foul over K5m Christmas party deductions

Malawi Police Service officers have been left enraged after being forced to contribute part of their salaries towards this year’s...

Close