Chakwera says net ‘big fish’ in cashgate scam, calls civil service politicized
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera has called on the decentralization of some aspects of the civil service which will give room for less political interference.
Speaking during a party rally at Masintha Ground in Kawale, Lilongwe on Sunday, Chakwera noted one of the key factors that has led to chaos in the civil service is that workers are frustrated by a system that does not reward hard work.
The MCP leader observed that promotions in the civil service are not based on merit, which leaves hard-working personnel disenfranchised and disillusioned.
And commenting on the massive looting that has been uncovered at Capital Hill, Chakwera called on authorities to bring to book the ‘bigger fish’ that are involved in the ‘cash-gate’ syndicate other than sacrificing low ranking officers.
“Let’s not sacrifice the small fish because I believe this involves bigger fish too because there are regulations in place on how to manage the budget and systems in place to check abuse.
“And what is surprising is that our government is perpetually broke, failing to even procure basic amenities for hospitals and schools, so where is this money that is being looted coming from?”
During the rally that was also attended by former MCP president and long-serving party tsar John Tembo, Chakwera called on Malawians to unite in moving this country forward.
“Let’s build this nation because we want to leave a better country for our kids. Let us not fight and squabble because of politics. And as Malawi turns 50 next year, it is time to reflect and start all over again,” he said.
Chakwera further called on party members to remain grounded in the guiding principles of the party in order to ensure that MCP forms the next government after next year’s elections.
He said Malawi was founded on the principles of the MCP and as such, it is time the party returned to rule in order to steer the country back to prosperity.
Chakwera, who spent three decades preaching at the Assemblies of God church opposite Masintha Ground, said the spirited tussling leading up to the MCP convention was not a sign of squabbling but rather of a party trying to assert itself.
“The MCP is not divided. The convention was meant to show how democratic we are as a party. In MCP, unity is one of our cornerstones and there is no way we can be divided because MCP is a solid party,” he said.
The former president of the Malawi Assemblies of God also noted that it is time all MCP members embraced democracy.
Earlier, many vehicles joined Chakwera’s convoy and honked all the way to the rally venue.
