Analyst hits at DPP for salvage attack on Chakwera
Political governance commentator Henry Chingaipe has accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for dismissing advice that leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera continues to give to government and only focusing on attacking his personality.
Chingaipe noted that government response to Chakwera’s statements focus on attacking the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president’s personality other than the issues of national interests that he raises.
“The governing party is attacking the personality and the characters of the opposition leaders and not the issues he raises,” noted Chingaipe.
Recently, DPP reacted to Chakwera’s critique of Malawi situation by attacking him.
DPP accused Chakwera of being “completely ignorance of the principles of governance in Malawi.”
Francis Kasaila, DPP spokesman said: “We are totally baffled and bewildered that Hon. Dr Chakwera has the audacity to pose as a Pharisee and holier –than-though man who can dare accuse others of moral corruption.”
Kasaila claimed Chakwera has been struggling with accusations of a “liar, thief and a suspect man of evil,” saying he has no higher moral ground on matters of corruption.
DPP claimed it has “details” of Chakwera’s “cleric’s skeletons from holy cupboard of his dark past.”
But Chingaipe said DPP reaction is attacking personality not the issues he raised.
“These people [DP] are still practising politics of personality and not the issues,” Chingaipe noted.
He said such politics of personality is an indication that the DPP do not understand the concept of democracy.
Among other issues, the opposition has been hitting at DPP for failing to deliver on most of its elections manifesto.
The following are some of the major promises the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) made in the manifesto that ushered it into office:
Promised to build five universities in five years: APM Promised to build five universities in five years: APM
- Complete construction of university campuses in Karonga, Mzimba, Nkhotakota, Mangochi, and Nsanje;
- Reduce presidential powers by empowering a special public appointments committee to handle the appointment and removal of top officials in various public institutions such as appointment and removal of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
- Others were the Auditor General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Clerk of Parliament, Malawi Human Rights Commission executive secretary, the Malawi Law Commissioner, director general of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) director general, and that leaders of other accountability institutions shall be on merit through a special public appointments committee;
- In Chapter 4 (11) it emphasises zero-tolerance to corruption, fraud, theft and other economic crimes
- To implement recommendations of past constitutional reviews including the facilitation of revised Section 65 on crossing the floor and to bring back of Section 64, on the recall provision;
- Operationalising the Nsanje Inland Port;
- Abolish the coupon system for subsidized farm inputs;
- Make subsidised fertiliser available for every farmer who needs it.
- Cooperate with and collaborate with the civil society and non-governmental organisations and the media; Pass and implement the Access to Information Bill