Chakwera lashes at Mutharika in Parliament as ‘broken’ Malawi President 

Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr Lazarus Chakwera  on Monday responded to the address which President Peter Mutharika made on Friday, November 10, while opening opening of the 47th Session of Parliament and painted  Mutharika as a “broken”  leader.

Chakwera speaking in Parliament: President has failed to demonstrate that he is not a Prince of Thieves presiding over a kleptocracy

Chakwera, who is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president,  termed Mutharika’s  leadership as characterising of “broken promises”, saying one needs to look no farther than his own  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) manifesto launched on April 6, 2014.

In his  address which was briefly  interrupted by a power blackout , Chakwera fired the salvo‚ sayingthe DPP  manifesto  is a blue print of “so many broken promises”  that it deserves to be called “a manifesto of lies.”

He said: “ Just last week, the local media was lamenting about the trail of broken promises that stain the pages of that manifesto as evidence that this President does everything except what he said he would do.

His promise to abolish  the coupon system? Broken.

“ His promise to lead a brand of politics without intimidation or dishonesty? Broken.

“ His promise to subsidize cement and iron-sheets for millions of Malawians? Broken.

“His promise to build five universities? Broken.

“His promise to reduce the appointing powers of the President and devolve them to Parliament? Broken.

“His promise to resuscitate the Nsanje Port? Broken.

“His promise to double exports within his first term? Broken.

“His promise to have no tolerance of corruption in his government? Broken.

“His promise to provide health insurance for all civil servants? Broken.

“His promise to upgrade the teaching profession and make it attractive? Broken.

“His promise to pass a law on handouts? Broken.

“His promise to provide total security? Broken.”

Chakwera told Parliament that  the number of promises President Mutharika has broken or failed to even attempt to fulfill three years into his term of office is “so staggering”  that instead of informing the nation on the progress made on what he promised, he is always making speeches “about the wonders he will perform in the future and blaming past regimes for his failure to get anything done in the meantime.”

He said: “When the President spoke here on Friday, he even had the audacity to describe his government as ‘performing architectural wonders’  in the construction of Mombera University, even though it has not been built. But perhaps the most insulting claim is his claim that he is investing in electricity to do what no other government has ever done since independence. “

Continued Chakwera in his American accent: “Mr. Speaker Sir, the irony is that the President himself admitted that Malawi’s installed capacity for electricity is 351 megawatts, generated by stations that were constructed or commissioned by the MCP, UDF, and PP regimes. This means that contrary to the President’s fantasies, the only governing party that is yet to add power to the grid while in office is his, and the previous regimes he blames for his failure to do likewise are the ones who constructed the electricity infrastructure that supplies him with uninterrupted electricity wherever he goes while Malawians endure 24 hour blackouts and months of waiting for over-priced back-up generators procured in a fraudulent manner.

“So in short, Mr. Speaker Sir, when the President stood before this honorable House to narrate what he is doing, there is every reason to believe that he was presenting a work of fiction.  However, what isn’t a work of fiction,  Mr. Speaker Sir, is the third brutal fact that the President and his Cabinet refuse to admit or address; that this country is not surviving without donor aid like he claims it is. “

Chakwera said not only Mutharika’s  claim demonstrably untrue, but in the same speech in which the President made this claim, he documented just how dependent  Malawi is still on donor aid.

“Rather than the presumptuous and pretentious attitude of applauding himself for the help our development partners continue to give us, the President should be leading by example in expressing gratitude to those whose aid continues to prop up the house of cards that he is living in,” said Chakwera.

He continued: “For our part, Mr. Speaker Sir, we commend our development partners for their continued support, particularly the Global Fund and Partners, African Development Bank, the World Bank, GAVI, The Health Services Joint Fund supported by the German, UK, and Norwegian Governments, and the Indian Government.”

Leader of Opposition said it is very disingenuous for the President to receive donor aid for the country with one hand and then take credit for running the country without donor aid with the other.

“ The fact is that our development and service programs continue to be dependent on foreign aid, grants, and loans, both on and off budget, not because they must, but because the President has failed to demonstrate that he is not a Prince of Thieves presiding over a kleptocracy,” said Chakwera.

In his reaction, Peoples Party (PP) leader in the House, Ralph Mhone also blasted Mutharika’s administration for “castrophrophic leadership”.

He said Mutharika’s addressed was a missed opportunity.

“We in the Peoples Party believe the President should have gonne deeper to provide policity direction for this country which he didn’t,” said Mhone.

Traditionally, the president’s speech sets the tone for deliberations in the meeting of Parliament.

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concerned one
concerned one
6 years ago

the failed president, the broken projects………………………………………….5-1

Santana
6 years ago

Joseph Chagomelana is another idiot who does not see Mr. ibu’s failures. Just because joseph chagomelana comes from the same tribe with mr. Ibu then he thinks Mr. Ibu is the best thing that happened to Malawi. Joseph Chagomelana I think you were here in Malawi on October 17 2017 when your so called Mr. Ibu was trounced 5-1 by Dr. Laz Chakwera in byelection. What other evidence do you want that Dr. Chakwera is going to win in 2019 with or without 50+1 electoral system. Wait you’ll be disappointed come 2019

Kamza
Kamza
6 years ago

CHAKWERA, YOU AN EYE OPENER TO MILLIONS OF MALAWIAN, AMP IS BUSY LOOTING TAX PAYERS MONEY OVER HIS UNFULFILLED MANIFESTOS. INU A DPP KODI MASO MULIBE,KODI SIMUTHA KUONA ZIMENE MUNTHU UYU AKUKUCHITIRANI (tumbuka).DO YOU ANY WHERE TO HIDE HIM? HE DOESNT BELONG TO MALAWIANS.
NDIWAKUBA TIMUSIYE AZIPITA,THE COUNTRY FORCED TO MARRY A WOMAN AT HIS AGE WHO HE ABUSES EVERY DAY IN AND OUT. FUCK THIS IDIOT.

Mbezi
6 years ago

I salute you Chakwera, kukhala Mmalawi under the leadership of APM nkulimba mtima wawa, a Pulezidenti tasinthani mwina dzikoli lingakome inu eiishhh……

Khamaliscious
Khamaliscious
6 years ago

What I hate most is the fact that President Peter Mutharika knows very well he has failed and yet, still comes around to tell his lies. All he is targeting is the poor Malawians who don’t have access to adequate media coverage and the abused MBC becomes his mouth-piece. LET’S STOP HIM AT ALL COST. May the Justice of the Lord prevail!

CHILUNGAMO
CHILUNGAMO
6 years ago

CHAKWERA: HANDSOME, FACTUAL, COOL AMERICAN ENGLISH….UYU NDE UPRESIDENT UKUMUKHALA…..OSATI MR. IBU…..SUCH AN UGLY OLD HYENA WHO DOES NOTHING BUT LYING!!!!!

Chilungamo Chimawawa
Chilungamo Chimawawa
6 years ago

You idiots! DPP Cadets!!! you mean you are so blind to see that Peter Mutharika is a total failure??? You mean a baby of 2 months old has better eyes to see that yours??? You mean President APM will develop Malawi after the end of his term? Please dont take Malawians for granted, this old man MUST go back to USA and retire there. He has brought sadness to millions of Malawians who are now living a miserable life. Am sorry to say this. I feel pain!!!

Gome
Gome
6 years ago

When I read the heading I said not again, Chakwera blasting the President, but when I started reading through the report I began notice some sense in the whole what Chakwera was saying. As not helpful as it may appear from a different angle I feel Chakwera is over generous in helping Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika trying to shape him to become a better leader. Chakwera is persuading the President to start looking at Malawians a people waiting for their leader to deliver what He Himself promised them. I said it true the people of Malawi did not conceptualized the… Read more »

2019
2019
6 years ago

Chakwela is our only hope as Malawi..kodi mitchona mukubakila Pitala ..kuno kwavuta..mulibe abale anu Ku mudzi who u sympathise with?amene akuvutika ndi ulamulilo w a pharaoh pitala..broken promises indeed..he shud be in a nursing home now..koma Mulungu atimenyela nkhondo Ife a Malawi

GETRUDE
GETRUDE
6 years ago

Whether broken or not he is still our president. He is ruling and you are under HIM. You failed to lead Assemblies of God church then u think you can rule Malawi. Forget it in Jesus Name. I repeat. – FORGET TO RULE MALAWI

Becks
Becks
6 years ago
Reply to  GETRUDE

Shame

Truths
Truths
6 years ago
Reply to  GETRUDE

Which Assemblies of God did he fail to run? If he failed, how come they voted for him every three years for 24 years? You are lying! He actually improved the church, moved headquarters from Dedza to Lilongwe for easy administration, facilitated the construction of Sheaffer and a modern Bible School, weaned off the church from dependence on America, introduced missionary mindset so that for the first time Malawi Assemblies of God is able to plant churches and send missionaries to many nations. He also facilitated the establishment of Malawi Assemblies of God University (Magu). Which failure are you talking… Read more »

Nabanda
Nabanda
6 years ago
Reply to  GETRUDE

Ingakhale mfundo imeneyo?

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