Chakwera must not act like a State House talk-show host!  

September 2, 2020 Nyasa Times Editor 80 Comments
President Lazarus Chakwera is a remarkable public speaker, a man well-endowed with indefinite eloquence that charms every ear that consumes his voice.

President Chakwera addressing the nation for seven minutes to announce the reinstatement of General Vincent Nundwe
Definitely, if we had enough world and time, you would be forgiven for choosing to spend a lifetime enjoying Chakwera speaking—yes, a lifetime.
But we don’t have that time. As a people, we need to keep working to make our lives better. As a President, Chakwera needs to fix the economy and reorganize the politics through putting in place concrete step not just flowery speeches.
As Nyasa Times, we shudder to submit, here, that President Chakwera is going overboard in his appetite of always wanting to be updating Malawians on every slight step his government is taking.
We keep seeing the President giving weekly radio updates. We keep seeing the President giving timely social media updates. We keep seeing the President in various media houses—local and international giving updates from Malawi.
Is the President not updating enough?
We are not against the President decision to keep updating the nation on every step his government is taking. It’s part of being transparent and accountable to Malawians.
However, we feel the government machinery has adequate communication channels that do not require the President himself to be on the frontlines.
State House has a full department of communication, headed by Sean Kampondeni and, of course, we have a press secretary there, the busy Brian Banda, whose duty, among whatever he does there, is to keep the public informed of the President’s every move.
Beside State House, government has fully-fledged Ministry of Information, headed  by Minister Gospel Kazako, a remarkable communicator.
Not only that, you have the office of the secretary to the Cabinet and Government, headed by quite an efficient communicator, Zangazanga Develious Chikhosi.
All these three organs are key in sending out government key decisions to the public and, so far, none has qualms with how they are working.
The issue of having President Chakwera running to the podium often to communicate his decisions is subjecting him to some kind of a talk-show host.
We believe the President should concentrate his appearance to State of Nation Address (SONA), monthly media appearances and answering questions in Parliament.
His regular, 5-minutes Nation Address appearances are beginning to presuppose that our President has little to do at the State House—as such, he wants to be seen to be busy.   We don’t want our minds to project to that direction.
President Chakwera has a lot of things to do and, at this point, we expect results to speak for themselves—not him speaking them. We want Chakwera to run the nation and must not be Mr Talk-Talk.

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80 replies on “Chakwera must not act like a State House talk-show host!  ”

  1. Kodi passport ya mwk14,000
    Yija ayiyamba liti
    Or still clearing out some rubbles
    Ooooh crying for my beloved Nyasalande,
    These people too much lies.
    Nanga affordable fee ya ana ku university ayambako liti
    Maybe still clearing out some rubbles.

  2. 100 days ikwana mu office this so called Chakwera asanapanga deliver zimene amalonjeza anthu nthawi ya ka mpeni. Zochitika ndikungomanga mbama basi. Ife mphuno bii kumadikirira zimene analonjeza. Pano sali ku parliament akukambambako chani anthuwo pano. Kumangodya ma allowance basi. Kwakhala masiku angati kuti mtundu uyambe kudya zomwe anavotera.

  4. I sold my TV in order to switch off myself for five years from this stupid president of MALAWI called Lazarus. Malawi is a garbage state ruled by garbage and idiot leader from the Nyau cult . Don’t expect anything from him . Just do your work and earn your leaving because there is Currently no Government and leader in Malawi

  5. Its much ado about mothing. I agree with you Mr/ Ms Editor. The press briefings are just too much. Like you rightfully said he has all these channels of communication , headed by eloquent and able people but is not using them. We have got another Donald Trump in the making who answers to every happening on twitter, disregarding proper channels and diplomacy. But give him time ,he will soon tire of this. Five years is a long time.Sooner or later he will tire of these Press briefings. God forgive us when he becomes chairman of Saddc. Then there is virtual meeting He will have lot on his plate and trust me he might forget Malawi.The man likes the sound of his fake Anerican accent , Ge forgets that Elequence is not only judged by accest but by substance. He cant afford to miss a day without hearing himself. That”s why we have in America a Press Secretary at the white house whose purpose is to brief the Press almost everyday. There is Banda and Kampondeni there. He must make use of them. People must not just praise sing. Let him do some real work. What will have to show for his 100 days in Office. Nothing. . On a positive note his government has some good plans for the future .But word of advice Mr President, you dont fight corrupution by banning allowances. Govt employs depend on them.Opportunities for Free training to advance one self and allowances is what makes being in goverment employment attractive not the Salary.Control them yes.But outright banning Mr President you are creating a Frankenstein of Corruption.

  7. If the late government of Madala responded what people were crying for, starting after 60 days, from the day Old Madala was elected, we could say Malawi is not poor like how it is now. But the Let government of Madala, started looting taxes for poor Malawians early days after old Madala elected as a president.

    DPP demolished Malawi within 6 years, and now same DPP people expecting new government to re-assemble/rebuild it within 60+days. Shame to all Cadets.

  9. Me i accepted that my vote was wasted on 23 june.i voted for change but it seems change is not coming.this reverend was just power hungry.all the promises made ,i doubt if he is going fulfill them.these weekly updates are worthless if tangible changes are not being made.

    1. You can always listen to the APM updates from Mangochi. Am told Brown Mpinganjira is the spokesperson. Might be more in your lane.

  10. He still doesn’t believe he is the president and wants to prove it to all and sundry. The man talks more but does little..as him what he has done in the days he has been president, speeches, arrest, cement price increase, maize price increase, pending fuel price increase and visiting developments initiated by APM. You can imagine visiting the area 18 intersection but not even acknowledging the contribution of APM on that project.

    1. Mutharika rarely spoke, but when he did he always spewed out foul-mouthed garbage. Chakwera speaks often and he talks sense and substance.

      If you don’t like Chakwera’s speeches, just switch him off the way I used to switch off Mutharika on MBC

  12. It’s like the writer is not from Malawi, had it been he or she is a Malawian, she would be so proud to have the President who is speaking to the people he is leading by updating them where they are and where they are going, by the way Dr Chakwera is still fit to stand and speak for himself! He can preach in church, so I don’t see any problem with that. I think I only have a problem with the writer hereof that, you are mad! Leave our President Dr Chakwera to do what is right in his Country! Don’t make this mistake of refering him with your maliseche President kikkkkkk! This is one is different! Go a head Dr Chakwera! We love you big time, only you talking to us, we are fine and happy.

  14. the writer is definitely a DPP cadet nde zikumuwawa heavy seeing the progress and transparency that is there. keep going Chakwera we love your weekly updates, even if it can be daily please go ahead

  15. His weekly radio addresses r not necessary. The country is not benefit anything from them. That’s just flowerly shows offs. We need real updates on campaign promises. What happened to 1 million jobs? When will passport prices be reduced. Fertilizer is still exorbitantly priced. Don’t be Mr . Talk , no action . Do something!

  16. I think winawu ndi ubulutu chabe. U can’t stop the President from speaking. Koma u have right to ur opinion.

  17. I have no problem with his weekly updates but what he updates has no value of interest for Malawians’ expectations. We need updates on fertilizer subsidy, cost cut on travel passports, duty free week on imports for citizens, elderly monthly stipends, free electricity connections and other updates on all the promises made. That’s what would be interesting to hear.

  18. Foseki
    The writter of this article is crazy and I know you. You are being paid to find fault with the current government.
    Iwe ndiwe wamisala you are willing to be bought by Makwacha. Shame on you.
    The President is sorting out a lot of shit left by mbuyanu uja wopanda manu

    1. Kambewa Ngozo uchila siufa. Just go and tell your president that we want to hear about 1 million jobs, stipend to our grannies, free electricity connections, duty free week, K15000 pass port, universal fertiliser subsidy, low university fees, loans to civil servants, medical scheme to civil servants, houses for police, immigration, army and prisons, new school and hospital blocks and REDUCED POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT.

  19. If the President was talking about serious business of running this country. It wouldn’t be an issue. President Franklin Roosevelt used a similar strategy during the Great Depression in the USA when he inherited a broken country the reason was to give confidence and direction to the masses on the issues at hand. They were called fire side chats. The strategy worked. However, for our president to just come and talk about re-instatement of General Vincent Nundwe only which is not a pressing or priority issue right now seems to indicate a lack of strategic direction. This could have been addressed through a press statement by either Brian Banda or Sean Kampondeni or Zangazanga Chikhosi or Gospel Kazako. By the way what are the roles of these people as regards communication of the government. It seems there are just too many of them. The president could talk about how his government intends to inculcate mind-set change on corruption or he could talk about how the masses could get ready to be involved in transforming this country economically. Let’s be serious, please.

    1. The Army Commander is one of the top most government officers and it was really important for the President to announce his reinstatement. We also have to consider the circumstance which led to his removal by Bingu’s notorious brother. The position of the Army Commander is not like the ministerial position. Bingu’s brother was a very reckless leader.

      1. Does it warrant communication from the President’s mouth? I don’t think so. Is it a priority issue right now? No. So timing matters. Even Ministerial Appointments, the president did not give an address to the Nation. So why the Army Commander, to me that is just a PR stunt. Even if he had left Namathanga to continue. Nothing would have changed. Nundwe is already due for retirement. It seems this government is doing what Mama Joyce did when Bingu died. Just reverse the previous government unpopular decisions and score cheap political points. This does not get us anywhere as a country. Let’s start addressing real serious issues like Chilima is doing. Have you ever heard anyone complaining about Chilima since the Tonse assumed power. No. It means he is doing the right things. Osati! Bweka! Bweka! waka!

      2. Bingu’s brother is gone. No longer in power.

        As much as you may have to ‘clear the rubble’, nobody really cares.

        How are you improving the daily life of Malawians? Cheaper fertiliser etc.

        Of course fighting corruption also helps Malawians in the long-term, but it’s effects are harder to demonstrate.

        If like Trump or the Tory party in the UK, you just keep blaming the previous regime for years..

        You may stay in power because of fear of the opposition, but nothing substantial will change for the average Malawian..

  20. Kkkkkkkk!!! Which which is what? ( Cheni-cheni nchiti? ) APM could go month in and month out without uttering a single word to the nation and you labelled him as sleeping on the job, or even worse, a dead man walking. LMC wants to appraise Malawians every now and again on what is happening and why, and you tag him with the moniker Talk Show Host; kodi aMalawi mwachitika uri?

    There’re some things that can be communicated through delegation, and others that should be heard straight from the horse’s mouth.

    There are some govt transactions that can best be communicated to us by the govt spokesperson or by the spokesperson of the line ministry concerned. It all depends on the nature and complexity of the subject matter.

    So far, I’ve no quarrel with how LMC is governing. This is servant leadership through citizen participation. This is Chakwera ‘s personal style and I see nothing wrong with it. If you don’t want to hear him, just switch him off.

    Amene sakugwirizana nazo akayanike ufa pachingwe!!!

    1. Timing is important. Sometimes it’s not about what you say. It’s about when you say it. That’s the problem with Chakwera. Akakhala kuti amalengeza zakusintha ma CEO ndi ma Board Members ama Parastatals. That would not be an issue. Because that’s what everyone is waiting for. Pamene Peter was not there when everyone expected him to provide direction through his personal statement. So timing is important Boi!

    1. Oh oh man, nkhani zake zomwezi? Iweso ndiwe Chitsiru chachikulu kuposa omako ndipo ndiwe Chitsiru kwambiri!

  23. Asiyeni abwele adzayambise ma company farming ndi ma business momuno Kuti abale athu amene amapita Ku south Africa kukawagwilila ntchito azunguwa adzigwilila momuno aaaaah Malawi alive pabwino

  24. If you’re tired of listening to his weekly addresses, stop listening to him! We won’t notice your absence

  25. What he is doing is super. They is no point for him to move around the country unnecessarily. It’s very costly for a president to just move around. What’s the role of a minister and the vice and some ps. Updating the nation is not supposed to be done when they is a crises. They is a lot of work being done behind the scenes, our nation was rotten and to clean it doesn’t require a mobile president, but someone who can delegate properly. He needs to monitor progress from the state house while Chilima does the running around. I salute you Mr President for your weekly updates.

  26. Akuti kukopera za Trump, the Twitter president. The difference is Trump use crude language when calling a spade by its effective name pamene athuwa are using biblical and legal language hence punchless addresses. And to make matters worse he translates word by word to Chichewa sounding Greek to illiterates.
    Ife ndiye tayamba kuchira ena ayamba kudwala! Ndiye Mpinganjira akayamba maspin ake zochila palibe apa straight wakumanda uwu.
    Komanso in a Tonse Alliance tapezani 1 spokesman azilankhulira nonse osati izi zoti spokesman wa individual parties aziti ife aTonse Alliance. It sounds childish and shows that there is no real unity.

  27. Maybe chakwera should give the national update monthly even after some months not weekly, and based on the progress or something seriously not just coming to see his availablity , we all are aware that he is to the state house as the leader of the nation of Malawi. What we are expecting from the president is to see the nation moving forward .

  28. My take is that the author of the article does not know what he/she is criticizing. i am not sure if she/he has experience taking over ‘rubbles’, and what it takes to clear the rubble. of course, there are issues that the president may delegate, and he already does so. The issue of weekly updates by his communication team is already sort out and communicated. As a journalist, I expected that he/she must be willing and available to follow whatever is being communicated. The state house communications team already communicated last week that from September 7 there will be weekly updates, most of which will be done by the communications team the author is talking about. Only issues that need the president will be communicated by the president. As for the Army Commander issue, nobody would have communicated the change in rank-and-file, save the commander-in-chief himself, bearing in mind the circumstances surrounding the issue. It was going to be irregular to have someone else speak on behalf of the president on that issue. On his Tsogolo Lowala weekly updates, obviously we have to understand that he won’t be doing that throughout his reign. As they put things in place, things will normalize, I believe. The challenge we have at present is that we have not yet found reasonable grounds to criticize the current government against, and we are trying to find something so that people may know we are still around. For campaign promises, take heart, action should be coming. You can not wake up in the morning and say ‘I promised you 1 million jobs, here they are!’ I have no doubt there is a lot of planning taking place behind scenes so as to actualize the campaign promises.

  29. When APM was using Mgeme Kalilani, the same people were busy circulating information that the president was seriously ill and that Mgeme was the running the show. Chakwera is updating the nation again it’s “Chakwera Must not Act like a State House Talk Show”. Timve ziti. Ngati kulibe zolemba please do investigative journalism. There are a number of issues that needs government attention like the bad road between Kasungu and Lilongwe as well as Mzuzu to Chiweta. There are issues of deforestation and environmental degradation. Early pregnancies. We are tired of some of these personal attacks. Wina akutibowa nd Sylvester Namiwa who seems to be talking on behalf of dpp’s spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira.

  30. Nest time he summons journalists, I can foresee his meeting being attended by MBC, Times and Zodiak only while the rest will shun him because they will not expect anything new. What he should know is that when a head of state is addressing a nation, people leave out their important activities to hear what the President will tell them. If this business of telling us the change of staff in Government institutions, I am afraid the man will soon lose his steam and people will begin saying – ndizomwezija, tivinevineizi.

  32. Malawians are indeed funny, very soon he will stop giving weekly and will start giving monthly and then quarterly updates. Communication is very important in the new office to instill hope and give people confidence.

  33. Human beings will never be satisfied in life there is nothing that the president will do to please Malawians.A President muzingopanga zomwe mungachite basi mmalawi muno sipazabwelanso President wabwino onse oyipa okhaokha.

  34. Anthu mulibe pabwino. Pabwino munataila galu. Let the President alone. If Laz feels he can shoulder the burden of communication himself, let it be. Moreover the whole burden and blame of running Govt whether good or bad lies with no other but himself. Wapita, Pita uja mmati amakhala ziii osalankhula sometimes months without commenting on very pressing national issues mpaka u labelled him a dead person walking…….ena nkumati wamwalira. Lero this Tonse President is acting proactive and u start insinuating this nonsense?…..A Malawi munakhal bwanji? The author should find something busy to write about,,,,Research and write what could be done to rebrand, re-engineer and pacify the much touted Green Belt Initiative to end hunger……with the Shire river running across the breadth and lenghth of Malawi wasting and draining the water mass into Zambezi and then Indian Ocean at the expense of Malawians mainly people of Chikwawa and Nsanje going hungry year in year out. What about the benefits or no benefits we are getting from the Moatize-Nkaya-Nacala Rail line……Wat was the agreement between the Govts of Malawi and Mozambique?…..Cant Mozambique share the Coal….Basi Coal yense nkumatidusa pamphuno, uyo mpaka ku brazil ife tikugona mu mdima? ha ha ha ha ha…..When shall malawi cease to be a laughing stock? The game of blaming the President wont take us anywhere….. Wat the President is doing is his right and mode of governance, We need fresh air!

    1. Again, if this was a period without Covid 19, he could have been trotting the world as Muluzi, Bingu and Joyce had to do. Now that there are travel restrictions he should continue addressing the nation. Malawians, employed him as for the guys he has in his team if they mess up the buck stop at him. Furthermore, yesterday he was announcing the redeployment of a Defence Forces general, that task would have not been left to any of his handlers. Sometimes, Malawians we seem not to know what we want from our leaders.

    3. Simukudziwa zomwe mukufuna,
      What matters is, is the President and his government doing what is right for the country?

  36. This is absolute truth, the more he comes out speaking, the more people will start losing interest in what is saying. I hope he reads this article BUT the problem is those around him

  37. That’s exactly what President Talk Talk Chakwera is, all gTalk no action. For Chakwera is an expert on Talk, Talk, not on action. All we see is him talking to foreigners on virtual online begging to give away our land and offering 3rd cell operator license to create opportunities for Kokoliko. Chakwera has done nothing for Malawians expect he has Fathered the birth of Kokoliko, and is busy leading Malawi on to a disaster. We voted for SKC and got Talk Talk Chakwera instead.SKC save us please.

  38. Well said. These weekly updates are becoming monotonous. The President should concentrate on more important responsibilities and leave the rest to his team. A good leader delegates.

  39. I 100% agree with the Author. We want things to happen not to hear. These weekly updates from State House are no more interesting but annoyance. We want those promises made during campaigns.

  40. Really? No no no no no, I think the president is misunderstood here. Right from the beginning the president made it clear that he would be available to all Malawians, updating and telling the people his decisions and reasons why. It is part of his leadership style – revolutionised leadership style about which many leaders around the world admire already, to do it. He doesn’t want to hide like a rat mu dengu la chimanga, like Peter did. Let us leave the president a lone please!

    1. We cant leave him alone! by being available we didnt know he meant that he will be boring us with trivia. Why did he employ Sean Kampondeni and that identity thief Brian Banda aka Juma Kalambalika as his spokesmen. Gospel Kadzakonso phi pompo.

      2. Amene akufuna adzimvetsera amene asafuna adzizimitsa wailesi TV. Its not like he is pulling people’s ears to the TV, radio.

  41. I agree, zizikhala ndi chikoka akamalengeza kuti the president’s national address at ………time, osangoti lero mawa dzulo president’s speech ayi.
    

  42. Munthu apange update a Malawi from time to time walakwitsa. Akhalenso osawapanga update pafupipafupi walakwanso. APM mumati sakuwalankhula a Malawi. Uyu mukuti akulankhula pafupipafupi. Which is which?

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