Chakwera tells Karonga President Mutharika has no powers to set maize prices: ‘Malawi is crumbling’

The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera on Friday attacked the country’s President Peter Mutharika of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) for setting the maize price in  state grain trader ADMARC,  saying its a violation of his power.

The MCP leader made the remarks at a political rally held at Mlare primary school ground in Karonga attended by hundreds of supporters.

According to Chakwera, ADMARC is mandated to set such prices.

“I have heard your cries about the skyrocketing prices of maize in our ADMARC and I am assuring you that MCP will fight for  it in Parliament,” said Chakwera, who is also leader of the opposition.

“We wonder why did the country’s President set the price of maize and on top of that at the high price. This shows that he don’t take the lives of poor Malawians seriously. He out of touch,” he added.

Chakwera said for the  country’s challenges such as food and electricity shortages to be overcome, it needs a game changer in leadership.

“The health delivery system is in shambles, there is no water, electricity is becoming scarce everyday and people have no food. But if our leaders stop being selfish and have a heart of serving people, Malawi can recover from the crisis we are going through,” he said.

Chakwera also said the country’s problems do not signify that God is angry, rather the current leadership is greedy, has no love and has lost direction.

He called on President Mutharika to acknowledge failure and resign.

Chakwera said: “It is an open secret that government has failed to run the country and the honourable thing is for the leadership to acknowledge failure.”

In his speech, Dr Cornelius Mwalwanda who is the MCP shadow MP for the area, said despite Mutharika ordered ADMARC to immediately open its markets.

“People are just buying maize from vendors who are selling the maize price at a better price than ADMARC,” worried Mwalwanda.

He also expressed his happines on how people in the district support MCP,  saying ‘it is sending strong message to other parties.

Almost 16 traditional leaders who attended the meeting pleaded with the MCP leader to fight for the welfare of their starving subjects saying ” you are our only saviour from this hunger problem.”

Some of the notable people attended the meeting include speaker of Parliament Richard Msowoya, Daniel Chitonya Mwanyongo who is the renowned business tycoon as well as the MCP shadow MP for Karonga north west among others.