Chakwera to clear the rubble that  has left Malawi in ruins: Corruption, impunity, negativity…

President Lazarus Chakwera is setting the right tone as his inaugural address lent itself admirably to what is expected of his governing style – eloquent but not bombastic, pointed but polite.

Chakwera inspects guard of honour by Malawi Defence Force at Kamuzu Barracks during the inauguration.-Photo by Govati Nyirenda, Mana
President Chakwera at BICC in Lilongwe after the inauguration ceremony: Malawi must clear the rubble of corruption, donor dependence, impunity, divisions, negativity, unprofessionalism and incompetence.- photo by Lisa Kadango, Mana
President Dr Lazarus Chakwera at BICC in Lilongwe after the inauguration ceremony- photo by Lisa Kadango, Mana

Chakwera  had unique stresses in his opening lines, which set the tone, and indeed the rhythm, for the rest of the speech.

He said for 26 years of multi-party democracy.  one administration after another has been shifting its post to the next election, promising prosperity but delivering poverty; promising nationalism but delivering division; promising political tolerance but delivering human rights abuses; promising good governance but delivering corruption; promising institutional autonomy but delivering state capture.

“And now, after 26 years of false starts and stale finishes, it is no secret that my generation has not only left our homeland unbuilt, but also in ruins. It is because of these ruins that our first task in building a new Malawi is clearing the rubble,” said Chakwera.

He said before Malawi can begin to rebuild, it is a must to clear the rubble of corruption, for it has left  public taxes in ruins and declared the ruins stops right now.

“We must clear the rubble of laziness, for it has left our infrastructure in ruins; we must clear the rubble of passivism, for it has left our rights in ruins; we must clear the rubble of donor dependency, for it has left our dignity in ruins; we must clear the rubble of regionalism, for it has left our nationhood in ruins,” said Chakwera.

There was more poetry in his speech: “We must clear the rubble of negativity, for it has left our resolve in ruins; we must clear the rubble of impunity, for it has left our governance institutions in ruins; and we must clear the rubble of unprofessionalism and incompetence, for it has left our services in ruins.”

President Chakwera, a former church pastor, delivered his inauguration speech similar to his sermons on the pulpit.

He  said the ruining of national treasures of both nature and state is “a sin of my generation that I am bound by God to confess and bound by you to correct.”

The President said for this reason, Malawians must not imagine that it is possible to make the corrections without pain.

“We must accept that the national bones we have dislocated cannot be corrected without suffering.

“I was reminded of this truth three months ago when my 12-year-old grandson suffered a greenstick fracture in both arms after falling badly in school. To straighten the bones, an orthopaedic surgeon at Kamuzu Central Hospital had to apply enough pressure to the arms to administer healing through pain and tears,” he said.

Chakwera said his administration’s quest to heal the  fractured nation and governance system over the next five years will come with pain.

“We must have the courage to face and endure the pain of systemic surgery if we ever want to enjoy wholeness as a nation.

“In this transaction, we must each accept that in the context of Malawi’s recovery and transformation, we are each a patient with a bone that needs straightening and each a physician with a duty to straighten the bones of others.”

Chakwera continued: “ We are each in some way part of Malawi’s problems and must each in some way be part of her solution. We cannot absolve ourselves of responsibility for the maladministration we have allowed to happen on our watch for close to three decades any more than we can renege on our responsibility to make amends.”

He called for a collective responsibility in fixing the country’s problems.

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Muslim Servant
Muslim Servant
3 years ago

This is good start. We wish our president the best. Fighting corruption is critical. The president must do so through a combination of institutional reforms and strict implementation. We hope that the enablers and leaders in corruption such as Kareem, Shiraz Yusuf and others will be kept at bay. The civil society will be watching very very carefully for the betterness of Malawi and the Malawians

chataika
chataika
3 years ago

Such speeches have been repeatedly made by former regime. APM had been preaching that to root out corruption needs concerted efforts but ppo have been against this and today u say u need the support of all malawians how? Malawians lets learn to put politics aside other criticising all the times. Malawi shall have one leader at a time so any leader need support from the citizens but lets avoid pointing fingers at a leader when things go wrong. Malawi need to repent for whatever was done against APM. Akati anene za covid ayi akunama he dont want to hold… Read more »

The SNIPER
The SNIPER
3 years ago
Reply to  chataika

Eeetu, imeneyo ndiyo Ife timayimbatu last month, tikamakuuzani kuti opposition imaona zoopsa,inu munkaona ngati tinkanama. Ndizimenezotu! Muzipeza kangachepe kuti kolakwika ndipo muzichita kutenga magalasi kuti muzipenya bwino ndikutchela khutu kuti mufufuze apo alakwitse! Hahahahahahaha Ife kunva kukoma heavy!

Wa Nick
Wa Nick
3 years ago

Together we can.Lets be patriotic,lets be selfless,lets work hard,lets build our nation.Long live Malawi.

Desderata Marmite
Desderata Marmite
3 years ago

As usual promises, promises, promises. At the end of 5 years, Chakwera will once again take to the podium and say, “These first 5 years we were busy cleaning the rubble. Now give me another 5 years to start rebuilding”. He uses the word rebuild as if the previous governments, MCP inclusive, brought zero development. At times it pays dividends when one just embarks on delivering other than promise the undeliverables. Surely the same audience and cheerleaders will bear testimony in the next 5 years. By the way, where has the American accent gone all of a sudden? Thank God… Read more »

Malawi
Malawi
3 years ago

He doesn’t need all that security within the barracks itself..We voted out extravagance..

Desderata Marmite
Desderata Marmite
3 years ago
Reply to  Malawi

Surprisingly, most MCP cohorts were all over town chastising their predecessor that they were overloading security details as if Malawi was at war, more so, this function was being held in a barracks whereby security is believed to be of high standard. Osamamaliza mau mbuz Ng’ona za Chakwera. Mukakhuta kachasu basi zonena mbweee ngati nzeru.

The SNIPER
The SNIPER
3 years ago

Inuso chokani, mufuna muoneke anthu azeru? Tingokhalani Kaye pa bench Wawa. We don’t demand security,it’s the work of their oath!

Itsanana
Itsanana
3 years ago
Reply to  Malawi

He’s commander in chief so he deserves all the security. At least he doesn’t drive around ndi ma kasinja ngati a president anu akale aja. Kaya nkhondo yake inali kuti?😂😂😂

nafundo zalo
nafundo zalo
3 years ago
Reply to  Malawi

namagwelu a security ku masasa aliki bwanji.

Super Power
Super Power
3 years ago

Long Live Democracy.

Haste
Haste
3 years ago

My dear Chakwera I think you will be more of an undertaker. Covid is real

mfumujay
mfumujay
3 years ago

Well-structured speech Mr President! You have my FULL SUPPORT as a Malawian!

Michael Guru
Michael Guru
3 years ago

Bravo Your Excellency, speech of a true patriotic statesman. We look upto you Your Excellency Sir, to lead and drive our beloved country to new prospering heights, an all inclusive Malawi. May God guide you as you serve this country and its people with love passion and dignified patriotism. New era has finally come.

Livulezi river
Livulezi river
3 years ago

Mr President, your 1st priority shud be to deal with MWENYEZI. If this country is not developing, honestly it is due these Indians. They heavily evade govt customs taxes They siphon our hard earned dollars to their respective countries They heavily oppress their employees,Malawians by paying them peanuts , while paying their fellow white skinned watchmen hefty salaries They build sub std infrastructures in our cities They import their country men into our country to do useless job If you really want to transform this country, start with taking ur eye on these MWENYEZi Don’t give them chance to get… Read more »

Chifundo Ganizani
Chifundo Ganizani
3 years ago
Reply to  Livulezi river

You are a racist.
Our president is nor idi ameen.
He said we are all a problem in some way.
FIX YOURSELF FIRST!
Corruption has bo race.

Jkay
Jkay
3 years ago
Reply to  Livulezi river

Some of us have tried employing fellow Malawians and paying them well. Amangobwenza chipongwe basi

Mwini muzi
3 years ago
Reply to  Livulezi river

It takes two to tango- the government corrupt employees and the Indians. The Indians offer quick cash hence they are enablers of corruption.

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