Chilima must be candid: A critique to Malawi veep’s national address
Vice-President Saulos Chilima graced our eyes and ears Sunday night with a televised national address that failed to provide answers, or clear direction, to two critical issues that have trapped this country in a stalemate.
One, the secrecy surrounding the management of COVID-19 by government is becoming a serious public concern, as such, Chilima should have come out gun-blazing on this.
Secondly, in the wake of COVID-19, how do we proceed with elections, especially when we have already witnessed a jaundiced electoral registration system at a time when everybody is supposed to stay home observing social distance.
These two issues, though related, are critical to our times because the road ahead of this country depends on how best we negotiate them.
That is why, when senior leaders, such as Chilima, takes to the podium, we expect them to offer clear direction on these two issues.
In his address, Chilima—rightly so, called the need of an all inclusive approach in managing COVID-19.
The beauty of an all-inclusive approach is that it enhances accountability, transparency and, of course, public trust.
The greatest question of our time, on COVID-19, is the entire financing mechanism of this pandemic.
Unlike in other countries, parliament is yet to convene to scrutinize finances involved in this project.
Government is acting in solitude and no one knows how the finances that keep flowing into this project are being managed.
I expected Chilima, as someone who understands how public finances are managed, to dwell in detail on this, helping the public understand if we are being duped or not by government.
Chilima, unfortunately, only caressed this topic, saying he know finances are being abused by some ministers and all that.
By saying he knows that COVID-19 finances are being abused, what Malawians wanted to hear from him is: One, name and shame those involved; and two, report them to police or Anti Corruption Bureau – ACB.
Chilima’s lukewarm approach to this critical COVID-19 financing is a symbol of cheap politicking that Malawians don’t need at the point in time.
In fact, his approach tells us that he is ready to jump on any burning issue—not to extinguish but to score a political mile without offering anything worth the salt.
That’s bad politicking.
Secondly, on elections, Chilima is candid, saying the fresh elections must go on. Well said.
But, in the same vein, Chilima confirms that COVID-19 is real and you and I knows that the only option available to stop this pandemic is social distancing.
Taking from his word, Chilima isn’t clear on how best we can hold these elections without avoiding public congestion. Can we? That is the question.
Truth be told, we all need these elections. We must have them. But let’s also see the COVID-19 dangers before us and examine if it’s possible to have these elections and, at the same time, observe social distancing.
Already, the registration process is wrought with visible irregularities of registering minors and, in some areas, political thugs stepping in to disturb the entire process.
The fear before us is not just the enhancement of public congestion which is a big risk of contacting or spreading the virus; the fear is that we will end up having a shoddy electoral process that will be shunned by many.
Even worse, the tricky issue of Jane Ansah hasn’t been sorted yet. How do we proceed with her?
These are some of the questions at the heart of most Malawians as the country continues to struggle with the threat of COVID-19 and pending fresh elections.
These are questions that our leaders must address in clear and concise terms not in sheer political cleverness aimed at scoring a political.
I must confess Chilima’s national address Sunday night was just another litany of verbiage aimed at keeping his name a topic in all forums of public discussions.
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To the writer of this article, don’t worry much, every Malawian going to register or during voting should put on masks, rule number one.Social distance 2meters away from each other on the queue .It is possible.On the issue of MEC commissioners blame Peter Munthalika.He is the one who does not want to fire them so that they can use tippex again in favour of DPP and UDF alliance.Dpp and UDF are thieves.Zipani zimenezi zaba ndalama zambiri kuwasiya amalawi atagwira manja kumutu kusamvetsa ndi umphawi.
kodi anthu timathawa chilungamo chifukwa chani? zinthu zikunena zokha. ziwani kuti ukatambatamba kumacha ndipo kwakucherani. lockdown faced a nationwide protest even in nyekhwe stronghold, zidabweni. bodza lonse mumapanga nselimo within munites limakhala ladziwika, zinyumweni. to be honest chilima watsegula a Malawi mmaso. choti mudziwe a Malawi anayera mmaso, musawone ngati ndi ndale za tcheya. I quoted dean of law madise, even in pandemic you can still vote. pano muli pa 4-0 against judiciary, ndiye nkuma nyonyonyo mwatikwana mwamva. viva chilima viva chakwera…… you hold a brighter future for us. a sinzina ntolewa atikwana.
Mukhalila zokokana ma jacket ndi ku lodzana zala mpakana liti, come to South Africa where you copies everything that they do on restrictions fighting the covid19 pandemic and you will also learn from South Africa that they put aside every afflictions the boundaries. The president called on opposition leaders, steakholders, companies and every individual to take part in fighting the covid19 and this is why they have made it in 21 days lockdown. Just imagine Malawi locking in its people with no any word of confidence. Pitani mmanyumba or mulibe chakudya musafe ndi corona Koma njala. We are seeing countries that have been on lockdown event and been helping it’s people not to starve . Kwabwela ma billion of kwachas mudzina la corona yet simungagwilane manja Kuti muphule dziko ili ku mlili wu. Ikondeni dziko atsogoleli. Malawi first politics behind.
A MCP adzidzimuka atawona Chilima propaganda. Hehehehe. Vasugza pa Nyasalande😂😂😂
Mulungu amagwetsa anthu ozitama pansi pa chimpando chawo ndipo amakweza anthu achabechabe.
M’bale wanga fatsa ukuwonjeza.
For sure he should not think malawians are cowards ndi akulu odzimva kwambiri koma Mulungu aziwakhululukira. Mulungu amafuna anthu wodzichepetsa and a Mutharika ndi munthu wodzichepetsa kwambiri pano ndi pamene anthu ambiri ayamba kuzindikira mukumupha, mukumunyoza koma zonsezi Mulungu akuwona and will fight for him till he sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Mpando its given by God no matter how may want it but if God says NO that is final. God keep you safe Peter and will sustain you despite enemies surrounding you. In the book of Psalms it say “Yea enemies may surround you but God will fight and defeat them all”. And what you did apologising to churches which were dispersed that is great! Uku ndiye kuwonetsa nzeru pamene china chalakwika better kukonza. Inunso a polisi munawonjeza bcoz in a statement from Cabinet ministers did not say close churches rather they encourage to observe social distance further from 1m to 2m. Ndiye tithokoze kuti kholo lavala kulakwitsa kwanu paja nkhuyu zodya mwana zimapota mkulu. Lets love our country, Long Live Democracy!
Akulu mukuluza mavoti ambiri chifukwa chokonda kuima pachulu kumanyoza bambo wanu. Ndale sapanga choncho. Palibe angakutameni ndikunyoza munthu wamkulu. Kukhala chete nthawi zina sikupusa ayi. Tawonani mwana mzanu Atupele mmene amalandilira ulemu kumbali zonse. Kulibwino kutenga mwana waulemu kusiya wamwano.
A Lukwa shop ndinu omvetsa chisoni kwambiri ,Chilima wanyoza ndani pamenepa, kodi Atupele umamuyika pagulu la atsogoleeri? Uyu Atupele amangotatira zogwa ndi Chitswe pano ali ku DPP akuganiza kuti wina kumeneko amusiyira mpando kkk, Mwana uyu ndale zake ndi zakabitsalira zokomera iyeyu ndi Atate ake, he is not aleader but a fortune seeker
A Mabvuto dziwani Atupele is a type of leader we need in our democratic era because ther is time for politics and time for development. Once we vote and a leader is elected thats all what we need then is that all political parties join hands and sentitize our followers to support that incumbent leader in all its developmental agenda. Minus this my friend we are digging our own pit. Just imagine mmene mukunyansira mtauni ndi zimatabwa for fear of breaking glasses in shops. Is this the way things should be like? Shame! So Atupele deserves a big credit and not Chilima and Chakwera
Total Trash
Does Zeze read political vocabulary? I doubt.
VP likes taking glenifiddich, 40% alcohol content
Mike Fiko, I hope you have been living in Malawi for some time. Do you think the current government can take on board any solution offered by Chilima or any one from the opposition?
An article written by a disgruntled Mcp supporter who expected more from Chilima but Chilima did not deliver as is his habit. Makes you wonder if there is really a union of ideas between Mcp and Utm. Personally the only common idea Utm and Mcp have is their hatred and combined will to see Muntharika and Dpp ousted. After that, they have no clear plan going forward as their ideas don’t reconcile. A sham alliance, let’s wait and see. The day is almost upon us.
Firstly, you have a problem, before writing an article do your research well, do not allow your own affiliations distract your judgment. Who do want to please? We are voting come rain or sunshine, and just incase you do not know, which I dought… Check, how many people died .. And how many are suffering…in a certain African country and Also check when they voted. Za chilima zisiyeni zimuzitha.
@Kawelana research on which area. When you say come rain or sunshine we are voting what do u mean.
Ukati za a Chilima zisiyeni simuzitha nde ukenenlanji kuti munthu apange research when you’re fully aware kuti a Chilima ndi osatheka?
Kkkkkkkkkkkkkk know this when you say kuvota dont think you are going alone we too are going to vote for our leader as well. So its a question of who gets what interms of majority. Ndiye enanu mukamanena zinthu zimakhala ngati inu nokha mukaponya 2000 votes for your yet you know very well that its only one vote it ends there. HRDC, MCP, UTM mumadziwona ngati kuti inuyo ndiye a malawi and enafe si amalawi be careful. This country belongs to us all and will vote too tidzakumana pa 5 kaya mpa 6 July 2020 when the votes will be declared about a winner. Ndiye maloto a chumbawa tayambani mwayima nawo kaye. Ndizi mwayamba kale kulira zobera ndiye ife sitidabwa nanu since its your song never worry tikuthandizani kuyimba after July 2 elections wawa.
Uli ndibvuto ndiwe ,enafe tamvesersa bwino lomwe zomwe Chilima walakhula komaso walakhula ngati msogoleri wofunira dziko lake mtendere ,koma mwaiye muli utsogoleri weni weni, moti mthalika aksnakhala kuti akuzigwilitsa ntchito zomwe vice wake akulakhula bwezi dziko lilipatali, koma tikuthokiza kuti zambiri ayamba kugwilitsa ntchito ,monga kutsogodza akulu akulu anzaumoyo kuti anzilakhulapo, nduna zitsamachuluke pa ma press briefing, adziyimilira akamapanga ma briefing, Asamaopyseze anthu monga muja amapangira a Dausi,
Ha! Fiko, I have failed to comment. Are you an 8th grader that you can not write good English??? I give up on you!
Chilima makes much more sense than you Fiko. Please be quite next time.
Chilima makes more nonsense than sense
a nice write up
Those who take SKC seriously are wasting time
Is this an op-ed or a news story? Why is the author giving his opinion than reporting what Chilima said and engage other people to give their opinions? I think this is not professional. I was glad the other night when Brian Banda was interviewing Mark Botomani. Banda in an Exclusive programme, Botomani told Banda that his job was to ask questions so he gets answers and not to give opinions which was absolutely true. Kudo to Botomani for making that good observation because indeed fond of giving his opinions because he easily gets carried away by the microphone. So what I can say is that there is no news in this article except for the author expressing his feelings which is against journalistic professionalism. Why not seek views of the public to give their opinions as is traditionally done with treatment of a news story.
Chilima has always been a loud-mouthed idiot – an over-rated thug who is so hungry for power that he does not even listen to what he says.
Chilima is trying to convince the MCP/UTM Alliance that he is the right person to be presidential candidate. For the sake of alliance, Chilima is supposed to slow down to pave way for Chakwela. He should be giving input to Chakwela. This can unit supporters from both sides to have hakwela as alliance leader.
“the tricky issue of Jane Ansa…..”yes, my worry also. Is she the one managing these elections again? We are still in the dark.
Chilima ndi Chidebe chopanda kathu, he has no leadership qualities. He is just too hungry for power. In fact, his hunger for power is his own enemy
in fact it was waste of time listening from such trash. The dude thinks what he says is wisest.
possibly that is what you think