Don’t take Malawians for fools, Chakwera tells Mutharika govt

Leader of opposition and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarous Chakwera has accused the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of having wrong priorities in the wake of economic crisis and faulted the over 100-member taxpayer-funded entourage to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Chakwera: Wrong priorities
Chakwera: Wrong priorities

Chakwera faulted government for taking a bloated delegation and chewing millions of tax payers money wwhen public hospital pharmacies are fast running out of drugs, 2.8 million Malawians are starving and government is struggling to fund most of its ministries, departments and agencies.<

Before President Peter Mutharika left the country for New York on Monday, he appealed for food aid for the 2.8 million people facing hunger. Malawi, said the President, needs K83.4 billion for emergency food aid.

“This is cause for grieving,” said Chakwera on DayBreak Malawi program aired in Capital FM ON Thursday.

But Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister George Chaponda said government is only paying for less than 20 people, about $155 000 (K93 million) on 20 people for 21 days and that the rest are sponsored by other foreign governments and international organisations.

He told a local daily newspaper: “In my ministry, we are only four people—two protocol officers, one political officer and myself—and our cost is met by the UN office. Ministry of Trade and Industry has two people while OPC [Office of the President and Cabinet] also has two people.”

Chakwera, however, told Capital Radio: “It is extremely important to be truthful to Malawians.”

He added: “Malawians cannot be taken for fool.”

Chaponda said the number of a delegation over 100 was “high and exaggerated”.

The leader of opposition said government “should never leave things to speculation” but be transparent and accountable.

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patrick chipasula
8 years ago

Why do they claim to have no money yet sqandering? .This Govt…..oh another form of cashgate? ….if l voted 4 them i’d cry of my vote. Mbava iz zinambira kuba ma vote.But how long shall we kip this? aaaa kayende basi!

starford john
starford john
8 years ago

Malawi as country we are like fools in blog & physical y always we just fuck one anther for the nayi staff

Pasm
Pasm
8 years ago

Shame!!!!!! please who gonna deliver us in this captivity.

Koma Kumeneko
Koma Kumeneko
8 years ago

kkkkk if this isnt checks and balances , what are they? He has just done that, you wanted him to congratulate APM for taking all those people? Who is a fool here bwtn you and chakwera? Ndikunena ndiweyo all-i-can-say.

chiwa kogoya
chiwa kogoya
8 years ago

Bravo HON Chakwera!!! musawalelekelele afisi A DPP wa! we are behind your back.

Roots
Roots
8 years ago

UN does not fund allowances Honourable Minister. They only provide business class air tickets and nothing more. WE know that you requested for funding for Foreign Affairs to cater for the UN trip. I thought our journalists would have sourced the list of the delegation plus the whole entourage. we need good journalism

all-i-can-say
all-i-can-say
8 years ago

Those criticising the leader of opposition are either blind or just foolish. His role is to provide checks and balances to the government in power. If he remains silent on things like this, then he is not fit to be leader of the opposition. His statements are an indication that he is trying to hold the president and party in power to account. We should be critical and sensitive to what our leaders are doing and keep asking questions, people!! The problem with Malawians is that we are too docile and fail to analyse things properly. I think this is… Read more »

Big kahuna
Big kahuna
8 years ago

Tiyeni tiziremba zanzeru onsati kumanyoza munthu pageyi musaipangese kukhala yolakwika ndiuchitsiru bwamubo. Mwamva agalu inu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mukulemba zamwanonu.Nanunso aBOMAnu ndakwiya nanu pazomwe mukuchita. ACHAKWERA pitirizani kuzuzula zolakwikazo kuti nkhalidwa LAUGALULO lithe

kk
kk
8 years ago

#64 your are more than Devil himself and he is complaining about your comment, do you know the meaning of stupid? think again about your comment.

Chris
Chris
8 years ago

Chakwera, let’s call a spade a spade malawians are indeed fools. Most are too passive, resistant to change and slow to act. I thinks it’s in their genes… Sorry pal

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