HRDC gives Chakwera 21 days to release K6.2bn ‘Covidgate’ report or face demos: ‘Talk is empty, act!’
Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has given President Lazarus Chakwera 21-day ultimatum to release an audit report on the expenditure of K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds.
HRDC chairperson Gift Trapence has said if government does not comply with the ultimatum, the coalition will mobilise Malawians to be on the streets to hold mass demonstrations nationwide.
“As per order from the President, the audit report should have been out by now after the lapse of the 30 days period.
“Our worry is that presidential orders in this country are just being defied. This administration came in on a pledge of openness. We want the truth to come out on how the funds were used otherwise we will mobilise Malawians to protest,” said Trapence.
Minister of Information Gospel Kazako said the audit report was finalised and the Auditor General submitted the final copy to the Secretary to the Treasury.
However, Traopence said if by 21-days the report is not released “HRDC will just announce the date of the demonstrations.”
In an editorial comment, the Nation on Sunday noted that Chakwera is growing into a President who believes some problems under his nose can be wished off just like that.
“This is not a moment to drag your feet Your Excellency. You have pushed goal posts on the Cabinet promise you made. You have delayed awards to health workers in the fight against Covid-19. Your indecisiveness on the impasse on teachers’ risk allowances is, to say the least, unfathomable.
“Promises are empty. Talk is empty. Act, Mr President,” the editorial reads in conclusion.
Pressure had been mounting on President Chakwera to prove how the millions set aside for planning and public awareness, facilitating the return of Malawians from South Africa, border patrols and supporting victims of gender-based violence was spent.
The social justice and human rights campaigner Idriss Ali Nassah was among those who called for proof the money was being used for the intended purpose.
The revelations that the money might have been abused caused outrage. Malawi Human Rights Defenders Coalition (MHRDC) released a statement saying it was disappointed at the apparent failure to account for the resources.
Chakwera, a former Pentecostal church pastor, ordered the office of the Auditor General to investigate how the funds were used by various clusters.
He said: “If we are going to root out the problem of waste, abuse and theft of public resources, we must admit that these are behaviours that have poisoned our values as a nation and have corroded our entire government system.”
But governance expert Happy Kayuni said the Chakwera administration has missed an opportunity to demonstrate its seriousness on critical matters.
“Apparently, this administration is good at making promises but delivering very little. The danger is that citizens will not take the government seriously next time,” said Kayuni in quotes reported by Nation on Sunday.
He said the current situation has serious implications on legitimacy and trust.=
“Government must therefore not take for granted people’s goodwill. The administration must stop playing with peoples psychology. The President made a bold statement and this an opportunity for them to show they are serious,” he said.
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Hajat is busy organising! Hajat is saviour of democracy or so he thinks.
Frankly, HRDC inatha ndithu ndi Mtambo. Giving the president or Tonse alliance 21 days is just too long a time considering the time they have taken to give Malawians the MK6.2 billion report. 3 days is enough for them to respond. If you are giving them 21 days, do you want to tell us that you are giving them chance to recook the report? Trapence, if you are incompetent on your job, just resign so that capable people can take over.
This president is a big lazy fool and very stupid. Hrdc shud not b swallowed by ntumbos appointment as minister, u must stand up like u were doing during APMs time. What is the difference between chakwerangombe and the fired dc’s? If he gave them 48 hours, he MUST also b given 48 hrs, period! If he was able to fire the dcs for misappropriation, he must also b fired through demos, an eye for an eye. Those who were fired have got dependants just like this fool. Am really ashamed to be led by such a foolish president
Well said. We seem to have but a dummy president. And kachilima mfana oganiza bho have ali phwiiii ku capital hill uko thinking of nothing but girlfriends. Busy kumeta mashalubu basi. Fotseki! This government sucks big time!!!
Iwe Sbambzya, nkhani ndiyoti paperekedwe lipoti losonyeza momwr the 6b was spent. Are you concerned that Chakwera is not performing according to our expectations? Which school does your child go? Usandichimwitse. Mark my words: Chakwera wakoyu akadzakhalanso pulezidenti in 2025, ndidzasiya kupemphera!😈
Womvetsa chisoni ndi Chilima zomwr ankapromisa kuti tipeza 1m jobs, magetsi ndi madzi aulere. Pepani Saulosi. AAA Chakwera sadziwa kayendetsedwe ka boma ndiye timkhululukire. Banja LA a Tambala lidapeza zovuta ndipo Chilima adalonjeza zambiri pa maliro a a Tambala. Mulungu adzitikhululukira.
These are genuine concerns. It’s possible that tha mess was bigger than previously thought. You have genuine concerns and not Namiwa, Kamangira and Malimba who are backed by dpp.
Malimba is also backed by all of us teachers
Beginning to doubt your IQ, all your comments are trash. Mkalasi mudapondamo?
Don’t over assume that all the money was abused. Otherwise, people like Trapence have a wrong picture. Money has to be used, but don’t always have a feeling that when its used, then the money was abused. That’s wrong. In accounting, there is nothing like 100% accountability in as far as funds are concerned. That can not happen. Even at HRDC, is it long a go that Trapence and his colleagues were arrested for the same cases of funds abuse? Thanks to the donors for coming to their rescue. So, don’t blow the trumpet for other people so that you… Read more »
I told you Malawians the ball is in your hands. Fire the sucker now before it’s too late. This is too early for him to behave like like this. People are suffering too much in Malawi. Look at mutharika house.
HRDC NIVIZELEZA IVI KA BWANA WAWO ALI KOMWEKO MPAKA 21 DAYS MANYI OKHA OKHA KU MCP
100 % behind HRDC raised points
We are over-analyzing the misgovernance of Chakwera administration. What we need now is to strategize our action. I think instead of TUM doing their own thing, CDED doing their own thing, CMC doing their own thing, and HRDC doing their own thing, all these must link up and consolidate their respective interest areas (which happen to be diversified interests of the whole Malawi) into one mass action, plan the days. Thank me later