Kabwila christen Mutharika’s SONA a tweet while Musowa dubs ‘speech of points’

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Jessie Kabwila who is also the party’s Salima North West Member of Parliament (MP) irritated the government side in Parliament on Wednesday when she described the 25-minute State of the Nation Address (Sona) by President Peter Mutharika on Friday as a “tweet”.

A tweet is a post made on the Twitter online message service which has a restriction of 140 characters and nothing more.

In her response to the President’s address, Kabwila called the President’s speech “a shockingly short” like a Whatsapp message and trimmed down to an “empty” tweet that failed to satisfy Malawians.

“What they heard was what can be described as a Twitter message and at worst maybe a WhatsApp message not a State of the Nation Address,” she said.

Leader of the House Francis Kasaila accused Kabwila of making disparaging remarks against a Head of State.

MCP president Lazarus Chakwera who is also leader of opposition also described Mutharika’s SONA as “zero plan” speech.

But Victor Musowa, a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) MP for Mulanje Bale defended the President for delivering what he said was a” speech of points and facts” within the shortest time.

“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a Chichewa saying that goes like kukhalitsa pamsika sikugulitsa kwambiri. Martin Luther King, Mr Speaker, Sir, once said, a good presentation and indeed a good speech is not measured by its length. Mr Speaker, Sir, you do not need to have the whole Bible of words to convince the people you are speaking to,” said Musowa attracting applause from government benches.

He said a good speech, according to Martin Luther King,   is actually measured by the quality of the content.

“Mr Speaker, Sir, what His Excellency is actually trying to emphasize and I have already emphasized is the ability for someone to rise above party colours, party politics and read the presentation from the President and see where we are today and see where we are going. Mr Speaker, Sir, being in opposition does not mean opposing all what government is proposing,” Musowa said.

He requested parliamentarian across the board to “rise and support the vision” that has been set by President Mutharika in order to developing the nation.

“In turn   our kids can in future come forward and say congratulations to our fathers and grandparents because you did a good job.”