Kamlepo blames Malawians for being timid, passive          

Firebrand Peoples Party (PP) vice president Kamlepo Kalua has blamed Malawians themselves for the raw deal and poor public services they get from the government, saying they fail to rise up and use lawful means to protest.

“Malawians are timid, very passive. They are able to rise up against abortion and same sex laws but not critical issues that affect them every day,” he said.

He said Malawians should have organised themselves for massive protests against poor public services, corruption and high maize prices in Admarc depots.

“We just blame failed leadership, we are just talking on failed leadership but this is just a talk, we cannot do any action and the leadership get away with that,” he said.

Leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera last week dubbed the Peter Mutharika administration as a failed leadership which has failed Malawians in all aspects of life.

Kalua said high cost of life inluding government refusal to slash the price of maize in Admarc markets from K12500 to K6000, rampant corruption, blackouts, lack of running water in taps and failure to meet some electoral promises were reasons enough for Malawians to take it to the streets.

But speaking recently, presidential spokesperson Mgeme KalirLani urged the opposition to look at issues in Malawi with a positive eye.

He said there are several achievements worth mentioning made by Mutharika in the absence of direct budgetary support.

KaliLani said some of the opposition criticisms are driven by frustrations after Mutharika emerged winner during the 2014 presideential election, leaving Lazarus Chakwera, who vied for presidency on Malawi Congress Party ticket, bitter.

Experts say the Malawi economy is in turmoil forcing the cost of life to go up drastically for an ordinary person.