Malawi CSOs give Chakwera govt poor scorecard: ‘Entrenching corruption and impunity instead of taming it’
Civil society organizations (CSOs) and actors under the banner of National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has given President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance administration a poor rating, accusing the leadership of entrenchingthe same governance shortfalls it promised to address at the height of the campaign for the June 23, 2020, Fresh Presidential Election.
The CSOs have observed that there is continued lack of accountability and transparency in management of public resources/financial accountability, heightening corruption and fraud and mis-procurements and abuse of public resources.
NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe made the sentiments during a press briefing held in Lilongwe on Tuesday. The briefing was organized to give out its stand on the performance of the Tonse government for the 245 days it has been in power.
During the briefing, Kondowe was flanked by NAP executive members Leon Matanda, Barbara Banda of NGO-GCN, Stellabella Chikombole of Public Affairs Committee (PAC), Desmond Mhango of the Centre for Youth and Children Affairs (CEYCA) and Edward Chileka-Banda of Citizen Alliance.
They said while it is a common knowledge that majority of Malawians voted for President Lazarus Chakwera and his Second-in-Command, Saulosi Chilima on the promise they made to end corruption and bad governance, it is clear that the Tonse government has let corruption and bad governance to flourish unabated.
They cited citing the recent K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds saga, unresolved reports of fraud at NOCMA, Crossroads Hotel saga, and bribe reports involving Ministry of Mines officials.
The NAP members stressed that these examples point to the very open fact that corruption has remained intact and could even be worsening under the new administration.
“It is commendable that the President has taken action on the Covid-19 corruption scandal by suspending controlling officers and ordering a financial inquest. However, it is also worrisome that some traits of selective justice continue to nurtured. Ministers and other senior controllers have not been cautioned yet.
“While the government is seen to be taking tough stance against corruption suspects, fraud cases involving those connected to the administration including Ministers and advisors tend to be avoided with no explanations given. The financial and control systems remain weak and porous,” said Kondowe.
He said Malawians have also noted with concerns a repeat and continuation of negative governance trends within the eight-months period of the Tonse Administration, which he said must be checked and corrected immediately.
“Citizens and civil society organizations have, for long, openly expressed their aspirations and expectations for incoming administrations including the Tonse Administration. NAP issued a Communique in June 2020 and submitted a CSO Grand Petition 2020 to the new administration through the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) as advisory note to inform the administration’s priorities and make it aware of outstanding governance and human rights issues that need redress. More CSOs and citizen groups continue to raise concerns and make submissions to the government.
“However, it appears the Tonse Administration is too pre-occupied to engage the civil society (CSOs and Citizens) on continued frustrations and disappointments over challenges facing of many Malawians who have craved for change for so long,” narrated Kondowe.
On the other hand, Barbara Banda stated that the increased protests and demonstrations many CSOs and citizen groups continue to hold point to one thing: government is taking too long or doing little to address social-economic challenges facing its people.
She said of greater concerns to the civil society and citizens at large are the negative signals and outstanding threats to democracy that have continued to this date, 245 days into the new administration, contrary to the general expectations from the people over the new administration.
Banda also wondered why it was taking the Tonse government ages to clear a corrupt culture within the public sector and rest the button.
“Reports of corrupt practices and numerous reversals of tenders is evidence that the administration is taking its time to act decisively on rebuilding the accountability systems,” she said.
There are troubling signs that the Tonse Alliance administration – ushered into office through the court-ordered Fresh Presidential Election held on June 23 2020, is on course to betray the trust of Malawians.
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Welcome to Malawi. Where CSOs expect the gvt to wear a bullet proof vest, incorruptible in nature. Accountability and transparency, words that refuse to leave the mouthpiece of CSOs. And yet non of them are fully accountable and transparent with their finances. You mean the the TA promised to end corruption. And you really took that word for word. I can see why you are frustrated now. Because, God forbid, you can’t end corruption. You can only reduce it to some level. Ask accountants about internal controls. They will tell you. And, before I go, all those allegations. Man it is good you mentioned them but if you have evidence why not talk to ACB because journalist will only write a story, and yes after you give them that allowance, or else they will not waste time on your nonsense.
Welcome to Malawi.
I knew it from the beginning the he chosen his cabinet and advisers plus his office nothing won’t change chakwera he has failed from the start we will wait but not long we will go into the street again
Malawians must learn a lesson biggest Hypocrite in this world ndi m’busa amadyela/amabela dzina la Mlengi, ndimunthu opanda mantha ndi kuba.ndiye inu mukavotere zimenezo?! Enjoy the show! Ndi m’busa wanuyo!
You never pointed out real mistakes made by inept and thieving dpp administration therefore you are not competent to comment now!
Ever heard of freedom of speech?who are you to stop a person from exercising freedom of speech in a democracy? Typical MCP dictatorship tendacy.. shame!
Dzikoli akulamula ndi Priminiter Nkaka
I had my doubts from the beginning with their election promises this Tonse Alliance made! My only hope was, that through sanity in financial managment of public spending and recovery of stolen public money, this changes would and could made be possible! After 250 days of TA in power we face unfortunately the same looting, like nothing have changed! Hardly anything has been recovered from the previous regime, which sombody called “Prince of Thieves”! The economy is still the same lame duck and no industrialization at all took place! The management of the pandemic, especially the financial, is even worse! Corruption in the public realms is still rampant! No progress in infrastructure developments …., and servant leadership is pure lip service! Anyway, hope dies last! You still have four years to go, but but be aware, we gave you the mandate already half a year ago! Don’t take it for granted and do not disappointed us! People will be back in the streets, but unfortunately this time not for you!
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Kleptomania. Its a deadly condition. Its in church, its in your home, its in government. Its everywhere. Yes, Malawi has been possessed by this demon kleptomania. God save Malawi.
Solution: covid 3.0 where are you? These potbellys wont stop stealing.
Nanunso ma csos or whatever you call yourselves. What scores did you give to old evil MCP, mbavas UDF and stinking/evil/mbava DPP?
The problem is that they made promises “they are indebted” & we’re waiting patiently with pain in the heart.
They thought politics is all about lying. Those promises will haunt them till end in 2025 and by 2022 with nothing changed, game over!. They will find it impossible to use COVID for an excuse.
We voted clueless chakwera and hateful chilima into government. Ofcourse they came into power through the backdoor and everyone knows this . It is not surprising therefore to see them running away from their own promises . Malawians don’t be cheated kuti water and electricity connctions can be reduced . Never. Ife amene tili Kuno ku Escom timawauza bwana Chilima kuti it’s not possible to reduce connectivity fees because it will paralyze the two companies . Kusamva kwao kuja lero kwaonekera. He doesn’t have powers to dictate on how Escom and water boards should operate . Soon Escom will raise electricity connection tariffs. A Malawi continue paying palibe zosintha. Anthu awa ndi Mbava zedi palibe chabwino tione in five years of their rule. Look at Mkaka is busy stealing government money and chakwera or Saulosi can’t reprimand him . They don’t have experience to run government affairs
I don’t know why much is being made about water and electricity connection fees: We spend much more on school fees, fuel, motor vehicle repairs, funerals, hospital bills etc etc.
For me the most disappointing aspects of the Tonse Govt’s unfulfilled promises is the lack of fight against corruption. DPP appointees stole from Govt and parastatals as if there was no tomorrow. Indeed in the first two months of this administration there was a flurry of arrests – but now just a handful of cases are being pursued. Those whole stole under the DPP regime, and those who are stealing under this new Govt, know that the MO of this Govt is to make a lot of noise, and then quietly ignore the issue as time goes on.
The fight against corruption, or more appropriately, the lack of it is what is going to define this Tonse administration. Going forward, this is going to be the single most important factor in LMC & SKC’s dwindling popularity as we head into 2025. This will give an opportunity to DPP to get back into power and continue their unbridled kleptocracy…
Ladies and gentlemen campaign promises are there to lure the electorate on impossibilities.Government is serious business with lots of challenges which are not perceived when you are outside the reins of power.Now that the aim of our voting out DPP was done give these guys time to learn how business transaction are done in this noble institution.Mudakhala inu mukatani ngati mutapeza zinyalala mboma anzanu opita ataba zonse? Inu ma SCO mungofuna kutidziwitsa kuti mulipo.Palibe nkhani apa asiyeni anzanu alamule mopanda vinjenje.Ikadzakwana nthawi ya zisankho mudzangoyima nawo ngati muli ndi nfundo.
Kuganiza mwa uchipwisi
Poor khadeti
This is so shallow I must say.
Ngakhale patamapezeka zolakwika? Mbuzi
Your parents did not abstain, now look, boom there appeared you
CSOs are just another bunch of noise makers. They speak an infinite deal of nothing and their reasons are two grains of maize hid in two bushels of chaff. You shall seek all day before you find them and when you find them they are not worth the search. Just list the things that you want and don’t just talk. If want jobs just say it. If you roads just say it. If you want hospitals just say it. You talk of corruption. Mention the names of the people involved plus evidence. Roads cannot start without tenders. How long did it take for Kamuzu to build roads and hospitals. Ngati mwazolowera kumanga nyumba in six months with ndalama mumabera your donors, this is not the case. Be patient please. People in villages are happy with their green fields. We are in tough period of coronavirus and you know that this has affected the whole world. Shut up please.
Did u read properly or u also that same people they said Minister’s are invited why spare them hotel saga and more
Ladies and gentlemen read the article without bias first. The very same people were behind tonse last yr now they out giving you advice inu busy kutukwana. Sizikuthandizani
Serving your self interests you CSOs. Don’t claim to represent Malawians with your wild claims. Bring forth your organization books. The government is doing its best.
we tild you that if you thought Chakwera was going to change anything then you were lost. Chakwera is a known thief and nepotistic guy. The spirit of God departed from him long time ago. His appointments at state house and those of key government positions are done to facilitate his criminal enterprise. He has Kalumbu and Kapondamgaga and Kampondeni at state house who are managing his criminal enterprise of stealing from government while on the other hand he has Nkaka and chimwendo Banda known thieves selaing big time. Chiponda stole indepedence money and Covid money and Chakwerra would not do anything because he owes his survival to Kasungu people
Tonse tuziwa kuti azibusa apamalawi ndi mbava, nothing new here. A Bushiri ndi aja akuwafuna pa Joni. Let’s just brace ourselves for hefty looting. Tivala mwado wobooka this presidents term. Uyu mumayenda Chakwera, wa fake accent uyu,ndi anzake ndi mbava basi.
Iweyo nchidzete, dont mention names that havent appeared in the article, thats stupidity at its best. Shut up!
The Tonse Alliance cannot solve all our problems within the first 8 months. Let us be patient and let them do their work. How can you compare this government with the previous one? Are you being honest? Do you guys remember the conversation between Botomani and Mhango on COVID-19 Funds? Did we see any reaction/backlash from govt? Aren’t we seeing the Tonse Govt acting swiftly on the current alleged abuse of COVID-19 funds? A Malawi mumafuna chani kwenikweni. You are acting like a man who gets another wife because the first one couldn’t bear him a child. He then starts demanding that the child should bear him a child even before the first 9 months of their union. Tiyeni tidekhe.
It’s very possible to compare this government with the previous governments. The comparison will not be based on number of years served but the same period of service ie you compare the first 8 months of this government to the first 8 months of previous governments. That’s a very fair comparison.
I hate apologists.
Don’t you have 5 senses?
Just compare the budgets between the one that was proposed by the nullified govt to the current one as well as the efforts to deliver on the same, abwana mphwephwa tili nazozi they have overspent on their highlightless budget, and trust me they do not have any clue how and why, they don’t know what’s happening. Have you analyzed minister Lowe’s report on AIP? Eheee, he presents figures that do not talk to each other (Read the report on his press conference). Not within 8 months, but on the first day, akanakhazikitsa policy curbing corruption eg kulimbikitsa independence ya ACB but now they are assigning ACB tasks thereby undermining their independence,…why incorporating ACB into Covid Thieves Force (or is it Task Force?). But since you are probably a beneficiary of the govt looting scheme, you agree with what I am talking about but then, I mean, you need to buy weave for one of your mistresses and pay rent for another. Uzazindikira mochedwerapo, koma bola uzafe utazindikira.
Mulira mpaka 2030
Trying to justify their relevance to their masters. Deep down they know Tonse is trying its best. Akhala bwanji patauni patatentha.
trying it’s best by giving each other NOCMA contracts ? You must just be part of the beneficiaries. Part of those that don’t wish to see progress for all but yourselves. Just give Malawians what you promised. Lower passport fees, 15,000 for the aged, free water and electricity. other item Malawians obviously know will take time and will understand.
Agalu inu, mmalo mothana ndi Corona virus muli pamenepo ndi uchisiru wanu fwefwefwefwe! Vimaso siviona kuti tonse ndife odwala pano? Do you think the new Government can do all those things within the period stipulated here while we are fighting the Chinese virus? We all know kuti you are the DPP mafupa. Ndikuphwasulani one by one!
Aah àah! Abwana! Kulephera kuthetsa katangale kukulephereka mwati chifukwa tonse tikudwala covid? This is blind following!
Ndipo ndalama za COVID zambiri ndi ma donations.
already betrayed by these two flops, they promised us free water and electricity connection, but till now they can’t manifest it. this week i couldn’t wait any longer, i have reluctantly paid water connection fee mk125,000 and electricity connection fee of mk93,200. for me these two guys are flops and they should be ashamed of themselves where ever they are.
joe biden promised to rejoin paris agreement, WTO , WHO and cancelling donald trump immigration policy. and he did it within one week in office. kuno aziwa iwo ndikunama ndikungonya zipwisi mugalimoto
World wide the COVID 19 pandemic has affected each nation’s economy, learned people know this. Much as you are in opposition clearly the world economics semantics explains it all.
The promises were made when there was the covid 19 pandemic
Do not forget Covid started after the 2019 elections that were nullified during Covid. The promises are pre-covid, actually. No one could have changed their promises during the campaign for the 2020 elections. Let us learn not to forget.
But these CSO leaders, just like the current PAC have never stood up for common good even the DPP was at its worst position they never spoke out. All they trying to do now is to help dpp with causing confusion.
They should realise that they are just wasting their time, Malawians tell on their own when things are not okay.
Onse a Tonse Alliance ndi zitsiru zo kuba. Ochakwera siotsegoleri, koma okuba boma. This is the reason why they have problems to end corruption