Malawi is sinking ship, Mutharika must be told – Opposition

As Malawi economic fractures deepen, opposition leaders are saying they want to have an audience with President Peter Mutharika and tell him in the face that politically and economically, Malawi was in a crisis.

“Economically, we are not making any progress, hence our wish to meet the President,” said Dr John Chisi president of Umodzi Party (UP).

He was speaking at a news conference he addressed together with Hellen Singh of United Independence Party (UIP) in Blantyre on Friday.

Chisi said: “We cannot accept to be carried in a bus that is heading towards a ditch.”

Comparing  Mutharika government to the ill-fated Titanic, Chisi noted that the country “the ship that  is perhaps captained by a blindfolded leader  and heading towards “sinking”.

Chisi said “we don’t want to sink with it.”

He said some opposition parties will work together and advise government on clues to save the nation.

President’s chief political adviser Francis Mphepo has welcomed the move by the opposition to advise Mutharika, saying they should “document the proposals” and send to State House.

Observers say a bankrupt, corrupt and increasingly predatory state is now squeezing what’s left of productive pockets in both the formal and informal sectors.

Official corruption is rampant.  President Mutharika recently admitted about the worsening corruption.

Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe speaking at on Thursday at the official opening of the three-day 26th Institute of Chartered Accountants in Malawi (Icam) Annual Lake Conference at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi, said Malawians have become a pessimistic lot and rejoice when things are not working for the country.

“We have become pessimistic and we are happier when we hear that our country is not doing very well. We are happier when something bad has happened to our country,” said Gondwe

Gondwe’s sentiments were made against a background of ravaging poverty and glaring inequality in the country.

Malawi is reengaging its traditional multilateral and bilateral funders in a bid to open new lines of credit and budgetary support.