Malawi Watch says JB should stop talking ills of UDF, DPP
While lauding President Joyce Banda for dropping Cabinet ministers allegedly involved in the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, the Executive Director of Malawi Watch, Billy Banda says the President should stop talking ills about the past regimes of former presidents Bakili Muluzi and late Bingu wa Mutharika.
Banda told Nyasa Times on Wednesday that it is longer interesting or exciting to people to be hearing President Banda talking the ills of formers regimes, urging her to “refrain from taking Malawians backwards.”
“She is busy focusing on talking the ills the former regimes like that of Dr Bakili Muluzi, Professor Bingu wa Mutharika or even MCP. Her Excellency should refrain from taking Malawians.
“Let her show that she is more committed to reforms donors and all other stakeholders will be tasked to work on during and after thorough forensic audit. I can suggest she put focus and strong commitment to her own administration and take ownership of financial mismanagement recorded,” said Banda in response President Banda’s claims the problem of fraud and corruption started with United Democratic Front (UDF) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Regimes.
He also claimed that Malawians are keen to know the amount of wealth President Banda has and its source to clear people’s speculations that she is part of the economic plunder.
Banda further said the economic plunder should serve a wakeup call to donors to start supporting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working proactively with good capacity to both be part of the auditing team and also constitute investigation committee.
“This is why a call is extended to her to put hands bare and open for thoroughly serious investigations and even declaring her true source of wealth.
“Let her even permit donor support a parallel enquiry which she can appear and collaborate with those conducting forensic audit,” he advised.
He however lauded the Malawi leader for hiring new Cabinet saying this will help restore public trust and also donor confidence to resume injecting financial aid to Malawi.
“It is commendable she has brought in new faces, who will likely work under serious pressure to ensure economic prudence is back on track.
“Dr Mkwezelamba should expect more from Malawians because he has inherited a bad system requiring extensive clean ups. It should be noted that her Excellency has a lot more work to be done which necessitate her to stay in office much more than being on the walk,” observed Banda.
Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito who last week led a mass demonstration in Lilongwe over looting at Capital Hill hailed the sacking of Ken Lipenga as Finance Minister where his ministry is at the centre of ‘cash-gate’ scandal and was also at the centre of controversy for defending the zero-deficit budget under the Mutharika administration.
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