MP Gumba Banda says Malawi now failed state

Member of Parliament for Mchinji South West (Malawi Congress Party –MCP) Deus Gumba Banda has bemoaned  the plethora of crises  that puts Malawi as  a failed state.

Banda told Parliament  that electricity blackouts which are now at the rate of 37 hours out of every 48 hour period of the time are as calamitous to the people’s livelihoods as they are disruptive to the economy.

He made the remarks during her contribution on President Peter Mutharika’s opening address to the 47th session of Parliament delivered on November 10.

“Small to medium enterprises are on their knees with many going out of business. Quality of life at household levels is disintegrating by the end of the day,” pointed out Banda.

The MP said the deplorable state of public healthcare in Malawi  shows how the government has abandoned its priorities in serving the people resulting in thousands people dying from curable diseases.

He said prospects for development will be realised if the population suffers from ill health,
and if visitors and investors alike are not assured of access to quality health care in the country.

“Lives of people are under real threats. Hospitals are encountering operational challenges due to shortage of power supply. Critical areas such as intensive care unit are not running, endangering the very lives of patients which health care services are meant to save,” he said.

He also queried President Peter Mutharika and his government projection that economy  would grow at 5.5 percent, wondering how an  economy reeling from the effects of prolonged power outages  can achieve the 5.5 per cent growth.

“Unavailability of power entails severe reduction in industrial production. Decline in production is inflationary since the supply of commodities diminishes as demand rises.

“Commodity prices end up scaling or spiralling uncontrollably to fuel inflation. “

The MP said state of affairs shall worsen the already high unemployment levels.

He said as the rampaging blackouts are not enough causes of worry, Malawians are becoming frustrated with government’s increasing dissent in reforming the electoral law with a view of upgrading the standard of the  presidential vote from the current first-past-the-post vote to 50 per cent plus one system.

Banda said it is clear that President Mutharika cannot fix the plethora of crises.