MP Wakuda says Malawi should have government of national unity

Kasungu north east legislator Wakuda Kamanga on Friday caused a political storm in parliament when he suggested that a Government of National Unity (GNU) should immediately be put in place to deal with the current economic and political problems rocking the country.

Kamanga also proved that he can be a political divisive figure when he ignored his People’s Party stance on the state of national address and heaped praise on the speech describing it as full of wisdom.

“All this wisdom from all political parties in the House must be put together in one direction. From 1994 there has never been political stability. No government can develop this country without political stability,” said Kamanga.

He therefore suggested a government of national unity would ring solutions to the long suffering of Malawians.

Kamanga said all political parties represented in parliament must be included in President Peter Mutharika’s 20 member cabinet and parties outside parliament must also be included through other political sphere of life.

“If we don’t love this country; we can keep talking and that talking will be nothing,” he said.

However, a political scientist at Chancellor College Henry Chingaipe dismissed Kamanga’s suggestions, saying the political situation in Malawi does not call for the GNU.

“Usually government’s of national unity are put in place in countries coming from wars or huge political instability. The situation in Malawi is different,” said Chingaipe.

There was no immediate comment from the government although it is most unlikely that the Mutharika administration can take such an expensive venture when the government is failing to provide basic services to its people due to financial problems.

An opposition PP legislator described Kamanga’s sentiments as words from an “opportunist.”

Kamanga was secretary general of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party until the death of the party’s founding leader Bingu wa Mutharika. He joined PP was appointed spokesperson to former president Joyce Banda.

His calculated and rare praise of Mutharika could mean the once powerful political figure in DPP is making a calculative move back to his party.