Mutharika ignores opposition on socio-economic challenges:  Kambala says patience of Malawians wearing thin

The opposition parties in the country have bemoaned the failure by President Peter Mutharika to grant them an audience to discuss and find solutions to the current social-economic problems facing the country.

Last month Mutharika during his national address expressed a willingness to meet opposition parties and critics on issues of national importance.

And two weeks ago a grouping of opposition parties wrote President Mutharika seeking to have an audience but the Malawian leader has ignored the call.

The opposition parties include Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM), Umodzi Party (UP), Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde), Unity Party UP), New Labour Party (NLP) and United Transformation Party (UTP).

Efforts to speak to the Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) George Mkondiwa proved futile as the phone went unanswered.

In an interview, UTP leader Newton Kambala speaking on behalf of the grouping said they have not been given any explanation as to why Mutharika is not responding to their call to meet.

“We feel the issues raised in the statement which was handed to the OPC are critical, and based on the President’s call, it was relevant to meet and give us a chance to discuss and explore means and ways of ending these challenges the country is passing through,” said Kambala.

Kambala added: “Maybe he is too busy to grant us that audience. All we can do is to wait, but the patience of Malawians is wearing out; the country is in bad shape and we need drastic solutions which we feel as opposition can provide.”

Among other issues, the opposition bloc want immediate address to drug shortage in public hospitals, continued blackouts, dwindling education standards, access to water and other social and economic amenities among other issues.

Recently, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Malison Ndau said Mutharika was willing to meet opposition leaders who have been pressing for a courtesy call in a bid to discuss a myriad of socio-economic problems facing Malawi.

Ndau said Mutharika has always asked the opposition to bring forward alternative solutions to the problems facing Malawi.

“They should draft their agenda and bring to the government. The President’s door is open on issues of national importance,” said Ndau then.