Op-Ed: Too early to judge Tonse govt but little missteps can cost trust
The Tonse Alliance officially the current government after the swearing in of the leader of the Tonse alliance who is also the current state president, Dr Lazarus Chakwera together with his vice, Dr Saulos Chilima. Their victory was a result of the famous 23rd June elections whose history is traced to the nullification of last year’s presidential polls that was said to have been marred with irregularities.
As of now, the alliance has spent just about few days in office. It is quite a short time indeed. But within these early days, many things have taken place. Having come from a background of a government that lost the trust of many Malawians because of many missteps that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government took, the people have been in a mood of hope following what the Tonse alliance had been promising during campaigns. The anxiousness to vote and listen to such message of hope was seen by how people braved the corona virus pandemic to gather for political rallies as well as turn up for the polls.
Since the Tonse alliance entered office, many Malawians have been anxious to see how what they promised would be fulfilled with critics arguing that the promises were more idealistic than realistic and could as well be the mere political gimmick and rhetoric that we are used to. As if that was a prophetic statement, just ten days in office there are subtle signs that are pointing towards that claim.
Of course, the alliance has been in office for only few days and it would be unfair to pass a judgement on them at this stage as perhaps the new office bearers have not settled down. It would be very realistic of us to expect chaos for now as the new government maps out their way forward. However, the little that has been done can shape the kind of trust that people could have in the new government. In the same vein any missteps can cost the trust that people have in the government.
When the president announced the list of the four new ministers and other key government positions, just two days later, Modercai Msiska, who was appointed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, turned down the appointment arguing that it would appear to the public that he is being rewarded for successfully defending the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in court during the election case. Msiska also cited that he was old and wanted to offer the opportunity to young people full of energy that are equally capable to deliver in the ministry. This raised questions as to whether the president and his vice never consulted Mr Msiska before making his appointment a public issue.
Secondly, Msiska’s argument about the post being mistaken for a reward was actually valid. It seemed a very wrong timing to appoint both Dr Chikosa Silungwe and Mr Msiska to such crucial positions of Attorney General and Minister of Justice respectively as this was tantamount to an automatic misinterpretation by the public.
Whether these were appointed on merit or not, the president should have exercised caution over public opinion on the same.The president also made mention that the full cabinet would be announced before the Independence Day celebrations.But up to now, Malawians are yet to know the full cabinet list. The sad thing is that there is no explanation to this silence or change of program.
When the Minister of Finance was presenting the provisional budget in Parliament, he included some of the things that were promised during the campaigns. However, instead of offering universal fertilizer subsidy as promised before, it was only offered to 3.5 million people on coupons saying the universal one would be implemented in the full budget. Furthermore, there was no clear roadmap on the creation of one million jobs as promised in the manifesto.
To the surprise of many, during that Independence Day speech, the President signalled that the promise did not literally mean that the government would provide one million jobs but rather challenge everybody to be a job creator rather than a job seeker, yet another change of tune.
During his speech, the president also did not mention anything about empowering the vice president and making him a deputy president as he had been promising. Am not sure whether that was just a slip of thought as he was writing his speech. We hope it will be corrected later and announced and implemented at the right time.
The recent issue is about the tax-free bracket up to K100 000 to be received by those who receive a salary. The Ministry of Finance made an announcement that the policy will be implemented after three months when the parliament reconvenes to make the necessary Taxation Act amendments.
While the list can go on and on, the Tonse alliance government should be aware that people are watching and they still remember what they were promised. Malawians can no longer be taken for a ride. Any attempt to play with their minds may soon backfire. I don’t understand why the Minister of Finance failed to make it clear during the budget presentation that the tax exemption would not apply immediately. At least people would be aware, rather than creating false hopes.
Or why did they not immediately make a provision to make the needed amendment to the Taxation Act before adjourning the parliament session? And why did the president repeatedly say they would announce the full cabinet before Independence Day and yet they were aware that there were still some things that needed to be concluded? Why was it not stated clearly during the campaigns that people would simply be empowered to create their own jobs? And what about the sudden change of tune on the cancellation of the Independence Day celebrations? Whatever justifications people may give on all these, it should be known that these missteps, no matter how little and insignificant they might look, could end up costing the people’s trust in the new government. It is our hope that the dust will soon settle and the government will go back to serious business.
Otherwise, for now people are still waiting to see how the trimming of the presidential powers will be materialized, how women will be accommodated in the cabinet basing on the 40% inclusion that was promised, how the final budget will accommodate the promises that were made and how the new government will correct the errors of the previous government, such as corruption and nepotism, that they condemned when they were in opposition. Otherwise, while rhetoric is a powerful tool to woe voters, too much of false promises always equally backfire.
- The writer is a Malawian and holds a BA in Philosophy. He is currently studying Theology at the Catholic University of East Africa in Kenya. He writes in his personal capacity. Feedback: [email protected]
Many are looking for cracks and there will be many as Tonse Alliance inherited a sick body of a country. We are metaphotically diseased and on life support.
For those that care for this country kindly assist our good doctors in any way possible.
If all you care about is fucking this country up the ass one more time then kindly go ahead its a free country.
Vuto ndi loti Mr. Chakwera wa akumafuna chilichonse akafunse kwa bwana wawo Zeze kuti apange approve maganizo awo. Akawakanira basi akumangolira kenako kuchedwetsa kapena kusintha lonjezo la kampeni kwa a Malawi, eish! Malawi sadzatheka. Zeze kuimba belu ali pa kaliyala amwene…
Remember, both chilima and Chakwera have never been ministers. They have never worked in civil service too. They collectively know nothing on how the Civil Service and Government works. That’s why they are busy making pronouncements only to withdraw them minutes later. These learner drivers will take us nowhere. Running Govt does not require the “I Know It All” kind of approach which baby chilima is demonstrating. Ntchito iwakanika awa . But we need our universal fertilizer subsidy, we need K100,000.00 tax free, we need 1000000 jobs, we need our K15000 per month for Gogos as promised. By the way, are you aware that all public servants come to a total of not more than 600,000 combined? So izo za 1million jobs izo does it mean that Chakwera shall create new jobs more than the size of the entire current Civil Service? Tonse are indeed lunatic liars.
Malawi is not going no where with Tonse alliance ,their campaign was based on 100 % lies .Some of us who have the capacity to read lies in the eyes of a dude ,we were able to forsee this .All what they were promising in their campaign rallies were just results without clear procedures to achieve the results .I cry for my country as crook politicians can use Malawian poverty and manage to snatch power through lies .When did they knew that for minimum taxable money for an employee to be Mk 100,000.00 it will need tax amendement bill .Did Chakwera had time to explain this to Malawians ? or he did not know this .On One Million jobs to Malawians during the first 1 year ,why did they fail to explain this ,the way they have done few days ago? .Although you will label me as a cadet ,but the truth of the matter is that APM was able to explain to malawians how he will create employment .But Malawians were taken away with these lies .APM was promising and managed to build technical colleges in some areas ,this idea is one of the fantastic ideas that will create jobs in Malawi .We have seen and witnessed countries like Germany and Italy with a robust skills development doing fine .If our country can adopt such strategies ,one day Malawi would have done away with unemployment. My warning to Tonse alliance is that ,if you think that Malawians will be taken for a ride ,you should expect tough times ahead .When MCP was in opposition they used Zodiac ,times as there mouth piece against DPP policies ,although these Media houses will shut up because there mission has be accompolished ,but remember nowdays we have alot of media houses who will also be used to measure tonse alliance blunders , as you did with ZBS AND TIMES .Tonse alliance should also remember than 1.7 million malawians do not vote for them ,this another ticking bomb that shud scare your grouping. .
Its seems tonse alliance campaign was built on lies.i can understand it is still early days but anxiety has started flowing in my veins,particularly with this yoyo way of doing things.with no tangible action to tackle covid 19 ,the enemy our gate,i m starting to see traits of clueless leaders in lazalo and saulos.i m somehow leaning towards views expressed by author.
These are hardly missteps but practical expedients or adjustments. Your piece mostly makes straw arguments. Cut the new Government some slack please.
Flip-flopping?
Sanayendetsepo basi chiyambire, satigwetsera ku pompho?
“Running a government is a serious business”. Over consulting can cost him. He needs to consult in moderate. Otherwise, if he has to satisfy all those parties in the alliance just because they helped him win, it won’t be possible. He sometimes needs to use his brain to make decisions and move where it is necessary.
Koma na yokhayi ya Taxation iyi nde yandipweteka heavy. Why fooling us? Why?
1 week in office and you expect them to ” hand out” 1 million jobs? This is not a government of handouts, if you didnt understand that then you should have voted for APM. The Tonse alliance is promising change of how things are done in Malawi, ending corruption, rewarding hard work, and creating an enabling environment where you will be able to create a million new jobs. Did you really think the plan was just to increase the government payroll?
As for cabinet, what does it matter to you whether the cabinet is introduced on day 1 or day 14? They are trying to get the right people in the right positions and they are being vetted by the ACB etc… You want them to just pick some political clowns with baggage so that you can criticize them.
The Term runs for 5 years, they havent even presented their own full budget, inuyo phumali mukulitenga kuti?
Liar, when did ACB start vetting cabinet appointments? and who forced your masters to promise Malawians what they promised in black and white? You think you are clever to here and start spinning about the Tonse Alliance campaign promises? Hahaha, man, reserve those new promises for 2025, panopa give us 1million jobs, universal fertilizer subsidy wathu, K100pin yopanda msokha ndi zinazo kuti tidziphaka katatu basi, hiyaaa!
Man, Precious you are really following trends, I salute you, these people are fooling Malawians, in the first place I thought being a man who fears GOD as preaches could do not work as usual, but I am so surprised that he also can change like a camelion like this. one million jobs now is said to be job creation empowerment really. I can relax yes because this govt. is [an alliance] a mixture of different promises different views. One million jobs is UTM Chilima’s promises and since he not on the driving seat fine.
Why wait for Taxation Laws to be changed in order to pay people K100, 000 when the budget was already approved. We have just had elections without changing the constitution because MCP, UTM said we can do that later. You took over parliament and disregarded procedures in order to bring the elections quickly. Why could MCP-UTM and entire Tonse MPs employ the same speed with the tax-band. Karma is coming to all these deceitful TONSE alliance crooks.
Indeed crooks at its best! They said malawi will have universal fertilizer but today they say in broadlight that its targetted only for 3.5 million bodza lipose apa? The president said when we promised kudya katatu we meant working three times harder than before! Kodi a malawi mukayesa makanda eti? Go and ask Bakili when he promised free shoes to all, when he promised lowest salary of K5,000 to industrial workers what happened? Muziwona sikale lankhulani zoona ngati president wa chibusa monga akukudziwani mwayambapo nanga ndikale apa be careful!. Ine ndimanena nthawi zonse that malawi is good clapping for liars here we are and i saw even Chilima nodding his head yet he emphasized a pointof kudya katatu and universal fertilizer. Kudzanso issue ya ntchito Lazarus said we did not mean to provide one million jobs but we as malawians have to create those jobs. Phwete komanso masanje eni eni. APM used to say to malawians that its impossible to create 1 million jobs instead govt will construct 193 colleges nationwide to give skills to students who in turn will open their own businesses after getting loans from MEDF and employ others. Izi ndi zomveka bwino bwino wosati mabodza tiri nawo lerowa ayi. Tikumana 2025 komanso tikufuna passport pa K14,000 not renewable paja munatero
Its the LAW. Are you really asking why the government should follow the law?
who stopped making that law in parliament when you pronounced the K100,000.00 tax free band? Mbuzi
Chakwera has appointed his son-in-law as Presidential Aide. Isn’t this nepotism? If it was Mutharika Times, Zodiak and Nyasa Times would have been talking about nepotism. There is never going to be Universal fertiliser subsidy. The Provisional Budget was approved and yet people are being told there is need to change Taxation laws. Why lying? 1 million jobs mean young people should go out there to find jobs and businesses.
Is he qualified for the job? He has also incorporated his personal bodyguard with his official government presidential bodyguards, do you have a problem with that too?
Were those recruited by the previous government which you cried blue murder not qualified? Zakoma chifukwa mukupanga ndi inu? Nepotism is nepotism basi, no qualification or what have you is justification to repeat the vice, stop it!
That’s his personal, we understand him. He should ask those who heard Chakwera speaking not bush fires from his opinions. Chakweras Speech was dealing with the mindset of many Malawians, and you have said yourself that it is too early to judge him, what is your problem Mr writer? I thought by your Theological studies you are doing, you would stand as some one special in your argument, sir just come back seems you have already failed to handle yourself, you sound bitter, you can’t even see the change that has come upon Malawi, you are just useless, I’m wondering if we are not going to harvest an educated fool! Take heart, why have you forgotten what he said about the pains Malawians will pass through in order to fix this Country? Why would you not take it as one of the pains he mentioned? Dont remind Malawians what they want, they have what they wanted! That is to come out form your DPP dude!
Hand clappers
Sniper, you are foolish MCP sympathiser
muchira hahahaha
Wa youth uyu ( Red Brigade).
Kicks of the dying horse
Hold your breath, we are clearing the rubble!! This nation was in a complete standstill and no sane person can just jump in the bandwagon and move on as usual!! Kuwona maso a nkhono nkudekha so the chichewa proverb goes!!
Agree with the writer’s observation because Malawi or Flames siidzamva. The spirit of not accepting where you have erred will never go. For instance when HE was asked on how much was spent on independence celebration he was able to give figurea when in the previoua presser he said 90% was already completed. Thats money down the drain bearing in mind that preparations were being done with covid in mind but because a close asaociate bevame a victim thats why wechanges tune.. Crucial miniatry suvh as health still doea not have a minister while homeland has but we are saying covid is really ravaging us are those misstepa insiginificant mister writer. As a government in waiting ministerial positions could have been sorted out long before and by now could have hit the ground running bearing in mind that the country was in dire straits. Please lest be serious the country needs helpers like ministers to run government not a select few there is no time to waste
Good & constructive argument. The leaders must read such items.
Written by Precious Nihorowa, CADET weniweni. osadandaula uchila, matendawo ndiaakali amatha after 5yrs
Truth pains! The Cadet has pierced a Red Brigade with a sharp object.
Tonse lies shall end in tears and Covid
Since you are contradicting yourself about the days of this Tonse Alliance Government of being in office,so how did you come up with your article to judge them Mr Writer?Your points are just showing how shallow minded you are.
These are what we are talking about fair media, people have gone to bed simply because they removed Mutharika and DPPTHATS ALL? Even if Chalima can go to town threatening CEOs coz they are lomwe to mr George Thindwa and others no problem, why promong people tax free band yet you new that it will wait for debate? u are you did not know that parliament had no time? why not waiting until october/?Yes, its too early to judge Tonse but bad things starts like this.Zodiak can say anthing on this but if it was A DPP THIONG NTHAWI YOMWEYO PARADIO, TIMES NDI george kasakula ndiye patsogo paja ankati amadana ndi APM, PERSONAL GRADGES WHY? BE WARNED Z B S., U ARE OUR EYES AND EARS, M B C WILL NOT REFORM COS WHAT TONSE ALLIANCE WANTED THEY HAVE ACHIEVED,, TIMES NDIYE SINGANENEKO THOUGH AT ONE POINT GEORGE SAID THAT THEY TALK ALOT ABOUT GOVERNMENT NOT OPPOSITION IF LEFT UNCHECKED THERE WILL A HEAVY PROPAGANDA FROM TIMES AND MBC SO ZBS, WE ARE WAITIN FOR YPUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
I am glad you are correcting yourself that it’s too early to judge. That not withstanding, did you really expect that the government would literally create the jobs and hand them over to lazy bones? It just shows you are coming from a handouts tradition. Enafe we knew that what we need is an enabling condition to benefit from our hustles.
Hey, it’s not about expecting the government to deliver the jobs, it’s a promise and a social contract they made with Malawians during the campaign. Don’t try to be clever here.
we are dealing with certified crooks. they connived with the court to snatch government and god will surely punish them. Chakwera has put over 30 people of his relatives in key positions
ok
Wikleaks is crying because the thieving is stopped
He can not believe that the tap of dirty money is closed. Nose kukumana nazo
Me thinks people tend to misinterpret job creation. The problem is that these two words are taken literally.
Governments do not create jobs. Governments create a conducive atmosphere for job creation i.e. through attracting investment (foreign or local), putting in measures that make it easy to do business in the country, making sure there is political (therefore economic) stability in the country amongst others.
So I do agree that when they said a million jobs it did not mean literally creating a million jobs and handing them out on a platter (silver or other). That’s counter-productive. But if they have a plan, to say help fund real entrepreneurs (not tender-preneurs) say in the fields of manufacturing, agriculture, technology etc, then they are on the right track, because these industries will create real sustainable jobs. I do not see why we cannot stop relying on certain imports. That’s just my point of view.
You will agree that most jobs created by governments, per se, end up being in the already blotted public service just adding more woes to the blotted public sector wage bill, and in most countries it is usually for the party in government to try to please and pacify the majority that has voted them into power – it usually does not work. Good case is South Africa where almost all public institutions (especially state run entities or parastatals) are beyond redemption. Almost all of them are on a life line as we speak, always surviving on government bailouts. And we, the tax payers, are not happy about it because our taxes are just wasted just to keep the companies running to save jobs (most of which were not even meant to have been there in the first place).
Let us try to give them a chance and see what they are bringing to the table. Others were given a chance and we saw how they messed up. We voted them in because we wanted to see a different perspective on governance, otherwise we would have stayed the known thieves with no hope in sight. It is this hope for a better tomorrow that we all manage to wake up in the morning and go to our different fields of endeavour otherwise we wouldn’t bother to wake up at all.
The campaign promises were loud and clear. Questions and doubts about their practicality were raised and people like you, Jonazi, clapped hands and vehemently defended their positions on all issues albeit seeing how vague some of them were. No need for interpretation of spinning on the same. We heard, believed them and voted them so. Deliver the jobs, universal fertilizer subsidy, trim presidential powers, empower oversight institutions, empower the vice president to deputy president, stop regionalism, tribalism and nepotism, eradicate poverty tidzidya katatu patsiku etc. This flip-flopping seen so far is neuseating.
Who certified them?
Those who voted validated the promises. It was a contract on premise that if they were voted into government, they will implement the promises, simple!
@Wikleaks please expose the list.