Opposition ‘justified’ to petition Malawi govt on accountability – Analyst

A political and social commentator Emily Mkamang has said the opposition parties, including the Malawi Congress Party (MCP),  were justified to petition government on 17 points they believe positive action would enable the country to successfully implement public sector reforms and attain accountability and transparency.

Mkamangs in quotes reported in the local press  said many Malawians are worried with what is happening and the lack of action from government on critical issues.

In the petition titled ‘Prospectors for Public Sector Reforms’, the  opposition accused the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration of allowing criminality, impunity and poor accountability in the national institutions.

They argued that the DPP administration  lacks accountability and sends signals that some people, especially those inter ruling party, are above the law.

Mkamanga said  most of the things the opposition raised are “general and indeed people need answers.”

Among others, the opposition said they want to see government act on some issues they feel have been ignored, including the fire at the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) warehouse in Lilongwe on the eve of the day the court set for a recount of votes in Lilongwe City South East constituency, an arrest and action on suspects of the violence at a joint opposition rally in Mzuzu and National Aids Commission (NAC) funds abuse case.

The opposition parties also questioned the governments’ accountability regarding some senior DPP officials who supplied goods worth K4.9 billion to the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) for which they were paid upfront although Escom did not require the said goods

The opposition also wants government to address the shortage and pilferage of drugs in public hospitals, probe the former minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda, the Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) donation to DPP and the sale of the former wholly State-owned Malawi Savings Bank sold to FDH Financial Holdings Limited.

Mkamanga said the opposition parties were right.

“The issue of Chaponda needs a closer scrutiny and an explanation. It is the right of every citizen to know,” Mkamanga said.

The petition was made available to the media at a news conference which was addressed by leaders of eMCP, PP, Mafunde and New Labour Party,United Transformation Party, National Rainbow Coalition of Loveness Gondwe and People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) which was represented by its president Mark Katsonga Phiri