Tembo takes swipe at DPP, says PP listening government
Known for his outright dislike for ruling parties, veteran politician John Tembo, who is leader of the opposition in parliament, has said the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DDP) of late president Bingu wa Mutharika, refused to listen to the voice of reason.
He instead hailed the current ruling People’s Party of President Joyce Banda as a “listening party committed to restore the rule of law and ensure freedom for its people”.
Member of Parliament for Dedza South, Tembo wondered who the DPP government was listening to, as government officials and its associates jumped from one plane onto another, trying to paint a picture the economic, political, and social arena was intact and favourable to Malawians and the entire globe.
Instead, he said: “We have a government that can allow anyone regardless of political affiliation can be covered by the public broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation”.
He said this in Parliament when he responded to the state of the nation delivered by President Joyce Banda Friday last week.
“The new regime wants to treat people of this country on the same basis without promoting one tribe or clan above others,” said Tembo.
The leader of opposition commended the presidential speech which he said touched on a number of issues that went wrong in the previous regime.
“While Malawians were queuing for fuel, queuing for a packet of sugar, and looking for tablets in hospitals, the privileged few were busy jumping from one conference to the other bragging that the country’s economy was in right on track,” said Tembo.
In her address , President Banda called “upon all Malawians of all walks of life; rich or poor, urban or rural, educated not educated, employed and unemployed, boys and girls, sick and healthy, small business and big business, friends and enemies, vendors and financiers, Lomwes, Tumbukas, Chewas, Senas, Ngonis, Yaos, all of you, come, come and join me in efforts to lead and develop this country.”
“Let us unlock our skills. Let us unlock our spirits. Let unlock our ability to be free and free we shall be indeed,” said Banda who in her first month in office has been busy undoing policies which drove a wedge between the southern African country and Western donors.
Parliament starts deliberations on Monday and a new budget will be presented later in the week. Eleven bills will be tabled during the session.
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