UN urges Malawi to stop politicking, address challenges

United Nations (UN) has advised Malawi that its development challenges are too great to afford wasting time on trivia, saying the country should stop “politicking between the polls” and instead focus on working together to build the nation.

“When one follows the discussions and media reports, one sometimes wonders if Malawi is still in election campaign mode. This is not helpful in moving the country forward,” said resident coordinator Mia Seppo said this in Lilongwe on Friday during commemoration of the International Day of Peace.

Seppo said Malawi political leaders should stop behaving as if “it is still elections campaign period.”

“The period between elections should be when every Malawian rallies around the flag of Malawi and join forces in partnerships for peace and development. Malawi cannot afford to lose time to politicking between the polls,” said Seppo at the event which Malawi Vice-President Saulos Chilima graced as guest of honour.

“The development challenges we need to tackle are too great to waste time and everyone has a constructive role to fulfil,” she added.

The UN envoy said the opposition has a key role in holding government to account.

“Whether inside or outside of government, political parties perform the function of transforming aggregated social interests into public policy in a constructive manner. Whether in opposition or in power, the voice and will of Malawians that parties represent is, I believe, a call for moving the country forward.

“Being in opposition does not always mean opposing all initiatives of government,” she said.

The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Jessie Kabwila has blames the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of “politicising everything”.