Not an obsession with APM’s Government

Time and again the leadership of this country accuses Malawians for being obsessed with government. They say it is unfair to finger point government as the cause for all the challenges Malawi is facing. For goodness sake, who does the government have in mind that should shoulder the blame? After all, the DPP-led government under Peter Mutharika was given a mandate to rule. They are expected to have a viable plan to propel this country forward. In addition, they must have a plan before solving various challenges. Therefore, it goes without saying that coming up with excuses is a sign that the government is not getting it right.

It is sad that Malawi, which used to have a booming economy during Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda’s era, is slowly, but surely, becoming a laughing stock in the region. The neighbouring countries of Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania have gone far much ahead. One of the reasons Malawi is not making progress is the upside down priorities by government. The welfare of the economy seems not a priority.

How the President and the ruling party can remain in power becomes the main agenda. In short, non-stop politicking and buying support is what seem to matter much more. Meanwhile, it does not take a genius to know that achieving a strong economy earns a leader automatic support. With a strong economy, every citizen would live an acceptable life.

At the moment, there is nothing much to write home about the Malawi economy. It is very obvious that without donor aid to the National Budget, things are not adding up. The tough talking by government that it would produce a viable budget has achieved nothing. Worse still, the unstoppable weakening of the Malawi kwacha has just added fuel to the fire.

It cannot be said loud enough that ordinary Malawians are suffering while government cluelessly watches. Jobs are scarce since the government promised factories are still at wishful-thought stage. Current job seekers will soon be joined by school and college drop outs whose parents will not be able to afford the exorbitant fees recently introduced. Malawi was a country where getting a job was based on what one knows. Sadly, now it is based on who one knows.

While people are struggling to eke a living, robbers are loaming the country and striking at will. They get away with hard earned property. Malawians are helpless and hopeless.

Just imagine, with all the suffering going on, government has a torturous practice of holding dinners and dances to celebrate one thing or the other. Though some are for fundraising, it is the hair-raising ticket prices which obviously make the poor wonder how one can spend K100 000 for a dinner while most Malawians have no idea about how to get the next meal. The government should be sensitive to the poor majority.

On a number of occasions President Peter Mutharika has been saying that other people can come forward to offer solutions to the sick economy. Whether this is a genuine invitation is anybody’s guess. But experience has shown that the government has no time for suggestions from other people. Probably, they feel that using such suggestions is like allowing opposition parties to rule through the back door.

Several times the opposition in Parliament has come up with alternative solutions. Which ones, if any, has the government ever adopted? Instead, the opposition is simply reminded that it has nothing to offer and this is the reason they lost elections!

It must be emphasised that Malawians are not just obsessed with government. But where else can they run to? Government should stop making lame excuses, but take the bull by the horn