Opposition bites: Petitions govt on 17 points

• Demands accountability

Seven opposition parties, including the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), yesterday petitioned government on 17 points they believe positive action would enable the country to successfully implement public sector reforms and attain accountability and transparency.

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.

The parties said government lacks accountability and sends signals that some people, especially those in DPP, are above the law.

But DPP has dismissed the accusations, describing the opposition parties signatory to the petition as “a bunch of failed politicians” who are failing to serve the people they represent.

In his address during the news conference in Lilongwe, MCP president Lazarus Chakwera said Malawians expect the government to act on some issues but were shocked with the silence and inaction.

He said: “We as Malawians expect the former professor of law [President Peter Mutharika] to be tough against any form of criminality and to respect the Constitution he swore to defend.”

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.

Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde) president George Nnensa said it was high time government did something on the people arrested following the mayhem in Mzuzu.

He said: “We understand that people were arrested and then ordered to be released. From that time up to now, nothing on this case has happened, why? Where is the transparency?”

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.

On his part, People’s Party (PP) acting president Uladi Mussa said the current administration “lacks thinking capacity to come up with possible solutions to the stated problems” which he said is against the Constitution.

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.

However, the opposition parties said their joint reproach of government does not in any way mean they are forming an electoral alliance to oust DPP in the 2019 general elections.

In his remarks, New Labour Party president Sam Mpasu said their action was merely representing Malawians and not a faction of party supporters.

Reacting to the opposition sentiments, DPP spokesperson Francis Kasaila said it was funny for the opposition to start pointing fingers at DPP, saying they lack moral high ground.

He said: “These are failed politicians who have nothing to do. Tell them that they have failed and they should find a better strategy than going to the media. This will not win them votes in 2019.”

Kasaila, who is Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, challenged Chakwera, as leader of opposition in Parliament, to account for his wealth.

But political and social commentator Emily Mkamaga said the opposition parties were justified to hold the press briefing and present their concerns.

She said many Malawians are worried with what is happening and the lack of action from government on critical issues.

She said: “Most of the things you say they have raised are general and indeed people need answers. So, the parties were right. The issue of Chaponda needs a closer scrutiny and an explanation. It is the right of every citizen to know.”

Besides MCP, PP, Mafunde and New Labour Party, other parties represented were United Transformation Party of John Chisi (but was not present in person), National Rainbow Coalition of Loveness Gondwe and People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) which was represented by its president Mark Katsonga Phiri.