‘Impeach presidents who give out gifts’

The National Salvation Front (Nasaf) has spoken against presidents who give out gifts, saying the leaders abuse State resources and target “their children” as beneficiaries. The party has since called for amendment of the law to allow for impeachment of such presidents after next year’s elections.

In a statement seen by The Nation signed by Nasaf president James Nyondo, the party says presidents in Malawi style themselves as parents who believe in giving gifts and contracts to “their children”, at the expense of State coffers. He added that such presidents should not be voted into office in next year’s elections.

“How does a president, who styles himself/herself as a good, benevolent, impartial and kind parent of the more than 15 million people and thousands of worthy causes decide on who and which cause to give gifts to without earning the dubious honour of being named “worst parent because of favouritism”.

“That is why these “terrible and partial parents” build vast patronage networks using State money which could be better spent on creating literally millions of jobs. These “wicked parents” strangle and stifle innovation and creativity by giving gifts and awarding dubious contracts to their few favoured “children.” The amazing thing is that they only become generous once they start presiding over our nation’s resources,” reads the statement.

Nyondo says such presidents leave the office with more money and assets than entire ministries.

“But their generosity to their “children” stops the day they leave office,” observes Nyondo, adding “Nasaf proposes that the giving out of gifts by the President or anyone with access to State resources be an impeachable offence. Presidents are employed by the citizens of Malawi. We the citizens are the bosses.”

Political analyst Blessings Chinsinga said on Sunday impeachment of a president is a serious matter, but proposed that it was high time the country developed a leadership code, which would spell out people’s expectations of the behaviour of the President and Cabinet ministers.

“Those who do not follow the code, would be booted out in the next elections,” said Chinsinga.

President Joyce Banda is known for giving gifts. The late Bingu wa Mutharika, who started off by condemning the handout culture, later embraced it fully. It was the first multiparty president Bakili Muluzi who started it all.

Commenting on assertions by Nyondo, UDF publicity secretary Ken Ndanga said there was no problem with presidents giving gifts as long as such gifts are not from State coffers and do not promote laziness among. “Personal gifts should come from personal funds,” he said.

But Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika said in an interview that the issue of coming up with a leadership code needs thorough debate after 2014.

“It depends on how and where one gives such gifts. They can be allowed when one is dealing with religious organisations, orphans and the elderly. But as it stands now, the issue needs debate on when Malawi has to come up with such a law or not,” said Mutharika.

People’s Party (PP) deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda has since argued that Nyondo has no clue about the suffering of Malawians because he does not stay in Malawi.

“PP has better things to answer than this rubbish,” said Msonda.