My Thought

Bravo, Mr. President, but…

It has been a week since President Lazarus Chakwera addressed the nation, focusing on the K6.2 billion Covid-19 funds investigative report. I watched the President’s address with bated breath, and I am sure I was not the only one. It was a make, or break moment for Chakwera and the entire Tonse Alliance administration.

I am glad that the President did not quite disappoint. He showed some strong will to deal with those involved in the mismanagement of the Covid-19 funds, and corruption in general

The arrests that have followed since the President’s address are what every Malawian who loves this country has been waiting for.

I say ‘Bravo Mr. President’ for taking this course, but I urge you to sustain this momentum and anger towards any form of abuse of public money. This is what I know would please every Malawian regardless of their political affiliation

One thing that has to be made clear, is that the anger that Malawians have towards the government and the leaders, is anger coming from a place of love, and not hatred.

People are frustrated that sometimes leaders fail to see things in plain sight and choose to pay a blind eye to what ought to be done.

Prosecuting everyone involved in corruption and abuse of public money isn’t rocket science. It is easy and the right thing to do.

It is, therefore, not enough to simply arrest people and let them spend a few days in the cooler and release them on some indefinite bail where they are forgotten and their cases die a natural death. There should be thorough prosecution of those who have been arrested to set an example to the rest—that corruption and abuse of public funds is and will never be tolerated.

It will also be a waste of everyone’s energy and time if the focus of these arrests is only on the small fish while you let the big fish swim away. I am glad Mr President that you very clear that there won’t be any sacred cows.

One can only hope and pray that you will live up to your word. Do not shield anyone even those close to you. Only then will Malawians believe there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.

It is inconceivable that people were eating expensive lunches using money meant to fight the pandemic while many Malawians that we have lost to the pandemic were literally gasping for air. How heartless is that?

It is only the sustained anger against abuse of office and corruption that will rid this country of people who think it is ok to create five-day field trips and spend only two hours but still pocket allowances for five days.

The next step is to shake up the civil service—this is the axis of corruption. True to your Tonse philosophy, Malawi is for us all and not a selected few.

It is because Malawi is for us all, and this is the only country some of us have, do not be surprised when we are passionately angry at how some of you our leaders are behaving.

We want to see a changed Malawi. Bravo, Mr. President, but now go for the big fish, too; you know which pond they swim in. Cast your net wide and get them. Only then will the spirits of those we lost to the pandemic, rest in peace.

Sellina Kainja

Online Editor | Social Media Expert | Earth Journalism Network Fellow | Media Trainer | Columnist

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