Concerned citizens reignite Chakwera’s resignation demands

A grouping of concerned citizens led by activist Bon Kalindo on Friday demonstrated in Mulanje, demanding President Lazarus Chakwera’s resignation for allegedly failing to govern the country.

This is not the first time for the group to hold protests and make such demands. In the previous year, similar demonstrations and demands were made in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe.

The concerned citizens, who submitted their petition to the district commissioner’s (DC) office, cited discrepancies in the implementation of the 2022/23 Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), rising cost of living, alleged corruption in the civil service and failure by Chakwera to fulfil some of his campaign promises.

Kalindo said failure by the Tonse Alliance administration to address the challenges Malawians continue to face, inspires no hope among the citizenry.

He said: “We want the President to resign because he has failed to govern the country. There are many challenges Malawians are facing, for example, the rising cost of living.

“But the President seems not to show much interest in addressing such challenges.”

In the petition, the grouping also asked that Malawi’s donors such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to freeze aid due to alleged rampant corruption in the top echelons of the public service.

While calling for a federal system of government, Kalindo said failure by Chakwera to resign will prompt the grouping to continue holding such demonstrations.

Speaking after receiving the petition, Mulanje DC David Gondwe assured the grouping that the petition would be delivered to the relevant authorities.

Notable people that joined the demonstrations included Prophet David Mbewe and activists Billy Banda and Pemphero Mvula.

But in previous interview responses to such demands, Minister of Information and Digitisation Gospel Kazako, who is also the official government spokesperson, said those making such demands must focus on one thing.

According to him, quarters calling for Chakwera’s resignation send different signals as such, lose focus.

As regards the issue of federalism, Kazako has on numerous occasions said those making such calls are within their rights.

“Section 89 of the Constitution gives power to the State President to decide to call for a referendum. So far, we only had one in 1993 when Malawians were asked to choose a multiparty system of government or not. We take it that those agitating for federalism are within their rights to express their view on a particular matter,” he said.