UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe yesterday made fun of President Lazarus Chakwera’s name during his whistle-stop tour in Lilongwe, sarcastically stating that Malawians are finding it hard to survive due to high cost of living.
In his address, the former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor asked the audience to respond “Chakwera” every time he mentioned some products whose prices have gone up. The word ‘Chakwera’ in Chichewa means going up.
“Ndikatchula chinthu, inu muziti Chakwera [when I mention a commodity you must say Chakwera/it has gone up,” he said.
Kabambe mentioned one product after another, including food that have gone up due to what he described as poor economic management.
He said: “Mavuto awa abwera chifukwa chani? Chifukwa tili ndi dalaivala osatha kuyendetsa [We are in this situation because we have handed over the car to someone who does not know how to drive].”
Apart from Chinsapo, Kabambe visited Mgona, Areas 36 and 24 where the message was almost the same; to decampaign the current administration by highlighting economic challenges facing this country.
Random interviews with some members of the audience drew mixed views with some literally looking at Kabambe as a possible leader who can do better than the current and previous leaders.
But some remained sceptical, branding his statements as another ‘sweet talk’ to win votes.
The whistle-stop, yesterday, took place exactly six months after UTM founding president and the country’s Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others died in a plane crash in Chikangawa on June 10. During the tour Kabambe asked the crowds to observe a minute of silence in honour of Chilima.
