Mtambo hits at government, opposition

 Citizens for Transformation leader Timothy Mtambo has taken a swipe at President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance administration for what he claimed is failure to improve Malawi’s socio- economic status amid a weak opposition.

In a statement titled ‘A Call to Action’ read at a media briefing in Lilongwe yesterday, he said the administration has failed to live up to promises made before the June 23 2020 Fresh Presidential Election of giving Malawians a better and prosperous life.

Mtambo, who before the fresh Pesidential election led nationwide demonstrations against former Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson Jane Ansah to resign for allegedly presiding over a flawed election in 2019, said Malawians have lost hope in the current administration.

He said: “It is not a secret that while the current administration has done better in other areas, our country is still facing many economic challenges which Malawians thought could become history upon ushering in the new administration.

“We are still in abject poverty and commodity prices are rising every day. The gap between the rich and the poor is increasing and sluggish economic growth is partly due to indecisive economic and political leadership.

Mtambo, who served as Minister of National Unity in Chakwera’s first Cabinet, claimed that he has never ceased to be an activist.

He alleged that while serving as Cabinet minister, there were many things he disagreed with, but did not elaborate.

The former Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson said nothing has changed since voting for change in 2020, citing corruption and nepotism as still rampant.

Besides, he said access to basic commodities still remains a challenge for a majority of Malawians, with some hardly affording one meal in a day.

“The impact of the recent devaluation cannot be overemphasized and corruption continues to impair our institutions. While we understand the effects of natural disasters, the Russia and Ukraine war, the current challenges require a collective and pragmatic approach.

“For sure, this is not the change we all aspired for,” he said.

Further, Mtambo said despite not holding any demonstrations, people have not hung their boots and they can go back to the streets at any point.

He was not explicit in saying whether he would be mobilising mass demonstrations, but pointed out that in the foregoing, his movement would be unveiling a political and economic strategy.

Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa was not available for comment.

Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu did not pick up our phone calls on numerous attempts.

But in June last year, he defended the Tonse Alliance administration, claiming it has done a lot to improve the livelihoods of Malawians.

Kunkuyu cited the Affordable Inputs Programme, social cash transfers, youth loans, development of transport infrastructure and ending electricity blackouts.

In 2021 at the opening of the Economics Association of Malawi Annual Lakeshore Conference in Mangochi, Chakwera admitted that the country is in an economic crisis.

But he said the painful prescriptions to cure the economy give hope of recovery