Nankhumwa responds to Sona amid DPP chaos

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) parliamentarians protested outside Parliament yesterday as Mulanje Central legislator Kondwani Nankhumwa, standing as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, responded to the State of the Nation Address (Sona).

As this was unfolding inside the House, 24 DPP legislators who were suspended by the Speaker of National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara camped outside Parliament to listen to Mary Navicha, who was elected as Leader of Opposition by the DPP last week, deliver her response to the Sona.

The DPP MPs said they could not accept to listen to Nankhumwa’s response to the Sona as he no longer represents the opposition voice in Parliament as he was expelled from the party last month.

In his response to the Sona, Nankhumwa reminded legislators of their solemn duty as representatives of Malawians.

“I am reminded that we gather here not as mere political adversaries, but as stewards of the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of every Malawian citizen. This is why our primary loyalty should be to Malawians,” he said.

Among several issues, Nankhumwa urged government to translate its rhetoric into tangible action, saying Malawians are suffering due to the current economic challenges.

He said: “This Sona outlined a narrative of progress and promise, yet it is incumbent upon us, the opposition, to scrutinize beyond the rhetoric and assess the true state of our nation.

“For in the shadows of every achievement lie the echoes of unmet expectations, the reverberations of unaddressed grievances, and the silent struggles of those still waiting for the fruits of governance to reach their doorsteps.”

Nankhumwa urged the government to stop dealing with dobadobas (middlemen) in government contracts as the nation is losing huge sums of funds in such dealings.

On the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), he said the programme has failed due to corruption, its unsustainable design and expense.

“Every year Malawians are suffering from hunger despite huge investments in AIP. We need a change in policy in line with the current changing climatic condition,” he said.

Nankhumwa took time to condemn the government’s move to relocate all government departments to Lilongwe from Blantyre.

He said this is a bad move as it will paralyse Blantyre and lead to congestion of Lilongwe as people will move to the capital city.

He said: “When Kamuzu Banda moved the capital city from Zomba to Lilongwe, Zomba suffered immensely. Its economy dwindled and people’s livelihoods in Zomba were greatly affected.”

Nankhumwa further reiterated that  government has failed to fulfil its promises such as job creation, food security and growing the economy.

Taking his turn, United Democratic Party (UDF) Zomba Ntonya legislator Nedson Poya started by condemning the “indiscipline in the House”.

He then went on to say the Sona was well delivered, but cautioned that beautiful speeches are nothing if the words do not translate to action that trickles down to people.

Said Poya: “Since assuming office, President Chakwera has emphasised his government’s accomplishments in advancing the economy; notably the pursuit of foreign investments, growth in vital industries like agriculture and renewable energy, and infrastructure upgrades. These initiatives indeed show a dedication to fostering socioeconomic growth and promoting Malawi as a desirable location for businesses.

“However, to guarantee that these programmes are inclusive and long-lasting, the President must start offering specific plans that address income disparities and generate employment opportunities for all societal groups.”

He urged government to invest in technical know-how, bolster governance, adopt sustainable mining methods, involve local communities, update the legal and regulatory system, and diversify its economy to promote economic growth and open up job opportunities.

Governance experts have, however, described what happened at Parliament yesterday as a crisis, unfortunate and demonstrates lack of seriousness.

In separate interviews, political analysts Victor Chipofya and Chrispin Mphande said the Speaker should have handled the situation much better.

On his part, Chipofya said Nankhumwa’s response would not carry any weight as he does not have a constituency as Leader of Opposition.

Last Friday, President Lazarus Chakwera delivered his fourth Sona since taking over power in 2020 which has been rated highly by analysts as one that inspires confidence and hope.