Where is the opposition?
Malawi at the moment is a country that lacks leadership. It looks like a ship that has been abandoned by an incompetent captain who has no idea of the direction the ship needs to take to reach its destination.
From trying to buy fertiliser from a butchery, Bridgin Foundation, and the Commission of Inquiry into the arrest of ACB director Martha Chizuma, one common denominator in these and more, is that the leadership of this country is clueless on how to run the country. This government is in a self-destruct mode but taking with it the entire population.
With all this mess in the current government, the the casual approach to serious matters of national importance, the opposition was expected to rise to the occasion and provide oversight and indeed, pile pressure on the government to correct the mistakes.
Unfortunately, the opposition is just as messed up as the Tonse government.
The opposition is muted and has failed to offer any meaningful oversight over what is happening in government.
The Tonse government has been left to mess up without restraint because they know the dormant and even corrupt opposition will not raise a finger.
For a healthy and strong democracy, a healthy and strong opposition is as important as a strong government.
It helps keep the regime in power under control. It also prevents it from developing arrogant and autocratic deviations from the path of progress and democracy by questioning such steps, assessing their policies objectively, and also giving important inputs. The opposition acts as the system’s watchdog, ensuring that the interests of the ruling party are not detrimental to the interest of the public.
At present, Malawi is suffering from the most non-synced and unprepared opposition. Take the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), for instance, the party, and its structures are in disarray. Here is a party that lacks leadership. The former President Peter Mutharika who does not inspire confidence continues to cling to the party’s leadership. There is so much infighting in DPP which makes it difficult, and almost impossible, for the party to offer checks and balances to the Tonse government. Simply put, DPP is a circus.
It seems the opposition does not understand its role and why it is important that its voice is heard not just for the sake of opposing but to hold the government accountable. It is the duty of the opposition to support the ruling party for the acts that are in the interest of the nation while exercising vigil over the government’s performance.
With all the manifestations of the government’s poor performance, the opposition remains disturbingly quiet and disjointed. Malawi currently has a weak opposition which is incapable of questioning the government.
The opposition can, however, regroup. The first step for the opposition is to get rid of the old fogies. The younger lot needs to move up the ladder—change the face of the leaders. There is a lot of potential in youngsters who are pushed down and not allowed to shine.
What else can Peter Mutharika offer now? How about Bakili Muluzi who still wields so much power in the UDF? As for his son Atupele, he has run the course. Let others take a shot at leading the party.
The opposition should never underestimate its role. Malawi needs a strong opposition that should be able to question the government’s excesses such as the signing of dubious deals.
