BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)–The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has taken a swipe at the new president of the Republic of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, for backtracking on different campaign promises soon after taking over the reins of power.
CDEDI, a non-partisan nongovernmental organization led by activist Selvester Namiwa, has bashed the Malawi leader through a press statement released on Monday, in which they have also asked the president to come clearly on his promise to trim presidential powers.
The organization says the Tonse Alliance government has started on a bad note in as far as fulfilling campaign promises is concerned, citing the cost of passports whose cost government says will not be reduced and the purchase of fertilizer whose procedure for identifying beneficiaries government says will be targeted as opposed to being universal.
On promise to trim presidential powers, CDEDI has urged the president come out very clearly and tell Malawians the steps he intends to take in order to ensure that parliament deliberates and passes legislations that would see the presidential powers trimmed.
However, CDEDI has commended Chakwera for his unwavering stance in tackling deep rooted corruption in the country, following his revelation recently that the country has lost over one trillion Malawi Kwacha, but has pleaded for respect of rights and dignity when investigating suspects.
“CDEDI would like to reiterate its position that government should ensure that those suspected to have committed various offences have their rights and dignity respected as they are being investigated. Above all, let the Tonse Alliance administration unveil its roadmap which should clearly spell out how the country is going to be bailed out from its current situation. It is also our appeal that the Tonse Alliance government should truthfully and honestly start fulfilling its campaign promises,” reads the statement partly.
In the run up to the much touted June 23 Fresh Presidential Election, Chakwera and Chilima, who were the flag carriers of the Tonse Alliance, made a myriad of campaign promises but none of them has been fulfilled 30 days down the line.
For instance, as the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was promising fertilizer subsidy for the poor only, Chilima and Chakwera promised universal subsidy only to change tune after securing the country’s plot number one.
The government is also mum on how 1 million jobs will be created, and there is no sign that they will increase the salaries of civil servants which they vehemently mocked as “machenje.”
