In the dying days of his presidency, Lazarus Chakwera has chosen to play a cynical political game by renaming key infrastructure after former leaders Bakili Muluzi, Arthur Peter Mutharika, and Joyce Banda.
This move, announced to take effect from 9 August 2025, is less about honouring national icons and more about a transparent attempt to manipulate Malawian voters as Chakwera faces imminent defeat at the polls.
The timing and nature of these so-called “honours” raise serious questions about the motives behind the gesture, exposing a government more interested in political theatrics than addressing the severe challenges facing ordinary Malawians.
Firstly, why now? Chakwera is only 30 days away from being booted out of office, and yet this sudden burst of generosity comes at a time when Malawians are demanding real solutions, not symbolic name changes. Malawi is grappling with skyrocketing commodity prices, with sugar prices doubling, fuel costs soaring, fertilizer and maize becoming luxuries many cannot afford.
Instead of focusing on these urgent issues, Chakwera has chosen to divert public attention by renaming an airport, a highway, and an interchange after former presidents. This is not the time to hand out honours—it is the time to correct the deepening economic mess.
Chakwera’s move reeks of desperation. It is a hollow attempt to curry favour with the electorate by invoking the legacies of past leaders who, despite their flaws, hold symbolic value in Malawi’s political landscape.
But this strategy is bound to fail. Malawians are not so easily fooled by superficial gestures when they face empty shelves and inflated prices every day. No amount of renaming infrastructure will bring down the cost of sugar, maize, fertilizer, or fuel.
These are the real measures of a government’s success or failure, and on those fronts, Chakwera’s administration has been found wanting.
If President Chakwera truly wanted to honour Malawians, he would focus on restoring the prices of essential commodities to the levels they were when he assumed office—when sugar was at K450, Ufresh at K50, 50kg of maize at K8,000, fertilizer at K15,000, and fuel at K600.
That would be a genuine tribute to the people who have borne the brunt of economic hardship during his tenure.
Instead, he chooses to immortalize political figures through infrastructure naming, hoping that voters will forget the daily struggles they endure.
This is a blatant misuse of presidential power, using state resources and symbolism to score political points in a desperate bid to cling to influence.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Malawi is at a crossroads, and citizens are crying out for leadership that prioritizes their welfare over political gamesmanship.
Chakwera’s honours are not a celebration of national unity or progress—they are a political stunt designed to distract and divide.
Moreover, this move risks further polarizing an already fractured nation.
The choice of figures to be honoured is itself politically charged, given the contentious histories and rivalries associated with each.
Instead of fostering reconciliation or national pride, these honours might deepen divisions and fuel resentment among different political factions and the public at large.
In condemning this ill-timed and politically motivated gesture, Malawians must see through the smoke and mirrors.
Chakwera’s honours will not change the realities on the ground. They will not stop inflation, reduce unemployment, or improve access to essential commodities.
These are the issues that should command the president’s attention, not symbolic name changes made with barely a month left in office.
The government’s role is to serve the people, not to engage in last-minute political theatre.
The focus should be on creating sustainable policies that ensure affordable food, fuel, and fertilizer, which directly impact the livelihoods of millions.
Chakwera’s failure to address these concerns throughout his term cannot be masked by superficial honours that do little to alleviate the nation’s suffering.
The renaming of Chileka International Airport, the Area 18 Interchange, and the Lilongwe Western Bypass Road is a desperate and cynical attempt by President Lazarus Chakwera to influence voters in his final days in office. It is a political ploy devoid of genuine respect for the people or the legacies of those honoured.
Malawians deserve better than empty gestures—they deserve leadership that prioritizes their economic security and well-being over political manipulation. This stunt will neither win votes nor solve Malawi’s pressing problems.
It is time for Chakwera to stop playing politics with the nation’s future and start delivering real solutions while he still can.
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