HRDC pins down President Chakwera for duping Malawians over failed promises; Threatens demos

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights group Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has once again accused President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse government for failing to implement promises made to Malawians.

The grouping has observed that Chakwera and Tonse administration have duped Malawians to be voted into power.

In a press statement made available to The Maravi Post on February 10, 2021 HRDC has therefore demanded roadmap on implementation of consolidated manifestos.

“HRDC and Malawians are shocked to see that these promises seem to have been abandoned altogether except the affordable fertilizer pledge.

“Malawians are now openly expressing their disillusionment and loss of hope as they feel duped, especially by the is total silence from the Alliance leaders, including Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima, who is also UTM President,” reads part of the statement.

Below is the full HRDC’s press statement:

PRESS STATEMENT STATEMENT ON THE STATUS OF THE TONSE ALLIANCE FEBRUARY 10, 2021:

The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) finds it imperative to comment on the status of the Tonse Alliance following numerous
concerns and queries from the public regarding the loss of direction in the
leadership of the country.

It should be recalled that the current government, led by the Malawi Congress
Party (MCP), campaigned and won the June 23, 2020 Fresh Presidential Elections on the Tonse Alliance philosophy.

The alliance campaigned and won based on a merged blueprint that consolidated some of the promises from the manifestos of all the alliance partners.

However, eight months down the line, HRDC and Malawians
are saddened that little effort is being made to implement most of the merged
campaign promises as follows;

1.One million jobs for the youth

2.MK75 billion loans for the youth and women

3.Free water and electricity connection

4.Duty free week

5.Reduction of Passport Fees

6.Mega farms in all the regions of the country

7.Fighting corruption

8.Clearing the rubble in government

9.Immediate arrest of those who plundered public coffers or offer an
amnesty for them to return the money.

HRDC and Malawians are shocked to see that these promises seem to have been abandoned altogether except the affordable fertilizer pledge.Malawians are now openly expressing their disillusionment and loss of hope as they feel duped, especially by the is total silence from the Alliance leaders, including Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima, who is also UTM President.This silence is making HRDC and Malawians wonder whether the Tonse Alliance is still intact or it is now only MCP that is governing. It is for this reason that HRDC demands the following;

That Tonse Alliance leaders jointly address Malawians on the state of
the Alliance in reference to the joint and consolidated manifesto that
Malawians voted for.

That Tonse Alliance leaders give a clear timeline to Malawians how
the merged campaign promises will be implemented.

That government institutes a clear, professional and independent
investigations to verify how the MK6.2 billion Covid-19 funds under
Dodma – which is under the Office of the President and Cabinet – were
disbursed and used. Receiving reports alone will not give a complete
picture of the whole situation.

That Tonse Alliance leaders adhere to the agreement they signed
which propelled them to victory.

That this government takes a serious review of their pace of service
delivery to Malawians in the eight months that they have been in
power.

Meanwhile, it is more disturbing that while the nation awaits with abated breath for investigations on the alleged State House/Crossroads scam, we have information that high profile government authorities are allegedly threatening MERA and NOCMA officials to award a contract to their preferred suppliers (two) whose cost will be more than US$50 million more. We, thus demand the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ABC) to quickly move in and stop the unprocedural award to these two companies.

We also demand that the Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet should stop being the board chairman for NOCMA, EGENCO, and Power Market Limited (PML) to avoid conflict of interest.

These are some of things that derail commitment to good governance and
accountability which President Chakwera should have stepped in and stopped as soon as he settled into Kamuzu Palace.

But just like the President accepted to be Chancellor of the University of Malawi on the pretext that laws are yet to be changed, we feel Dr Chakwera is not angry enough to lead this country.

The President seems NOT to be transformative after all.

We thus, urge the President to walk the talk in clearing the rubble that he has
repeatedly promised Malawians that he would clear. Apart from notable progress at MANEB, your directive to clear the rubble has not been largely adhered to.

For instance, the rubble has not been cleared at the Malawi Electoral Commission despite the courts finding several officers at fault. The rubble has not been cleared at NOCMA where you said you supported public concerns that the acting CEO was a “known operative of the Democratic Progressive Party.”

Mr. President, Malawians are already losing hope and openly expressing
dissatisfaction with this government and unless we see genuine change and drastic steps to implement campaign promises, we will soon start to mobilise Malawians to demand what they deserve and what they were promised and signed for.
Gift Trapence Luke Tembo, National Chairperson National Coordinator,
Happy Mhango – (Regional Chair North), Madalitso Banda – (Regional Chair East), Masauko Thawe – (Regional Chair South), Billy Mayaya – (Regional Chair Centre)