Tag Archives: 2020-YEAR IN REVIEW

Malawi, Opinion, Politics

2020-Year in Review: Limping with President Chakwera’s Tonse admin on ambitious manifesto, clueless leadership

Maneno Chimulala 2 Comments

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-As the year 2020 began, few would have imagined that Malawians would be asked to queue again at different poling centres to choose the country’s president after doing the same ‘useless’ exercise in 2019. And again, completely no one would have imagined that the world would literally be thrown into the biggest crisis.

But anyway, the whimsical happened: Covid-19 ravaged (and it is still ravaging) the world economy by disrupting global chains of supply and international trade, and we Malawians, had a rare chance to go for fresh presidential election sanctioned by both the lower court and the Supreme Court following a nullification of 2019 election which was thrown into the bin on grounds of widespread of irregularities.

Chakwera’s coming to power was charged with much excitement. Everyone went wild, celebrating as if they had just been called by Jesus Christ, the only Son of Jehovah, to help Him prepare the Promised Land. In every district, even people of Neno (the very neglected district), chanted songs of joy as they could now envisage what Malawi would become with universal subsidy programme; free connection of water and electricity; processing passport at K14 000; Mobility soft loans for Junior Civil servants; Re-introduction of Housing allowances for all sidelined civil servants; creation of 1 million jobs within a year; Creation of corrupt free Government and many other mouthwatering promises well packed in the consolidated manifesto of Tonse Alliance—a combination 9 political parties led by MCP and UTM.

But as we are limping to the last flame of 2020, one would be tempted to ask whether the euphoria, that caught many Malawians off guard after fresh election results were announced, was necessitated by Tonse Alliance victory or the downfall of the former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its president Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM). I, for one, go for the latter.

People are not happy. The excitement has dwindled at supersonic speed. So many promises haven’t been fulfilled and there is no any sign that they will do it. The only solace to all Malawians who wanted change is that ‘DPP and APM are out of government’.

Before I go further, let’s appreciate the promises that propelled Chakwera and Chilima to the echelons of power as President and Vice President respectively and they are as follows: Rule of Law; Abolition of nepotism, Malawi is for all Malawians; Universally Subsdised farm inputs eg K4,495 50kg bag of fertilizer; Free water and electricity connections; Re-introduction of Housing allowances for all sidelined civil servants; Initial Minimum wage will be K50,000; Mobility soft loans for Junior Civil servants; Honoralia for non working elderly people; Extensive rural electrification across Malawi; Actual Re-introduction of JCE Exams; Restructuring of academic timetable for primary schools; Creation of 1 million jobs for the youth across Malawi; Vocational skills for the youth; Disbursement of business loans to the youth and the middle aged; Midzi transformation projects; Regular Promotions of all civil servants who have worked for 4 years and above annually.

The other promises well packed in their consolidated manifesto are Actual Abolition of Quota system in all Government ministries, departments and agencies including restrictions on self upgrading; Automatic Promotions for all Upgrading civil servants; Introduction of Risk allowances for all risk prone civil servants; Creation of corrupt free Govt; Abolition of Contributory Pension Scheme for all Civil servants; Inreased Tax Free Threshold to K100,000 for all civil servants; Passport at 14000 and. Importation of all used cars on duty free.

From the list, only four promises (though trivial) have been implemented. They promised reintroduction of JCE examinations and next year pupils will sit for it; Tax Free Threshold to K100,000 for all civil servants has been implemented and the minimum wage is K50 000 though no measures have been put in place to make sure that the private sector is complying with the set minimum wage.

On universal subsidy, the Tonse Alliance administration has not lived up to its promise as what we have witnessed is similar to the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party policy, only that the number of beneficiaries has increased.

“Madam Speaker, according to the census there are 4.2 million farm families. In the 2020/2021 financial year, Government will implement the Affordable Inputs Program where all the 4.2 million farm families will be provided with cheap farm inputs.

“This, Madam Speaker, is not far from being a universal subsidy program assuming an average family size of four people, which gives approximately 16.8 million people that will be covered under this program out of the 17.6 million people in Malawi. In this regard, Madam Speaker, there is no sampling of farm families to benefit from this program as every smallholder farmer is covered,” Finance Minster Mlusu announced, justifying crookedness of Chakwera and Chilima who appears to have been living in Mars when crafting their campaign promises.

As people are waiting to hear on how 1 million jobs will be created, President Chakwera and Chilima are just expressing commitment that the government will ably implement the promise. When you ask them the question “how”? The answer is kwantere kwantere. Running government is a serious business! Atcheya Bakili Muluzi was spot-on.

As for free connection of water and electricity and reduction of passport fees, let’s just pretend that we didn’t hear them mentioning that. Some frustrations can be avoided.

Their parable about the “Rule of Law” and corruption free government is being translated now: Only DPP official is corrupt and must be arrested but Minister Eisenhower Mkaka, who is on record to have been siphoning money from State House through CrossRoads Hotel is left scot free.

Reports indicated that the move which commenced on July 5, 2020 has seen State House paying a whopping US$ 300 an equivalent of MK240, 000 per night when the accepted value is MK75, 000 per night at the Hotel. On this one, the president is quite though there has been a chorus of disapproval from the general public. In Tonse Alliance, I tell you, they have coined another definition of ‘Rule of Law’.

Of course, the fact that all promises cannot be fulfilled within a year must dawn on us all, but utter cluelessness and sluggishness in making decision by the current leadership is what shrinks Malawians’ hope exponentially.

We have tried people with an assortment of degrees, which did not mirror their character, leadership and achievements. Now we have Reverend, a man who has spent so many years on the pulpit. Let’s hope his leadership will not plumb new depths.

Lifestyle, Opinion, Top News

2020-YEAR IN REVIEW: Malawi President Chakwera Tonse Admin scores 38%…Find out why?

Maravi Post Reporter 3 Comments

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawians on June 23, 2020, entrusted Tonse administration under President Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Chilima with power to govern the nation to the next five years.

With this power vested into the two, Malawians expect nothing more than total social-economic transformation regardless of political, tribe and regional attributes towards governing the nation.

The Tonse administered is however trapped into political, regional, nepotistic appointments and appeasement in running affairs of the state.

No wonder despite excellent performance among some civil servants in various government agencies, are being booted out or sacked because are deemed to belong to a particular tribe, region and political party.

Therefore, December 31, 2020, the Chakwera’s Tonse administration has clocked 186 days (six months) in office.  

The Maravi Post as a credible media house has an obligation to assess Chakwera Tonse administration performance without fear or favour.  

This assessment is based on promises made prior to June 23 presidential elections against what has been achieve coupled with hopes and inspiration Malawians had for the new leadership.

The Maravi Post editorial team had thorough consultations with readers on Chakwera Tonse administration performance.

The assessment has different views from the team with the conclusion that Chakwera is yet to fully inspire the nation with tangible ground work not lip services.

“As to Chakwera I give him 50% for fulfilling his ambitions of being President.  He is a fast learner so I expect he will do much better next year when he fires all his cronies like he did MCP long time members who would have challenged his leadership,” says Mr Elwin Mandowa, Maravi Post Managing (Editor) Director and Publisher.

Lloyd M’bwana, Maravi Post Country Manager (Editor) chipped in, “I give Chakwera 40% looking at the time was given the mandate to govern Malawi. Although many of his promises haven’t been tried in the past six months he still have more four years to achieve”.

“Chakwera Tonse administration deserves 25%.  One month is enough for a leader to inspire hope but this Tonse Alliance has started on slow pace and drawning from the perspective of servant leadership,” added Maneno Chimulala, Maravi Post Sub-Editor.

Angela Semu, Maravi Post Senior International and Investigative desk Reporter echoed, “I will give the leadership 12%. We’re mapping their campaign promises with what’s been done so far. Clearly it’s only 6 months out of 5 years but the beginning is always crucial and so far honestly we’re giving them benefit of a doubt while figuring out what’s next…Hope they’ll deliver, so far, nothing apart from the necessary arrests”.

“I put Chakwera at 25%, considering how he blotted his cabinet, how his leadership has failed on job creation as he is busy reinstating retired servants at the expense of equally capable technocrats within the civil service; how his administration is applying selective justice in pursuing corrupt cases and how is taking too much time to shed off some of the executive powers. All these are in line with his campaign manifesto which was a full book of unrealistic promises based political gimmick!” scores Richard Kayenda, Maravi Post National (local) news Analysis reporter.  

Therefore based on the entire Maravi Post editorial team assessment, Chakwera Tonse administration scores 38%.

Below are both achievements and failures:

Notable Chakwera’s Tonse administration achievements:

1. Embarked on improving education standards: President Chakwera has embarked on improved education standards. For instance recently he held a fundraising dinner with business community of this country at Sanjika Palace which managed to raise over MK1 billion as seed money to have high class secondary schools built in all districts totalling to 35 in number. These are schools that will add a great value to our education system and standards. It was in the promises that Chakwera will improve the education which has gone down for years now. If this might be seen as not enough, Chakwera and his administration has also made it sure that the following projects under education are fast tracked:

i. Construction of Teachers Training Colleges for primary school teachers in Rumphi, Mchinji and Chikwawa.

ii. Construction of science laboratories and Libraries in 29 sites across the country.

iii. Construction of a modern Mzuzu University Library which has been a nightmare for many years now.

iv. Expansion and Rehabilitation of two Lecture Theaters, two Library floors and Refurbishment of a 20 special needs resource center at Chancellor College.

v. Constitution of Teaching Complex and Administration Block for Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).

2. President Chakwera wants to eradicate malnutrition in Malawi: To make sure this happens he has recruited 76 Nutritionists across the country who will lead in efforts of eradicating all forms of malnutrition.

3. The launch of National Clean-up project: Realising that the health nation is the one living in clean environment, president Chakwera has launched a National Clean-up day to be observed on every Friday in the second week of the month. This is to make sure that the country becomes clean and smart to the attraction of foreign visitors as well as the owners (Malawians).

4. Changing policies regarding Government bank accounts: Having noted that numerous bank accounts held by the government are causing difficulties in managing them, and tracing the precision government cash position at any given point in time, president Lazarus Chakwera has changed the banking system to allow treasury only one account that will provide a consolidated cash position with a clear overview of all cash flows in and out of the accounts. President Chakwera wants to assure transparency and accountability to take course at every level.

5. Has increased the Constituency Development Fund (CDF): CDF has been increased from K30 million to MK40 million per year to ensure there are more developments taking place in all the current 193 constituencies across the country.  President Chakwera is serious in making sure the country is fully developed.

Within the 186 days of office president Lazarus Chakwera has gone in the process of strengthening accounting, budgeting, revenue and expenditure management, internal controls, and other areas of public finance by completing the review of the Public Finance Management Act of 2003 during the 2020/2021 fiscal year. This administration of president Chakwera has noted that strong internal controls and public finance management are keys to prudent use of public finances.

6. Making peace with former President Peter Mutharika by visiting him at a retirement home in the lakeshore district of Mangochi.

Some of notable broken hopes (failures) of Chackwera’s Tonse leadership

1. Neptistim, regionalism and tribalism public officers’ appointment including cabinet appointment (Family man)

2. Chakwera failed to fulfill his promise of giving us a report of expenses spent during his inauguration ceremony

3. Few women appointed as board of directors and his failure on Cross roads hotel gate

4. No three meals a day yet. We will only eat three meals a day when we harvest our crops next year while we are hungry now

5. Unprocedural appointment of acting commissioner general of MRA

6. No driving licences that don’t expire

7. No free water connection

8. No free electricity connection yet

9. Untimely high fuel hike

10. Bloated prices for renovating state house

11. Duplication of positions of advisers to the president when line ministers can do the same

12. Hiring of Tony Blair to slide the country back to colonialism.

13. Rampant tribalism, cronyism and regionalism in public appointments

14. Ministers such as Mia and Chilima inspect same projects wasting Government resources

15. No duty free week

16. Appeasement policy in public appointments

17.  Brian Banda, Presidential Press Secretary,  answering questions on behalf of the president on matters of national interest. People did not vote for Brian Banda and Malawians should not be taken for granted

18. Rampant cases of rape, defilement and suicide

19. No one million jobs yet

20. Retired people recalled from retirement when the youth are languishing jobless

21. Some ministers and those surrounding Chakwera have accumulated a lot of wealth all of a sudden.

22. Norman Chisale (former President Mutharika body guard was detained without trial within the prescribed period of time

23. Linda Kunje and Jean Mathanga (Malawi Electoral Commission Commissioners) who managed 23 June Elections that ushered Chakwera and Chilima into power have not been given employment letters up to date

24. Chakwera spends more time inspecting small projects that could have been monitored by line ministers thereby spending unnecessary expenditure

24. Manifesto change, from universal subsidy to 4.2 million beneficiaries

25. The elderly are not receiving their stipend as promised

26. People with small offences have not been released as promised

27. There was no amnesty period for thieves to surrender whatever they stole contrary to what Tonse Alliance government promised

28. Mismanagement of affordable input subsidy program such as beneficiaries were forced to pay something in order to buy farm inputs

29.  AIP contracts to deliver farm inputs were given to incompetent suppliers who are Tonse Alliance diehards

30. Vulnerable women sleeping out on empty stomach queuing for cheap fertilizer and some being sexually assaulted in the process

31. No cheap passports yet

32. Mzuzu stayed for over three days without electricity

33. High inflation

34. No roadmap on the construction of mega farms in each district

35. No roadmap on the construction of local factories in each district

36. No roadmap on the construction of smart cities

37. Nothing is said about bullet trains that will be commuting between Lilongwe and Blantyre

38. Indecisiveness. It takes time to make decisions. Chakwera does not seem to be in control of issues. Autopilot style of leadership for instance, chakwera has no say on mps double salary hike yet it is the Government that formulates policies.

39. A policeman demoted and transferred to a remote station for just reminding the president to fulfill his promises that police would not line up on the roads when the president is passing. Freedom of speech and expression muzzled. There are also threats by spies on social media for expressing one’s dissenting opinions. That is not democracy.

41. Homeland Security Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda incites people to take the law into their hands when they catch rape suspects. The Constitution which Chimwendo vowed clearly stipulates that a suspect is deemed innocent till proven guilty by a competent court of law. Chakwera did not even comment on this anomaly.

42. No reduction of Presidential powers yet

43. ACB is not independent yet and it is still being controlled by the state

44. No foreign expert has been hired to be director general of ACB contrary to what Chakwera promised

45. Bushiri was denied to conduct his cross overnight prayers at Bingu stadium due to COVID 19 while the funeral service of Bishop Ziyaye was allowed to break such preventive measures. Minibuses have been allowed to have more seating capacity breaking Covid 19 preventive measures. Double standards

46. Leakage of 2020 MSCE exams.

47. Firing of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters and replacing them withTonse Alliance die-hards

48. Selective justice in apprehending DPP suspects while shielding Tonse Alliance diehards suspects.

49. Raises fear file leadership style. Better we are in power former president Mutharika is in Mangochi (Bola tili mboma. Bola APM ali ku Mangochi). They justify corruption and thievery because DPP was doing the same. But people voted for change. No mindset change.

50. Violation of HI 5 tenets. No unity among Malawians. No servant leadership. No rule of law. Corruption is more rampant than before. No prospering together as the gap between the rich and the poor is further widening.

51. Melding with Malawi Defence Force (MDF) by appointing non qualified personnel but based on tribal, regional lines instead of merit.

Conclusion

President Chakwera must tread carefully with numerous concerns raised in the past six months to win back the trust the nation had in him on June 23, 2020 otherwise the next four years and halve will be a tall order to govern Malawi.