By Burnett Munthali
President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), delivered on Friday, February 14, 2025, was meant to be a reflection of his administration’s achievements, a beacon of hope for Malawians struggling under economic hardship, and a testament to his leadership. Instead, it became an exhibition of deception—a speech riddled with blatant falsehoods, exaggerations, and an outright disregard for the realities on the ground.
From the moment the President took the podium, his words painted a picture of a thriving nation, where infrastructure was being developed, the economy was recovering, and social services were improving. But beneath the surface of his glowing report lay a harsh truth—Malawi remains trapped in poverty, corruption, and unfulfilled promises.
One by one, the so-called achievements President Chakwera boasted about were dismantled with cold, hard facts. He claimed progress in every district, but the evidence tells a different story:
Likoma: No police houses have been built despite government assurances.
Phalombe: No hospital staff quarters have been constructed.
Nsanje: The alleged 28 security officers’ houses are nothing but a ghost project.
Thyolo & Phalombe: Not a single new police house stands.
Mzimba: The so-called Chizani Health Centre exists only in the President’s speech.
Kamphenda: Another imaginary health centre conjured up for applause.
Nyika Road: The government claimed to have completed 18 km of road, but only 1 km has been delivered.
NEEF Loans: While the President proudly announced that MK600 million had been disbursed, investigations reveal that only MK 150 million has actually reached beneficiaries.
The deceit did not stop there. The Mangochi Central Namiyasi Health Centre, which was highlighted as a major accomplishment, is nowhere to be found. It exists only in words, not in reality.
This is not a case of simple miscalculations or administrative errors. This is outright fraud—an orchestrated attempt to mislead Malawians into believing that their suffering is being addressed when, in truth, their plight is being ignored.
Who is responsible for this blatant misinformation? Did government ministers fabricate these figures to impress their boss? Did Principal Secretaries fail to verify these claims? Or has the entire government machinery become a propaganda tool, spinning lies while Malawians continue to struggle with poverty and unemployment?
If the President was unaware of these deceptions, then his leadership is weak. If he was aware and still chose to present them, then he has betrayed the nation.
A State of the Nation Address should be a moment of truth, a time when a leader speaks honestly about the challenges ahead and presents real solutions. Instead, President Chakwera used this platform to peddle illusions. The damage is done, and the only way to salvage his credibility is through immediate corrective action:
1) Reject the SONA as a document of shame. Parliament must not endorse a speech built on lies.
2) Launch an independent investigation to expose the officials responsible for fabricating these falsehoods.
3) Demand that the President return to Parliament within 14 days to issue a corrected version of the address—one grounded in truth.
Malawians are not blind. They see the struggling economy, the lack of jobs, the rising cost of living, and the corruption eating away at public funds. No amount of sugar-coated rhetoric can erase their daily suffering.
If President Chakwera truly cares about the people, he must purge his administration of those who deceived him and the nation. If he fails to do so, his legacy will be defined not by progress, but by betrayal.
Parliament must rise to the occasion. The people of Malawi deserve truth, not fiction. They deserve action, not excuses. And above all, they deserve a leader who respects them enough to tell them the truth.
The time for deception is over. The time for accountability is now.
