By Burnett Munthali
On Friday, 14 February 2025, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Member of Parliament for Rumphi-West, Jona Mkandawire, openly challenged President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), accusing him of presenting false information regarding developments in his constituency.
Speaking after the President’s address in Parliament, Mkandawire expressed his deep frustration, stating that some of the projects Chakwera claimed to have been completed in Rumphi-West did not exist. “Whatever the President said today about developments in my constituency is a complete lie,” he asserted.
Mkandawire specifically pointed out that key projects, such as the construction of health centres and road infrastructure, remained unfinished or had not even started. He argued that government officials had misled the President into believing that work had been done when, in reality, the people of Rumphi-West continued to struggle with poor services.
One of the most glaring examples was Kamphenda Health Centre, which was reportedly presented to the President as fully constructed. However, images from the site showed an old, abandoned structure, with no medical staff, equipment, or operational services. “How can they say it is completed when there is nothing but an empty building?” Mkandawire questioned.
The MP’s bold stance raised concerns about the accuracy of government reports and the accountability of officials responsible for overseeing development projects. His remarks also fueled growing skepticism among Malawians, many of whom have long suspected that progress in rural areas was being exaggerated for political gain.
Mkandawire called upon the government to stop misleading the public and instead focus on ensuring that promised projects were actually completed. “Our people deserve the truth. It is time to stop making empty promises and start delivering real change,” he emphasized.
As his comments gained traction, many Rumphi-West residents echoed his sentiments, demanding transparency and urgent action from the authorities. It remained to be seen whether the government would respond to these allegations or continue to defend the claims made during the President’s address.
