By Twink Jones Gadama
President Lazarus Chakwera’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) has been widely criticized as a “SONA full of lies,” with many describing it as unbecoming of a national leader and more suited for a constituency gathering.
The president’s speech, which was delivered amidst a backdrop of fuel shortages, hunger, and economic hardship, was expected to provide a clear roadmap for addressing the country’s challenges.
Instead, it was marred by what many have described as blatant lies, half-truths, and a lack of concrete solutions to the country’s problems.
One of the most contentious issues raised by the president was the government’s response to the hunger crisis. Chakwera claimed that his administration had secured significant funding from international partners to support the hunger relief efforts.
However, critics argue that the president’s figures do not add up and that the government’s response to the crisis has been woefully inadequate.
“The president’s speech was a masterclass in deception,” said Jona Mkandawire,MCP Member of Parliament for Rumphi west.”He claimed that the government had secured millions of dollars in funding, but he failed to provide any concrete evidence to support his claims. It’s clear that the president is more interested in spin doctoring than in providing real solutions to the country’s problems.”
Another issue that raised eyebrows was the president’s claim that the government was making progress in addressing the fuel shortages. Chakwera stated that the government had secured a $50 million revolving credit facility from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to support the importation of fuel.
However, critics argue that this is a short-term solution that does not address the underlying causes of the fuel shortages.
“The president’s solution to the fuel crisis is like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound,” said Ben Namukhoyo,an economic expert. “It may provide temporary relief, but it does not address the underlying issues that are causing the shortages in the first place. We need a more comprehensive solution that addresses the root causes of the problem, not just a quick fix that will only provide temporary relief.”
The president’s speech also came under fire for its lack of concrete solutions to the country’s economic challenges.
Chakwera promised to announce additional austerity measures in the mid-year budget review statement, but critics argue that this is not enough to address the country’s economic woes.
“The president’s speech was long on promises but short on concrete solutions,” said Rick Dzida a political and Social commentator.
“We need a clear and comprehensive plan to address the country’s economic challenges, not just a series of vague promises and half-baked solutions. The president needs to do better than this if he wants to inspire confidence in the economy,” He added.
In addition to the criticisms of the president’s speech, Chakwera has also faced embarrassment this week after being denied the opportunity to deliver a speech at the launch of the SKC Foundation.
The president’s office had reportedly requested that he be given a chance to speak at the event, but the request was turned down by the organizers.
The president’s embarrassing week has sparked widespread criticism and ridicule on social media, with many Malawians taking to X and Facebook to express their disappointment and frustration with the president’s performance.
“Chakwera’s SONA was a joke,” tweeted one Malawian. “He’s more interested in lying to us than in providing real solutions to our problems. #ChakweraMustGo”
Another Malawian wrote on Facebook, “I’m so disappointed in Chakwera’s leadership. He’s failed to deliver on his promises and his SONA was a complete disaster. We deserve better than this.”
The criticism of the president’s speech and his overall performance has sparked a heated debate about the state of the nation and the leadership of President Chakwera.
As the country continues to grapple with a range of challenges, including hunger, fuel shortages, and economic hardship, Malawians are demanding more from Reverend Dr Lazarus Chakwera.
As he was making his SONA,there was a noticeable disconnect between his verbal assertions and nonverbal cues.
His attempt to employ American slang, albeit in a contrived manner, only served to underscore the artificiality of his words.
Furthermore, his propensity for hyperbole merely highlighted the chasm between his rhetoric and the harsh realities on the ground.
The president’s body language, in particular, betrayed an aura of discomfort, suggesting that even he was unconvinced by the veracity of his own words.
This perception was reinforced by the visible unease exhibited by Members of Parliament seated on the government benches, who seemed to be squirming in their seats as the president delivered his address.
In essence, the president’s speech was a masterclass in duplicity, wherein his words and actions seemed to be engaged in a perverse waltz. His apparent desire to sugarcoat the truth, combined with his affected American accent, only served to erode his credibility further.
As he spoke, it was almost as if he wished for a means of escape from the ridicule and shame that his words had wrought.
The 2025 SONA will go down in history as one of the most disappointing and deceptive speeches ever delivered by a Malawian president. President Chakwera’s address was a masterclass in doublespeak, filled with empty promises, blatant lies, and a staggering lack of accountability.
The president’s attempt to sugarcoat the truth and manipulate public opinion has been widely condemned by Malawians from all walks of life. His failure to provide concrete solutions to the country’s pressing problems has been particularly galling, and his propensity for hyperbole has only served to further erode his credibility.
In short, the 2025 SONA was a catastrophic failure of leadership, and President Chakwera must take full responsibility for the damage he has done to the nation’s trust.
