By Vincent Gunde
Social commentator Isaiah Emmanuel Sunganimoyo, has called on President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera to publicly declare that the information presented in his State of the Nations Address (SONA) made in Parliament on Friday the 14th February, 2025 was accurate.
Sunganimoyo has advised President Chakwera to consult with the relevant Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) to clarify any discrepancies regarding the status of completed and ongoing projects as presented in his SONA.
Speaking through a statement, Sunganimoyo has proposed that President Chakwera allocate a period of one week for each responsible Minister and MP on the listed projects to provide clarification to him and the public regarding the utilization of funds for specific projects mentioned in the SONA.
Sunganimoyo was reacting to a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) Colleen Zamba that following the presentation of the SONA, cabinet ministers will engage the public to provide updates on the many development projects completed and in progress in every district.
The statement says Ministers will provide clarifications both in and outside Parliament on the few queries that have been raised by few stakeholders in the media regarding the status of certain projects in the districts.
“The Government reaffirms its commitment in delivering on its promises and to ensuring that the public remains well-informed on all programmes, projects and initiatives being implemented in the continued quest of taking the Nation’s Development forward,” reads the statement in part.
Sunganimoyo said considering the predominantly negative response from stakeholders and the general public, he firmly believes it is unnecessary for ministers to engage the public to provide updates as clarifications efforts regarding President Chakwera’s address.
“In my opinion, the President’s advisors, cabinet and the Secretary to the President and Cabinet (SPC) are attempting to mislead the President once again with the intention of delaying the revelation of the truth about these projects,” he said.
Sunganimoyo said he strongly believe that the approach recommended by the President’s advisors is misguided and will not effectively address the concerns raised by stakeholders.
On his part, Political activist Bon Kalindo has described the strategy of Ministers engaging the public on the SONA as another waste of public resources claiming that Ministers will scatter in all districts drawing allowances which could have gone a long way towards addressing shortage of medicines in hospitals and hunger in Malawi.
