By Burnett Munthali
Social commentator Dr. Samuel Lwara has strongly condemned what he termed as “stupid politics” being played by the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) under President Lazarus Chakwera, accusing it of destroying Malawi’s long-standing friendly relations with neighboring countries, particularly Tanzania.
Lwara made the remarks in reaction to a recent government ban on the importation of agricultural produce from Tanzania, which has resulted in goods being stuck at the Songwe border.
He described the move as unwise and poorly calculated, calling on the MCP leadership to urgently convene an emergency meeting to reverse the decision immediately.
He expressed disappointment that a single minister, Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, is being allowed to jeopardize years of bilateral cooperation by announcing a blanket ban on agricultural imports from Tanzania.
Lwara, speaking through an audio clip circulating online, stated that the minister’s actions expose the weak leadership under President Chakwera, saying ministers are acting as they please without supervision.
He further criticized the government for imposing the ban despite Malawi lacking local capacity to produce key crops such as bananas, which have now disappeared from the country’s markets.
Lwara lamented that while Malawians suffer from the banana shortage, President Chakwera appears unbothered, instead spending his time meeting with groups like women, youth, and clergy at the State House—groups Lwara claims are politically motivated and incapable of contributing meaningfully to national development.
He accused the President of focusing on political survival, particularly on strategies to rig the upcoming September 16, 2025, elections, rather than addressing real economic and diplomatic issues.
Lwara also criticized the general attitude of Malawians, saying they often pretend all is well, while serious policy blunders go unchecked, including the ban which he claims has divided even the MCP, especially around the Mzimba Central constituency and Chakwera’s potential running mate.
He questioned how a single cabinet minister like Mumba could be allowed to implement such a controversial policy without public or intra-party scrutiny, suggesting that the situation required leadership with an economic background—mentioning former Reserve Bank Governor Dr. Dalitso Kabambe as an example.
According to Lwara, the MCP must immediately hold an emergency meeting, fire Vitumbiko Mumba, and conduct a full cabinet reshuffle to restore confidence and protect the name of President Chakwera from further embarrassment.
He expressed dismay that no one within MCP has publicly criticized Mumba for the decision, suggesting that the entire party is applauding a catastrophic move, and declaring Malawi a “sick nation” for tolerating such governance failures.
He concluded by warning that the damage caused by the ban has not only disrupted markets but has also shaken the nation’s diplomatic standing and economic well-being.
