LThe opposition Democratic Progressive Party vice-president for Eastern Region Bright Msaka on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 criticised President Lazarus Chakwera for his absence in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Freddy that has hit hard Malawi’s southern region.
The Cyclone has so far killed 99 people and destroyed infrastructure worth millions of Kwacha while displacing over 10, 000 households.
Chakwera travelled to Qatar for the United Nations 5th Conference of Least Developed Countries which ended on March 10, 2023.
Instead, Chakwera proceeded to South Africa where he “carried out a number of bilateral engagements, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This is despite reports that the nation was in solace state of national disaster.
This also prompted Msaka wondering why Chakwera delayed to return home when the meeting ended five days ago.
Addressing the news conference at his residence at Area 43 in the capital Lilongwe, DPP presidential aspirant described Chakwera’s conduct as the “peak” of irresponsibility.
Msaka further criticised the government for its failure to evacuate people in flood prone areas despite the cyclone alert coming 14 days earlier.
“Chakwera is head of state who also supposed to be with the people by cutting his trip back home as soon as possible. But instead, he went ahead with meetings that are not even on agenda of South Africa government.
“What kind of leader is Chakwera absent when his people are suffering. We needed here as soon as possible” queried Msaka.
He said evacuations would have helped to save a lot of lives.
Meanwhile, Msaka has said he is traveling to Blantyre to render his support to victims.
He has also pledged to donate some items to alleviate their victims suffering.
Chakwera is expected to return home on Tuesday afternoon, March 14 through Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) as planned.
