We can’t wait for 2063
√Malawians caught between hard rock–Good governance
With single year to the next general elections slated for September 2025, political parties are already getting busier each passing day trying to be sensible to Malawians while appealing for votes.
newly elected Publicity Secretary of Democratic Progressive Party–DPP, Shadric Namalomba said that Malawians cannot wait for 2063 for the country to be wealthy and self-reliant.
He argued within 8-10 years, the country could achieve middle income economy if it ended the prevailing endemic corruption.
Namalomba said DPP was ready to give Malawians a new hope; saying it has a plan in place to transform the country again.
Again, Namalomba described Malawi as a sinking titanic ship with no captain to provide necessary direction.
He claimed DPP would end persistent forex shortages and fertilizer woes, among others, in the first 100 days in office.
He said Peter Mutharika who is DPP President is ready to join hands with Malawians in troubled times in enhancing various developments and rebuilding the nation.
He blatantly predicted that Mutharika and DPP would win the presidential with a 71 percent landslide.
In a separate interview, Political Analysts, Latim Matenje argued the early election campaigns are due to the Chakwera administration’s failure to manage state affairs citing bad economy, deep-rooted corruption, high cost of living and failure to fulfill alot of campaign promises including reduction of presidential powers.
Governance expert, Wonderful Mkhutche believes Malawians are currently trapped between a hard rock and a hard place; arguing they are faced with an underperforming government and a weak opposition.
Mkhutche doubts if the DPP is any better option. “The problem is DPP looking at itself as an alternative. It is not looking at its grave failures when it was in power. Malawians are between a rock and a hard place. Even if Tonse Alliance leaves power, there is no viable option as of now,” he said.
However, leader for Economic Freedom Movement, Joseph Peshi thinks Chakwera must address his indecisiveness on critical issues of national interest.
Peshi further doubts if presidential advisors are helping the president and just enriching themselves for doing nothing at the expense of the hard-earned taxes.
In June this year, University of Malawi Associate Professor of Political Science, Boniface Dulani said the 2025 polls would be choiceless elections.
He said: “In 2025, it could be an election which I could describe as choice-less election because you have people who are frustrated and feel let down by the Tonse Alliance, but might also be remembering that the DPP is not much of an option.
“Either people will stay away from the vote or that opens room for a third political party that could be a major player, one that doesn’t have the baggage of the Tonse Alliance or DPP. But, whichever case, there is higher likelihood that the 2025 polls will go into second round.”
In his remarks, Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu said these calls smack of some desperation on the part of the former leadership.
“Allow me not to react to that..,” he said.
Chakwera, then opposition leader, defeated Mutharika in a court sanctioned presidential poll in June 2020 having amassed 58.57 percent of the votes cast.
Malawi goes for another general election in September 2025.
