By Burnett Munthali
President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has once again stood before the nation, pledging unwavering support to the tourism and creative industries as pillars of Malawi’s development strategy.
But Malawians have heard these promises before — loud, eloquent, and ultimately hollow.
For a president who has failed to address the core challenges plaguing the creative sector, these words ring as nothing more than political poetry rehearsed to distract from reality.
Since taking office, the creative economy has continued to suffer under this administration’s negligence, marked by chronic underfunding, lack of policy direction, and empty declarations.
Artists, musicians, and filmmakers continue to struggle without proper government incentives, infrastructure, or protection from exploitation.
The so-called support to tourism has not gone beyond slogans and photo ops, while critical sites remain undeveloped and poorly marketed on the international stage.
Instead of investing in tangible solutions, the Chakwera administration has used the creative sector as a convenient talking point for global appearances, but with little to show at home.
Meanwhile, young Malawians with talent and ambition are forced to either abandon their dreams or look beyond the country’s borders for recognition and income.
This is not the hallmark of a government that values its creatives — it is the signature of a leadership that exploits hope for political mileage.
If President Chakwera truly believed in the potential of the creative economy, he would have implemented national grants, tax breaks for artists, and constructed proper art and film centers across the country.
If tourism was truly a priority, we would see strategic public-private partnerships, streamlined visa processes, and real investment in hospitality infrastructure.
But instead, we are given press statements and conference speeches — a show of commitment without any real commitment.
It is time Malawians looked past flowery speeches and asked the hard question: where is the action?
President Chakwera’s latest pledge is not a bold vision — it is a tired echo of past rhetoric that has failed to deliver.
Until we see real policy shifts, budget allocations, and grassroots support systems, the creative and tourism sectors will remain neglected promises buried beneath political propaganda.
Malawi does not need more pledges. It needs performance.
