The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is demanding President Lazarus Chakwera to immediately step down for confessing publicly to Malawians that he made false campaign promises just to be voted into the high office of the presidency.
CDEDI and indeed all well-meaning Malawians had a shock of their lives on Sunday night, 17th of January 2021 when President Chakwera, during his address to the nation, shamelessly told Malawians that the Tonse Alliance campaign promises were made on assumptions and conditions that no longer hold. This is highly insensitive, careless, irresponsible and a futile attempt to dupe Malawians.
The country, and indeed all the voters may recall that the court sanctioned Fresh Presidential Elections (FPE) were held when already the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Malawi in April, 2020. Infact one of the reasons the Tonse Alliance was ushered into government was a promise they made to contain the further spread of the pandemic and cushion the poor whom they claimed were left out in the response by the previous regime.
Furthermore, during the court hearing sessions for the Presidential Elections Case in Lilongwe, Dr. Chakwera and Dr. Chilima were both seen wearing face masks, and indication that they were aware of the pandemic. Chakwera’s sentiments on Sunday night, 17th January 2021 clearly vindicate CDEDI’s earlier stand that Malawians were on June 23, 2020 sold a dummy as barely six months in office, Dr. Chakwera has backtracked on almost all his flagship campaign promises, including that of ensuring that the poor were protected from the shocks of the strict COVID-19 preventive measures by way of providing them with safety nets.
On the other hand, this is a clear testimony that Dr. Chakwera and his Tonse Alliance partners are liars and can no longer be trusted with the responsibility to make decisions on behalf of the 18 million plus Malawians, since they have shamelessly proven that they cannot be taken for their word.
This is contrary to section 12 of the Republican Constitution that emphasizes on trust between those in authority and those that are being governed.
Breach of trust is enough reason for the President to stepdown, with immediate effect. On his decree to close markets by 5pm, CDEDI is reminding the President to get back to what he said seven months ago to the people of Mbayani, Zorozoro, Ntandire and Ndirande, just to mention but a few, that Malawi is still a hand to mouth economy where the majority poor survive on less than K500 a day where they have to hustle and rush back home in the evening to buy food from the nearest markets.
And due to fuel price adjustments, minibus operators have hiked minibus fares, and this has forced a lot of people, including the working class, to start walking to and from their places of work. These people will find the markets closed by the time they reach home in the evening.
Dr. Chakwera has, therefore, literally signed death certificates of poor Malawians whose daily survival depends on these markets. This is the more reason CDEDI is demanding Dr. Chakwera’s resignation with immediate effect because he has proven to the nation that he indeed lied since he is clueless about running government.
CDEDI and indeed all well-meaning Malawians were puzzled when the President declared a state of disaster on 12th January 2021 in line with the rising cases of the COVID-19.
Ironically, the President extended a bowel to the donor community, begging for material and financial assistance, and yet just a day prior to the declaration, Dr. Chakwera approved a payment of over 7 Billion Malawi Kwacha to his lawyers and those of the Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima who represented them in the Presidential Elections Case.
If the President were serious about the pandemic, he surely would’ve halted this hefty payment, and would’ve channeled these funds towards the fight against the pandemic.
If Dr. Chakwera were indeed serious about fighting the pandemic, he would’ve immediately reshuffled and trimmed his cabinet as well as his contingent of advisors in order to save money for this cause.
But now we know that we have a President who has his priorities upside down, and this is the reason why CDEDI is demanding Dr. Chakwera’s immediate resignation.
Malawians will no longer be taken for granted because they were promised cushioning measures and they want then now.
But we know that the President has no clue whatsoever, on how these cushioning measures could be brought about, hence CDEDI call that Dr. Chakwera should pave the way for someone who is fit to make the right decisions that can save this country from shame and disaster which is now looming.
It is for these above stated reasons, and more that have compelled CDEDI in collaboration with the Blantyre Small Scale Business Operators, the Minibus Drivers and Conductors Association, the Kabanza operators, and indeed all well-meaning Malawians to proceed with the peaceful demonstrations in Blantyre that will take place tomorrow, Tuesday 19th January, 2021, as earlier planned.
The demonstrations got a nod from the city authorities but were postponed in order to comply and respect President Chakwera’s decree that the country had to observe three days of mourning from Tuesday, 12th January to Thursday, 14th January in respect of the departed souls of Hon. Belekanyama, who was the Minister of Local Government, and Hon. Sidik Mia who was the Minister of Transport.
We are extending this call for peaceful demonstrations in all the cities and towns against Dr. Chakwera who has proven to the nation that he cannot be trusted, and therefore should immediately resign.
SYLVESTER NAMIWA
CDEDI EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
He should really resign together with his vice President Dr Saulos Claus Chilima who is silent right now to say the fact these guys they are selfish because you can not promise someone in order to vote for you then after winning you come back to the same person who voted for you telling him/her that I will not fulfill my promices what kind of leadership is this. Please don’t take Malawians as slaves we are humans we have to be respected too despite that you are our leader but you have to respect us, we voted for you and if you know that you will manage to rule the country resign. Now this message is going to Chilima you have humiliated yourself you will no longer trusted now you are quiet do you mean you have nothing to say? No you have many to say but you are quiet why please think of poor Malawians you raised prices of fuel, cooking oil in short we can say everything except fertilizer we have known your trick you raised prices everything and you use that money to buy fertilizers you guys you are not serious.