The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has written Vice President Saulos Chilima reminding him his promises to support needy public university students, fight corruption, and reform the public sector.
In a three-page letter dated 16th December 2021, addressed to Chilima, CDEDI has reminded the Vice President that over a thousand needy students are at the verge of withdrawing from the public universities due to lack of fees.
According to CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa, Chilima`s sudden silence on the fight against corruption is shocking when previously he took the lead as a whistleblower under immediate past Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.
He said: “Malawians are shocked with the sudden silence on the fight against corruption, when previously you took the lead as a whistleblower, exposing all the malpractices during the immediate past DPP regime.
“Malawians have been waiting with baited breath, to hear and see you zeroing in on the serious allegations made by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) former Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu, Alex Major, to the effect that top government and State House officials, including some cabinet ministers, have become instant billionaires.”
CDEDI has also challenged Chilima to make public the contents of the pact he signed publicly with President Chakwera at Kamuzu Institute for Sports in April 2020.
“Secondly, it is very evident that Malawians feel betrayed that President Chakwera commissioned a high-powered team, with you sir, as its team leader, to undertake a public sector review, whose results up to now only you and your boss know about.
“Needless to say that tax payers’ money was involved in the course of the review and that such a decision was made publicly, it is taking Malawians for granted to keep such findings under wraps,” said Namiwa.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the vice president Pilirani Phiri has confirmed receiving the CDEDI letter and that action will be taken at an appropriate time.
“I have seen the letter just now. I will take it to the attention of the VP and at an appropriate time there will be a reaction or comment,” Phiri said.
