President Lazarus Chakwera says the country needs to undertake serious reforms to fix the broken governance system if Malawi is to actualise its development ambitions.
In his State of Nation Address (SONA) delivered at the opening of the 2022/2023 budget meeting of parliament, Chakwera said to achieve his administration’s three key development priorities namely; wealth creation, Job creation and food security, there is need to factor in an overhaul process.
“So for us to build a new Malawi, we need both an overhaul of our dysfunctional systems and an undertaking of good programmes by good citizens within them.
“Doing both at the same time is no easy task, nor has it been done before, which is why our efforts to fix the systems have faced fierce resistance from those who benefit from the status quo,” said the Malawi leader.
Among others, the president said government will review benefits for senior government officials including the president and his cabinet, reduce procurement of too expensive vehicles, and that all ministries and departments should seek approval from treasury before effecting new recruitments among other areas that will help to reduce expenditure.
Reacting to the address, British High Commissioner to Malawi David Beer said the SONA spires hope but there more that needs to be done to tackle corruption.
“I think this is year of optimism, I think the President has raised some very important issues, he has noted the importance of making progress in the economy.
“Corruption is damaging to the economy and governance, I was very encouraged that his words are very strong on the issue, and again the UK stands in support with the President’s anti-corruption agenda and law enforcement agencies to do their job,” said Beer.
Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa teared the SONA apart describing it as a speech that offers no answers to the prevailing economic challenges facing Malawians.
He said: “Whenever one is talking about fixing something, one needs to three major areas to fix the economy in the shortest term possible, that one has not been explained; you fix the economy in the medium term, that one has not been explained.”
On the announcement reforms, Nankhumwa has asked the President to keep his words saying previously Chakwera has promised things that never happened.
“What the President has done is to talk about his thoughts of fixing the economy from the long-term perspective.
“But now what we are saying is what about the short-term to medium-term, what is he going to do? Should Malawians continue to suffer the way they are suffering now,” said Nankhumwa.
