Chakwera’s acts of heroism a publicity stunts – Critics

There is growing skepticism among critics over the Chakwera administration’s ability to redeem the nation from the biting socio-economic woes before the September general election.

Contrary to many observers’ expectations, President Chakwera failed to unpack comprehensive strategies for addressing various pressing issues including the hunger crisis, rising cost of living, and unrelenting fuel scarcity.

Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) executive director, Bertha Lipipa Phiri, says Chakwera should have offered concrete recovery measures particularly now that the US has withdrawn much of its aid

“Clear-cut measures ought to be displayed and presented. They may not be convincing, but what Malawians need an assurance that the government will provide solutions so that they can make ends meet,” Lipipa Phiri said.

On his part, governance commentator Wonderful Mkhutche highlighted the need for sustainable means to curb recurring issues like forex shortage, hunger and acute fuel supplies.

Mkhutche said: “And then we also have the hunger situation, where most parts of the country like food. What is the government doing to make sure that those people have access to food? And not just the distribution of that food, but we also need to look into the future.”

The governance critic demands that probable and sustainable solutions need to be made as a means of avoiding situations including food insecurity.

“I’m talking about the production of food, so that we shouldn’t be talking about food insecurity almost each and every year thus the need for the authority to craft deliberate measures which can save Malawians from such harm,” Mkhutche said.

During delivery of the SONA in Parliament on 14^th February, Chakwera highlighted various achievements including various infrastructural projects that his government had apparently completed various district councils.

However critics still expressed reservations over the Malawi leader’s ability to bail Malawians from the prevailing socioeconomic hardships.

Michael Kaiyatsa, the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) executive director, said in a recent interview with Capital FM radio that the public address should have outlined how he intends to tackle the prevailing socio-economic challenges.

He said: “The SONA should have provided progress reports on the job creation, wealth creation and inflation cushioning initiatives which Chakwera announced earlier rather than being a campaign rhetoric.”