Africa-Press – Malawi. Vice President Saulos Chilima has said Malawi is struggling to develop because of sabotage by some government officials working in different sectors. Chilima said Malawi cannot develop if some people continue frustrating government programmes in order to make Tonse look a failed government.
He was speaking at this year’s commemoration of Martyr’s Day and memorial service of worship at Chilundu point ground in Nkhata Bay district Friday. Chilima made the remarks after the crowd cheered up Senior Chief Mkumbira and Member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay Central Symon Vuwa Kaunda for their complaint on scarcity of maize in Agriculture Development and Marketing Cooperation of Malawi (Admarc) markets.
The Vice President said some people are supposed to be replaced in their positions because they are failing to serve the current government. Chilima admitted that in some areas, implementation of programmes such as the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) has not gone well.
He therefore suggested that firing failed officers would be the best way of ensuring progress of government programmes. “We are saying even if we can approve, the cabinet approving the AIP, MDF putting up security for the fertilisers, the fact is that the President and his ministers cannot be carrying fertilisers to every corner of the country. There must be collective efforts.
“So when the President has made a directive on the programmes, we must work. Those who are lazy must be removed to put those who are capable to serve this government. We want progress. If they are failing work why should we be keeping them,” Chilima said.
Speaking before Chilima, Minister of Local Government and National Unity Richard Chimwendo asked Malawians to not only point out problems the country is facing but also where the government has done well.
Chimwendo commended Kaunda and Chief Mkumbira for acknowledging the development projects the Tonse government has achieved and for pointing out where it needs improvement.
“These problems have not come in the past two years we have been a government. Acknowledge where we have done well and remind us where we are behind.
“Musamayankhule ngati kuti mu boma la DPP [Democratic Progressive Party] munkadya ma soseji ndiye pano mukulira. Problems have been there and we are working on them and this should be collective efforts,” Chimwendo said.
Representative of bereaved family, James Thawe, asked politicians to emulate the love which the martyrs gave to the nation, rather than to their families.
“The problem is the country is full of people who are not patriotic to their nation. They are always happy when they fight. This is what we are against. Let’s love one another and serve our mother Malawi,” Thawe said.
Before the memorial service, Chilima laid a wreath at Nkhata Bay Jetty Memorial Tower, as well as Speaker of National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara and former vice president Khumbo Kachali and Chimwendo Banda.
Livingstonia Synod of Church of Central Africa Presbyterian clerics and others from different denominations led a service of worship. According to reports, up to 59 people were shot dead across the country, 31 of them in Nkhata Bay, as they were fighting for independence of Nyasaland on March 3, 1959.
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