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| Features |
| Appointments worry Tembo |
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by
George Ntonya, 02 September 2004
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17:52:16
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Leader of Opposition in the House, MCP president John Tembo, talked to George Ntonya on President Bingu wa Mutharika’s 100 days at his residence in Lilongwe. Excerpts:
Is there anything that has impressed you most during the days President Bingu wa Mutharika has ruled the country?
I think the question must be what has been my experience in the 100 days after the elections. As leader of the opposition, I should give you an impression of what the 100 days of Dr Bingu wa Mutharika have been. It has been a very difficult period because Malawi Congress Party, together with PPM (People’s Progressive Party) and other parties in opposition are challenging the results of the elections. We are putting a position where we look at Dr Mutharika’s performance and [at the same time] at our concerns over the elections. Nothing personal. Whatever comments I make are without prejudice to the action we have taken to challenge the electoral process in court.
The first 100 days of any president is a period where the president seeks acceptance and legitimacy. It’s an extension of his campaign. Anybody who would be in Bingu’s position would do the same; saying good things so that people can say ‘oh! he has started well’ and those who opposed him to accept him. I would do the same. Perhaps Gwanda [Chakuamba]. I believe that the real test is when he starts performing. We’ll judge him properly when he starts performing. Some of the things people say in the first 100 days of the presidency are being said by Dr Bingu wa Mutharika. Some of them agree with what we in the Malawi Congress Party said during our campaign. Some are very happy that he has made statements, for example on fertiliser. The only thing I am waiting for is for the budget to demonstrate that what he said will be implemented. What we expect the government to do now is to break the old practice of the UDF. But let us give him time for him to perform.
How much time do you think he needs before people can start judging him?
Until when he starts performing. If he doesn’t perform then our support for what he is saying will be reduced. If you read papers, yours included, you are bringing out names of people who people think were involved in corruption. We expect the President to match his words with action.
Looking at the days he has been in office, what level of commitment in the fight against corruption do you see in him?
Well, what has happened so far is the appointment of people who appear to be serious with the issues. This is good and this why Malawi Congress Party members in the Public Appointments Committee of Parliament supported the appointment of the DPP. We supported the appointment of the Ombudsman. But there are concerns that I have as leader of the opposition.
What are they?
Why is it that more than half of the ministers are from the Southern Region? Most of the principal secretaries that have been sacked are from the Central Region. That is not good. At the auction floors, they are removing people from the Central Region and replacing them with people from the South. Is the man serious or not? MCP will never resist or object to anything that is good because we are all serving the national interests. But if there are concerns we’ll voice them very vigorously.
What exactly do you intend to achieve by pursuing the court case over the elections?
This is not a court. I am sure you as a Malawian would like to know the truth of what happened during the elections. That’s all we want.
You have talked about fertiliser. How would you like the local farmer assisted to become self-sufficient?
First of all there are two issues which people tend to mix. One of them is provision of fertiliser to the very needy or poorest, the starter pack programme. But there is also a programme for all the farmers. I have recommended that farmers must have access to cheaper fertilisers through clubs. Not handouts. So, I am expecting some action.
As a person with vast experience in economic issues, what prescription would you give to heal the country’s sick economy?
The first thing is to stop corruption completely. Secondly, there should be efficient management of the economy. Our fiscal and monetary management of the economy must be correct. I am encouraged on this one by the appointment of Goodall Gondwe as minister of finance because he knows all these things. If he doesn’t do this, it’ll be because of influence from somebody. We must not live on borrowing. If we do the above things, interest rates, inflation rates and exchange rates will come down.
The president is going to occupy the New State House, which is currently being used as Parliament and there are suggestions that in the interim the MCP headquarters should be used as Parliament. What is your position?
First of all when we say Parliament and the New State House, we are accepting that that building is a residence for the head of state. It was not built for Parliament. The President has the right to be there. The master plan of the capital city has a plot earmarked for Parliament. Why have they [UDF] waited for 10 years without starting to build? We have no objection for government to discuss with us the use of Malawi Congress Party headquarters.
What piece of advice do you have for people of Malawi?
First of all I am happy that the general public behaved very well on the polling day. There was no violence. They must continue to behave like that. But they must not accept to be duped by politicians who fly by the night, those who dump the people after being voted for. They must maintain principles of accountability and accountability and transparency. Malawians must all be hard working. |
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