Following the dissolution of the Parliament, Leader of Opposition, George Chaponda has said that during his tenure, he tried to offer meaningful alternatives and constructive advice to the government, although it fell on deaf ears.
Chaponda, who was appointed leader of opposition in Parliament on May 9 2024, took over the position from Kondwani Nankhumwa, after a lengthy court battle.
Despite a rough start, Chaponda said he remained focused on delivering on the his responsibilities.
“I used every opportunity, through the Business Committee, on the floor of the House, and in strategic engagements outside Parliament to offer meaningful alternatives and constructive advice to the government. However, this advice was repeatedly dismissed. The MCP-led administration under President Lazarus Chakwera instead abused its numerical strength in Parliament to bulldoze self-serving policies that have deepened the suffering of ordinary Malawians.
“In all my years in public service, I have never seen a government so incompetent, so indifferent to the plight of its citizens, and so entrenched in mismanagement. Malawi today is reeling from the consequences of a leadership that refused to listen, learn, or lead. We all remember how President Chakwera and his administration lauded the Bridgin Foundation early Christmas gift that was never actualized but all scam.
“We all remember how government bought fertilizer from the Butchery, Pharmacy and compromised the subsidized farm inputs program. Let me recount some of the critical interventions I made: I managed to unite the opposition bloc in parliament, a move that helped us to speak with one voice in the chamber and during committee meetings.
“I made sure that as the opposition, we have a common ground and basis through caucuses we used to have as a bloc. This was in contrast to what I found in parliament when the opposition was divided and many times government took advantage of the division.
“I engaged foreign ambassadors (European Union, United States of America, Britain, UN Resident Coordinator, China and many others) and international stakeholders on urgent national matters, especially the need to ensure credible, free, and fair elections.
“I raised strong concerns over the alleged lack of impartiality by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) concerns that remain unresolved. I repeatedly called on the government to resolve the passport crisis, which continues to this day.
“The failure to provide this essential service has denied many Malawians opportunities to travel, work, and access critical documentation. When hunger struck many parts of the country particularly in Machinga, where people resorted to eating chitedze out of desperation, I directly engaged the government to provide urgent food assistance to prevent a humanitarian disaster. Yet again, the government moved too slowly, risking the lives of vulnerable citizens.
“I called for financial prudence and discipline, warning that uncontrolled spending, poor public finance management, and corruption would spiral the country into a financial crisis, which is precisely where we find ourselves today. I stood firm on the worsening cost of living, speaking against surging food and commodity prices, high inflation, and rising interest rates that have made life unbearable for millions of Malawians.
“Throughout my tenure, I believed in constructive engagement rather than making noise. I held firm to the idea that dialogue and diplomacy could move our country forward. Sadly, this government proved incapable of responding to reason.
“It lacked both the will and the capacity to improve the lives of the people. As I exit this office today with Parliament dissolved, I do so with my integrity intact. I did not stay silent in the face of failure. I spoke when it mattered. I challenged when necessary. I stood for the people when the government turned its back on them. To the people of Malawi: let us not forget these five years of suffering, broken promises, and misplaced priorities.
“Let us demand better. And let us never again entrust our future to leaders who are deaf to our cries. Let us vote wisely and make sure our future is in place. Let us vote for Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for his experience is vital in restoring this country’s economic mess,” he said
