Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LoP) George Chaponda has expressed great concern over the ongoing abuse of the food distribution exercise by the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) government.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Chaponda said the exercise is being manipulated for political gain.
“This exercise, which is meant to provide relief to our brothers and sisters suffering from hunger across the country, is being shamefully manipulated for political gain. Let me be clear: this is a grave injustice and a betrayal of the trust and welfare of the Malawian people.
“The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) was established to handle disaster response impartially and professionally. However, instead of allowing DoDMA to carry out its mandate, the MCP government has hijacked this process by involving its politicians in food distribution. These actions are nothing but a calculated effort to gain political mileage at the expense of suffering Malawians. Such behaviour is not only unethical but also deeply disrespectful to the principles of fairness and justice that should guide our nation. Furthermore, it cements allegations from other quarters of society that this government may have deliberately created the hunger crisis to exploit the suffering of the people for its own political advantage.
“The maize and other relief items being distributed do not belong to the MCP. These resources are the property of the Malawian government approved by parliament, procured using taxpayers’ money and support from our development partners through the World Food Program. They are meant for every Malawian in need, regardless of political affiliation, tribe, or region. No political party has the right to claim ownership or use them as campaign tools.
“To the people of Malawi: I urge you to reject this political manipulation. Our collective suffering should not be exploited for political gain. We must demand transparency, fairness, and accountability in the distribution of relief items. Let us remind the MCP government that they have a duty to serve all Malawians equally and not just their political supporters.
“I call upon the government to immediately stop this malpractice and return the food distribution exercise to the capable and neutral hands of DoDMA. Furthermore, I urge our development partners to closely monitor the distribution process to ensure that their contributions reach the intended beneficiaries without political interference.
“As the Leader of the Opposition, I remain committed to holding this government accountable. We will not stand by while the welfare of Malawians is compromised for political expediency. Together, let us work towards a Malawi where resources are distributed fairly and where every citizen is treated with dignity and respect,” he said
