On June 23 2020, Malawians came out in large numbers as they braved the June cold weather and lined up to cast their vote in the fresh presidential election.

They had renewed hope after the nullification of the 2019 presidential election in which Peter Mutharika was declared a winner. Malawians were desperate for change and tired of their usual political rhetoric that has seen the country stagnant.

From the results of the fresh presidential election, it was clear that Malawians banked their hopes on Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Chilima as the leaders that would take them out of the political, economic and social misery that they had faced for a long time.

With campaign promises such creation of 1 million jobs, trimming presidential powers, and fighting corruption, Malawians thought this duo—Chakwera and Chilima, was the one. And, to say the truth, there was so much goodwill from Malawians to help the Tonse Alliance government achieve its campaign promises because, on paper, it appeared as though the alliance was there for the good of the people of Malawi.

Both Chakwera and Chilima kept reminding Malawians at every opportunity that theirs was going to be servant leadership—one that values people for who they are, not just for what they give. They promised to be humble leaders, listening caring and trustworthy—accountable to the people.

Two years on, jobs are nowhere to be seen. Unemployment remains high as more and more companies close shop due to economic challenges. Two years later, the leaders seem to care less about the affairs of Malawians but about personal interests. The leaders are untrustworthy ad blatantly refuse to be accountable to Malawi.

The leaders that promised to take Malawians out of abject poverty are now busy enriching themselves and their cronies. Instead of fighting corruption, they are busy fighting for personal political positions while development stagnates.

The internal bickering that has reared its ugly head in recent weeks is a total distraction from the fight against corruption and development. It is a fight that has little bearing on the lives of most Malawians who continue to face rising costs of commodities and are hardly getting by.

Just in case both Chakwera and Chilima have forgotten, Malawians care less about your agreements made while you were both high on God knows what, not especially when you refused to divulge the contents of your agreement when many asked you to. You cannot conveniently think now is the right to do so. Keep it to yourselves.

What Malawians are more interested in are the promises you made publicly to them. What are you doing on those promises? That’s the question that should be preoccupying your mind at the moment and not who will lead the alliance in 2025.

The bickering only serves to distract Malawians from discussing real issues and makes the leaders take their eyes off the real problems facing Malawi. Malawi’s problem at the moment is not the 2025 elections, it is the rising cost of commodities, corruption and lapses in security just to mention a few. Tonse Alliance leaders should spare Malawians from making their interests seem like they are national interests.

The post Tonse Alliance bickering unnecessary distraction appeared first on The Nation Online.