Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, Michael Usi has taken a swipe at some sections of society for castigating President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice-President Saulos Chilima.

Speaking in Chiradzulu yesterday during the John Chilembwe Day celebrations at  Providence Industrial Mission (PIM), the minister said some people in the country have lost their moral campus, warning them to change and join authorities in solving the country’s socio-economic challenges.

The remarks follow recent events in Mangochi where Chakwera was booed and the continued attacks against the two leaders on social media platforms on political grounds.

Usi discouraged such acts, asking people to always respect elders, warning the wrath of God on those who continue engaging in such acts.

Said the minister: “At the initiation ceremony, we are taught to respect elders, not insulting them. Even if you feel that your father has wronged you, speak politely, don’t cross the line to the point of insulting your elders. I get surprised when some people insult religious leaders, some insult Chilima, and I say, you people, he is not in your league.

“Then you have others who insult President Chakwera. But let me tell you that these two leaders will not touch you, but surely, you will get punished. Let us learn to respect our elders. This is our country, and we need to love one another and ensure that the country develops.”

He said God has instilled wisdom in many people nationwide to help develop the country under President Chakwera, but said some people are abdicating their duties.

“Those of you who have the chance to work in government like me, let us give it our all. God gave you the intelligence and wisdom to help develop the country. Chakwera is like the Biblical Moses who was given the task to lead, but you had several people helping him.

Chakwera shares a lighter moment with Chilima yesterday

“So, you have others who say they cannot do something because of Chakwera. Remember that wisdom is from God and you will answer to God for your failure to help the country. People are struggling in the country and you need to do your part. “

On his part, President Chakwera said hate, disunity and the spirit of tit-for-tat among people in the country need to change so that the country moves in unison towards development.

He asked the citizenry to adopt the spirit that Chilembwe had of doing everything for the country, not just for himself or his relatives, observing there are still some people in the country who think about themselves and their tribes.

Said Chakwera: “If you were born in Chikwawa or your relatives live in Balaka or you live in Lilongwe, do you care just as much about whether the people in Thyolo, Nkhata Bay, and Zomba have enough food to eat this year?”

“If you were born in Nsanje or your relatives live in Dowa or you yourself live in Mwanza, do you care just as much to know if the people of Neno, or Nkhotakota, or Ntcheu have good hospitals, good roads, good schools, clean water, and electricity?

The President stressed the need for Malawians to love their country and to serve the people.

“If we are going to heal as a nation, we must begin to develop a love for the parts and the people in the country we currently do not consider our parts or our people.

“What is setting this country backward is this idea that there are some parts of this country and some people in this country that are not ours. What is setting this country backward is the kwathu-wathu-and-zathu mindset. So we must stir ourselves and each other to love the whole country, to serve the population whole country, to defend the whole country and to build the whole country,” said Chakwera.

During the ceremony, Pastor Fletcher Kaiya of the Baptist Convention Church in his prayer asked God to heal Malawi from corruption and poverty.

He lamented that many people were leaving the country in search of greener pastures due to persistent corruption which was making the lives of people miserable.

Kaiya said not even the Church was spared of corruption, asking God to intervene as the citizenry continues to face numerous problems.

Chiradzulu Central legislator MacTimes Maloya (Democratic Progressive Party) said people in the area are facing hunger due to high prices of maize which he attributed to failure by the Agricultural Development Marketing Corporation (Admarc) to open its markets by December 1 2022.

He said few people in his constituency have accessed farm inputs under the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP), adding even the few people who have access to the inputs have difficulties to raise resources for buying them.

Said Maloya: “We were told that Admarc would get a bailout and that by December 1 2022, the depots would open. But that has not happened, and this is making things very difficult for our people who have to buy maize from vendors where the commodity is very expensive.”

PIM president the Reverend Wi l s on Mitembo hailed Chakwera for providing resources so that the place is refurbished.

“As a church, we continue praying for you so that God grants you wisdom that our country changes for the better.

“God will grant us relief over the several ailments that we have, and the many issues going on in the country,” he said.

Notable dignitaries at the ceremony included former president Joyce Banda and retired chief justice Richard Banda, Leader of Opposition Kondwani Nankhumwa and Chief Justice Rezine Mzikamanda.

Government set January 15 to commemorate the life of Chilembwe, a freedom fighter, who was born in 1871 and died on February 3 during an uprising for freedom in 1915

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