Who will answer Malawians? Kabambe turns speaker’s concerns towards Mutharika

UTM president Dalitso Kabambe has challenged President Peter Mutharika to address Malawians directly on concerns raised by Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman, saying the country needs answers and decisive leadership at a critical time.

Kabambe, writing on his Facebook page, said the concerns raised by Suleman showed that Malawi was facing challenges requiring leadership to act decisively and restore hope among citizens.

His call follows Suleman’s announcement that Parliament would establish joint committees to investigate a range of public concerns and assess the progress of various government projects and programmes. The Speaker said the committees would examine issues including mining, water and accountability, among other matters.

Suleman said the move was part of Parliament’s response to concerns raised by members of the public, with investigations also expected to cover matters such as pension fund administration, persistent power outages, passport processing and conditions in Malawi’s prisons.

The Speaker has further stressed the importance of Parliament exercising its oversight role to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of public resources. Parliament has previously said its committees are working to strengthen oversight and promote accountability in government affairs.

Against this background, Kabambe says the responsibility now extends beyond parliamentary investigations, arguing that Malawians deserve to hear directly from the Head of State about how his administration intends to respond to the concerns.

“The time has come for the President to address the nation directly, to foster transparency, restore confidence and demonstrate unwavering commitment to fixing these pressing issues,” Kabambe said.

He added that such leadership was necessary to unite Malawians and accelerate the country’s recovery, effectively putting the spotlight on Mutharika to provide reassurance and direction as Parliament begins examining the concerns.

For ordinary Malawians, the issues at the centre of the parliamentary scrutiny are not merely political questions. Concerns over water, electricity, public services, mining and the management of public resources have a direct bearing on people’s daily lives, making the demand for answers a question of public confidence as much as political accountability.