[dropcap]A[/dropcap]fter two months of flip flopping, Vice President Saulos Chilima on Saturday came out with guns blazing warning anyone who has amassed wealth corruptly to pay back the money or go to jail
Chilima finally managed to tap into the heart and soul of issues that everyday Malawians face. He blamed government corruption for the misery people are going through.
“There are people who are very rich today but in 2014, they could not even afford to buy their own food…now they have over 40 houses…” he said
His performance was convincing and electrifying. Even his critics who believed that he is no orator and therefore could not win the hearts and minds of people and convince the undecided voter, may have changed their minds by the time he had finished speaking.
“If you know that you are wealthy because you stole money, you should start retuning all of it because when we get into government next year, we will not spare you,” Chilima said.
His comments came after a leaked ACB report implicated some senior police officers, including the Head of State saying that they may have benefited from proceeds of a K2.8 billion food rations contract.
“We will give you a 30-day amnesty to return all the money. Thereafter we will start investigating you,” Chilima warned sending the crowd into a frenzy.
He warned that he would make sure that bigger thieves looting public coffers will see jail time instead of petty thieves who are languishing in the country’s prisons.
“We have people who are in prison at the moment for minor offences, some of them for stealing chickens. We will release them all and replace them with these real thieves…,” Chilima said.
ALBINO KILLINGS
Chilima eloquently linked corruption to every challenge the country is facing ranging from albino murders to poverty.
“We will stop the killing persons with albinism as a get rich gimmick because it’s evil and stupid,” he said.
His comment must have resonated with persons with albinism who despite stronger legislation since 2016, including reforms to the Penal Code and the Anatomy Act, to tackle attacks against them, are witnessing a resurgence of killings and attacks against them.
ENERGY CRISIS
Chilima blamed corruption again for the power blackouts that have crippled the country’s economy and left many firms teetering on the brink of closure.
“There was an issue of generators at Escom. We know how some individuals planned to cash in on that deal and very soon we will start mentioning names. We don’t care even if they sue us,” he said.
He added that his team has solutions to solve the energy crisis which includes cleaning up at Escom because just last year, the company had K6 billion in the bank and today we are told that it has a debt of K30 billion.
“What happened to the money?” he asked.
POVERTY, NEPOTISM
“We are fed up with poverty. We are fed up with nepotism, we are fed up… We are fed up with fake contracts you are awarding each other,” Chilima retorted.
RIGGING
He also somehow confirmed the growing fears that government has bought machines and plan to rig the election next year.
“We know that they have purchased a machine that is used to eavesdrop people’s conversations. What are you afraid of? Don’t spy on innocent citizens,” he said.
“We know where that machine is and we will know where it will go if you will move it somewhere else. We also know that you are planning to rig next year’s elections using that machine,” Chilima said.
HIS PROMISES
He also made several promises that he said he will deliver immediately he wins the election.
- He will abolish the quota system
- Within a year, he will create a million jobs
- He will ARREST corrupt leaders without fear
- Parliament will appoint ACB leadership and not otherwise
- Tuition bursaries for vulnerable students
Teachers will be paid good salaries, on time. - People will be promoted and hired based on their skills and qualifications
- End drug pilferage in hospitals
- Promotion will be on merit and performance
No albino killings
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