MALAWI CONGRESS PARTY PRESIDENT 2015 STATEMENT Members of the Malawi Congress Party Members of the Press Fellow Malawians Ladies and Gentlemen Just last Saturday we laid to rest Our beloved mother Mrs Ruth Tembo on Thursday we had laid to rest our long standing member Hon Bazaar Nyirenda. May I request you to please be upstanding and observe with me a minute of silence in honour of these fallen Malawi Congress Party heroes. ......Thank you..... Now allow me to express my deepest gratitude for all the moral, spiritual and material support rendered to the Party during the demise of our beloved mother. Although we have started the year on a sad note, with earnest humility I would like to take this opportunity to wish every Malawian a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I had called for this Press Conference to reach out to fellow Malawians and share with them topical issues affecting our nation and how we can best deal with the challenges as we begin a fresh year and looking ahead. I was going to respond to some of the issues that were raised by the President, H.E. Prof. Arthur Mutharika in his Christmas State of the Nation Address. However, much as I stand in solidarity with all Malawians in their plight concerning economic hardships, insecurity and many other challenges they are facing, it will be insensitive of me to dwell on those issues at such a time like this when we are experiencing serious floods that have affected almost a third of our country. My heart goes out to all the families that have lost their loved ones due to the floods currently being experienced. I appeal to all Malawians to help in any way that they can and to continue remembering the bereaved and suffering families in their prayers and thoughts. I appeal to the International Community, SADC and the AU and all other organizations of goodwill to come to our aid in this most difficult time. I commend the President Prof. Arthur Mutharika for declaring a State of Disaster. However, I think the President should have gone all the way to declare a State of Emergency which is provided for in our Constitution. I am aware that there are certain constitutional requirements that must be complied with for a State of Emergency to be declared but I am sure that this is a proper time when it is necessary to comply with those requirements and declare a State of Emergency. I am sure that the Vote passed by Parliament for Mitigation of Disasters could easily be overwhelmed. Declaring a State of Emergency would enable Government to lawfully shift resources to address the current calamity. With faith in God as our vessel, with hope in the future as our anchor, with love for this country as our compass, and with collective efforts I can see us coming out of these troubled times and reaching the glistening shores of that land which Dr. Kamuzu Banda and our founding fathers dreamed for us and our children. God bless you all, and bless our mother Malawi. 14th January, 2015
Posted on: Wed, 14 Jan 2015 09:39:15 +0000