Dalitso Kabambe Says Questioning Malawi’s President Is Not an Attack

UTM Party president Dalitso Kabambe has pushed back against the idea that questioning the government amounts to disrespecting President Peter Mutharika. He says citizens should be able to ask leaders for answers, especially when official promises have not eased everyday problems. Kabambe voiced concern that people who criticise government performance are increasingly described as political opponents attacking the president. In his view, scrutiny of public decisions is part of democratic accountability, not a personal insult. He also challenged ministers and other officials over what he described as their uneven response to the president’s record. Kabambe said they readily praise Mutharika when circumstances are favourable, but tend to fall quiet when mistakes or governance difficulties arise. He questioned whether government officials should simply applaud the president or speak up when policies and decisions do not deliver. The UTM leader brought fuel availability into the debate, recalling assurances that the crisis would be resolved and that motorists would no longer face long queues at filling stations. Referring to people who had spent nights waiting for fuel, he asked how those commitments were working out. His comments come amid public frustration over fuel shortages and the pressure they place on motorists, transport operators, businesses and households. Unreliable supplies can disrupt travel and business activity, while adding to the costs of moving goods and people. Kabambe’s central argument is that public officials should be answerable for decisions that affect citizens. He is urging ministers to do more than praise the president and to address problems openly when government promises fall short. The remarks place renewed attention on both the fuel assurances and the broader question of how much space there is for criticism within the administration.