By Isaac Salima:
State Vice President Michael Usi’s remarks, which he made during a whistlestop tour of Kasungu, have generated debate over his genuineness.
During a tour of his Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu party, Usi questioned inefficiencies in public service delivery, singling out the issue of petroleum products’ supply.
Usi said Malawians needed solutions and not “updates” on when supply would normalise in the country.
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“What people want are solutions. People do not need an explanation on where fuel is. What people want is that fuel should be available in filling stations. It is not like a football commentary, where people need updates,” he said.
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Usi then said, if elected to power, his administration would deliver on his promises.
“I will compete in the forthcoming polls. This does not mean that I will compete with Dr [Lazarus] Chakwera but for the presidency. He [Chakwera] is the current president and has his style of governance and I will also have my own style,” he said.
His comment comes days after Chakwera, in response to a question during the presentation of nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission, gave an update on the fuel supply situation in the country.
Chakwera said fuel supply would normalize as the country is doing everything possible to address the matter.
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Usi’s sentiments attracted debate on social media, with other quarters pointing fingers at him, saying he is part of problems and solutions as he is serving as the country’s vice president.
Ironically, Usi has been heading Public Sector Reforms Management, which aims at enhancing service delivery in government.
But during the tour, Usi said the task was under Chakwera and that he had little say on most of the decisions.
“When you are staying with your parents, you eat what has been prepared for you but when you move out and get married, you buy and eat what you want,” Usi said.
Government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu, speaking in an interview on Times Television’s ‘Times Exclusive’, declined to comment on Usi’s remarks.
“What I speak here is what those people tell me to speak and, so, I cannot come here and start commenting on what my boss has said,” he said.
Kunkuyu also dismissed reports that had been making rounds that Usi’s security had been trimmed.
Political commentator George Chaima said what Usi said could be a reflection of the situation on the ground.
“It is a failing system and not a functional one. That is what Usi was trying to communicate. He is inside [the government] and knows what he is saying,” Chaima said.
