By Burnett Munthali

The Government of Malawi has scheduled its “Boma Likutinji” session for February 7, 2025, at Bonded Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe. This government engagement forum aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and communication between the administration and the public by providing updates on governance, projects, and policy direction.

The initiative, spearheaded by President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration, is intended to create an interactive platform where government officials provide insights into national progress and address public concerns. According to State House, “Boma Likutinji” is part of the administration’s broader efforts to ensure open governance, allowing citizens to stay informed about different ministries’ activities and developments

Despite its stated objectives, the event has received mixed reactions from citizens, political commentators, and media analysts. Supporters of the initiative have welcomed it as a positive step towards an open and responsive government, praising Chakwera for his willingness to engage with the public.

“This initiative is very important. People need to be updated on what is happening in different ministries. Thanks, bwana Chakwera, for this. Boma ndilomweli; we are not changing government until 2030!” commented one supporter.

Others, however, have criticized the event, labeling it a publicity stunt and a waste of resources. Some have questioned why the government is renting a hotel for the session when there are existing state facilities, such as MBC studios or Capital Hill, that could host the event at a lower cost.

“Chakwera’s administration cannot stop being wasteful. We have MBC studios, why can’t this happen there instead of paying for a hotel? This is a waste of people’s precious time when citizens should be doing something productive,” argued a critic.

A major concern raised by the public is that the event could be a one-sided engagement, where government officials ask themselves “preferred questions” and provide “scripted responses” without allowing tough inquiries from journalists or the general public. Some social media users have called for live phone-in sessions where Malawians can directly pose questions to the leadership.

“A failed government that has resorted to asking itself preferred questions and responding in its preferred manner. A creation of a silly feel-good mood,” one individual commented.

There have also been calls for Brian Banda to moderate the event to ensure tough questions are asked, with some arguing that a strong, independent host would add credibility to the forum.

The criticism surrounding “Boma Likutinji” comes amid growing discontent over the government’s handling of economic challenges, corruption allegations, and governance issues. With general elections approaching in 2025, many see the event as an attempt to salvage the administration’s image in the face of increasing public frustration.

“Seems like a desperate team of leaders who, upon realizing how miserable they have performed, decide to seek validation through publicity stunts, hoping to buy sympathy from a discontented citizenry that is ready to call it quits in September,” commented a political observer.

At the heart of the debate is the question of government accountability and credibility. While “Boma Likutinji” presents an opportunity for the administration to communicate its progress, critics argue that genuine engagement requires unscripted, open-ended questioning, allowing both the media and ordinary Malawians to hold their leaders to account.

The session is expected to feature presentations from key government ministries, updates on national projects, and an overview of economic and social policies. It remains to be seen whether the government will allow for an interactive Q&A session with journalists or if the event will be a controlled media exercise.

As the date approaches, Malawians will be watching closely to see whether “Boma Likutinji” is a genuine step towards transparency or just another political spectacle.