By Rahim Abdul
Opposition leader in Parliament Simplex Chithyola has blamed tribalism and regionalism for Malawi’s slow development, saying the practices continue to undermine national progress.
In a post on his official Facebook page, Chithyola said successive governments have prioritised people from their home regions, political parties, religious groups and families when making appointments instead of considering merit and competence.
He questioned when Malawi would move beyond regional and tribal divisions and begin giving people opportunities based on their abilities rather than their political, regional or ethnic backgrounds.
Chithyola also challenged Malawians to reflect on why leaders continue to favour individuals with whom they share political, religious and family connections at the expense of qualified people from other backgrounds.
He said the long-standing practice has contributed to the country’s slow development, arguing that incoming administrations often abandon projects initiated by their predecessors and introduce new ones.
According to Chithyola, this tendency has left Malawi struggling to achieve meaningful development despite having enjoyed more than 60 years of independence.
He further observed that national development can only be accelerated when leaders embrace unity, work together and put aside political, regional and ethnic differences.
Chithyola said Malawi would make significant progress if public officials focused on serving all citizens fairly and prioritised national interests over personal and political affiliations.
He stressed that unity, equal opportunities and cooperation among leaders are essential ingredients for building a developed Malawi.
