By Rahim Abdul
Musician Peter Sambo has questioned the government’s reported appeal for public assistance to facilitate the return of about 10,000 Malawians from abroad, saying the development raises serious concerns about the country’s capacity to care for its own citizens.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Sambo said he was struggling to understand why a nation would seek external help to transport its own people back home, arguing that such a responsibility should fall squarely on the government.
The musician wondered how much money would actually be required to bring the affected citizens back and whether Malawi had reached a point where it could no longer afford transportation costs for its nationals.
Sambo stated that it was difficult to accept claims that Malawians, whom he described as rightful owners of the country’s land, could fail to return home simply because of transport challenges.
According to the artist, the situation reflects deeper governance questions that deserve honest public discussion rather than political silence.
He further argued that excessive dependence on appeals and donations risks portraying the country as unable to solve challenges that should ordinarily be handled through state resources.
Sambo also criticised what he described as a tendency among politicians to engage citizens mainly during election periods, saying national leaders should remain connected to people’s concerns at all times.
The musician stressed that his remarks were not intended as an attack on any political party but rather as constructive criticism aimed at encouraging accountability.
Identifying himself as a supporter of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Sambo said his comments should be viewed as an effort to highlight issues that require urgent attention from authorities.
His post has since sparked debate on social media, with some users supporting his concerns while others argue that international cooperation is sometimes necessary when governments face major logistical and financial challenges.
