OF JANA’S STATEMENT ON NSANJE PORT AND A POLITICAL CARELESSNESS

By: Qeko

The recent statement by the Peoples Party Director of Economic Affair Jerry Jana that their administration will put on shelf the Nsanje Inland Port project is sad, unfortunate, poor advice, political dangerous strategy and a huge political suicide for the Party as they prepare for the 2014 General elections. Malawians across the globe have reacted to this unfortunate and sad statement because they expected the new government to continue the good and economically viable project initiated by the late President as a way of enhancing economic progress in the country. Many have commented that the Peoples Party need to be extra careful in the way they handle various issues since their victory in 2014 depends on how they will deliver these 20 remaining months. In this regard, there are some few things to note.

INLAND PORT IS A BLESSING FOR THE NATION

As Malawians continue to go through the daily problems of forex and fuel, many have now realise that the nation need the Nsanje Inland Port to boast trade and in turn improve on country’s social economic development which in turn would help solve the fuel and forex problem.You don’t need to be an economist to understand the significance of this inland port for Malawian’s economic development. If there is a project so important for the nation, the Nsanje Inland Port is one of them because it shall bring huge benefits to the people of Malawi. Some seem to disagree because of politics which is dangerous. This port belongs to all Malawians and it shall transform the lives of all of us hence many of us feel positive about it. With this port done Malawi will be economically transformed which in turn will also help improve the lives of the people. Our nation is almost 48 years old but still in poverty and amongst the top poorest nations on earth. This port would help redeem this nation from the economic mess which has led to more poverty in the country. The New administration need to seriously make a quick move and initiative dialogue with all key stakeholders and the Mozambican government and jointly sort address all outstanding issue pertaining to the port.

 POLITICAL CARELESSNESS STATEMENT SHOULD BE AVOIDED

The statement by the Peoples Party Director of Economic Affair has been described by many as a political miscalculation and a huge political carelessness because this come just few weeks after the party assumed leadership of the nation. This is a political carelessness because such a statement is not progressive and not positive in terms of the nation’s development. The Economic Director could have looked into the Malawian mood over the Nsanje Port and how majority of the people view this project. Consensus approach on the matter could have assisted. The Party need to avoid such statements which are destructive to the very goal and agenda to win the 2014 elections. The Party need to realise that they should not look at the Nsanje Inland Port as the late president dream but that this project belong to all Malawians and that it’s the only economic hope the nation has at the moment.

CONTINUITY IS CRITICAL

Reading between lines, the statement by Jerry Jana clearly shows the worrisome situation where (if not careful) the Peoples Party is likely to make the same mistakes that Bakili Muluzi made when he got into power in 1994. We all saw in 1994 that Dr. Muluzi put on shelf some of the most important projects that the late Kamuzu had  for economic development of the nation. This was a terrible political mistake in that the UDF could not pick the good out of Kamuzu and utilise them for their own political advantage. The Peoples Party should avoid repeating what Muluzi did but that they should emulate from what the late President, Muthalika did by continuing from where Muluzi stopped. This means that the Peoples Party should pick the button from where the late Muthalika left. The Party should use their wisdom by doing the right thing and that is to continue and finish up all the good project that the late President left which could benefit Malawians.

BAD ADVICE AND BAD ADVISORS

The statement to put on shelf the Nsanje Inland Port also shows that there has been bad advice given full of political and economic miscalculations. There has been bad advice from bad advisors who did not do a thorough research on the issue at hand. That is why political parties need to have Research department so that they can feed the leadership with tangible information on issues. Those who advise the President need to be sober people with knowledge and only able to tell the truth on issue so that they add value to the presidency. We are witnesses to how those who were close to Kamuzu, Muluzi and Muthalika could not tell the truth on key issues affecting the country and instead lied to the Presidents which at the end led to the downfall of these leaders. So statement like the one made by the Peoples Party Director of Economic Affairs is a suicidal and economically dangerous to the development of the nation.