Former Vice President and Member of Parliament for Mzimba South West, Khumbo Kachali has asked Government Ministers to listen to constructive views being suggested by some opposition legislators in ongoing National Assembly Meeting.
Kachali was reacting to Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development George Chaponda's outburst when Chitipa North legislator James Munthali said the agriculture minister has failed in his duties for not starting now the implementation of some of the measures that the ministry has put in place to avert hunger.
The former Agriculture Minister Hon James Munthali member for Chitipa North asked why Government has not started distribution of Treadle pumps, seeds and fertilizers now to avert hunger other than to wait, because the water is still available so that people can start to utilize this.
George Chaponda, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development also Leader of House responded with rants by outburstly reminded Munthali that he as former agriculture minister failed during his time to rescue Malawians from hunger situation and that even maize rotten at National Food Reserve Agency when Malawians were facing hunger.
Mzimba South West Legislator, former Vice President, Khumbo Hastings Kachali who took the floor on point of order asked Chaponda to listen to views and not being political.
“So, it was unfortunate for the sitting Minister of Agriculture instead of taking note of the friendly advice he actually was saying no, why couldn’t you do it when you were in Government." noted Kachali in an interview
"My concern was, we in opposition we have to give constructive ideas. And this was an idea from former minister of Agriculture. Instead of taking note and going back to the drawing board and say yes indeed we are late. But the sitting minister of agriculture is talking politics.” lamented Kachali
So, he said "that is what made me to stand up and say no, Government is a continuous process, and the challenges that we are facing now they are not only challenges for those members that are in the Government but for Malawians that is both in Government and in opposition."
He continued "Malawians are suffering; this time around there is no food, so we all have to bang our heads and find solution and here is an advice a solution let us start now. So my humble request is Government should also listen when opposition members are giving advice.”
He then hoped that his fellow cabinet ministers should advise Dr. Chaponda to have a listening ear and begin to take advices.
