During a press briefing in Lilongwe on Monday, some top party officials said that the country’s economic woes are a result of the government's incompetence through careless expenditure.

Its Northern Region Vice President Goodall Gondwe told Zodiak Online that the government’s careless spending and public borrowing has wiped out the little forex reserve the country had, adding this calls for a referendum so that Malawians can speak on what they think of the Tonse Government.

In the company of Eastern Region Vice President Bright Msaka, finance spokesperson in Parliament Joseph Mwanamveka and senior member Dalitso Kabambe among others, Gondwe said President Lazarus Chakwera actually promised Malawians he would resign if he doesn’t perform, which is he has to do.

“I did not tell Chakwera to resign. Actually, he promised Malawians during the campaign that he would resign should he not deliver his campaign promises. And he has to resign,” said Gondwe.

He said the Tonse Government has failed because of its huge appetite for borrowing, which may reach 8 trillion kwacha by 2025. Among other things, 70 percent of the money that the government borrows goes to imports, and even when Capital Hill releases the borrowed money, it is into an economy which does not manufacture,” he added.

He added, “the Tonse Government has wiped its own forex for having no clear monetary policy, leading to inflation and leaving Malawians struggling. And despite those external influences like Covid-19 and the Ukraine war being part of the reason for the economic hiccups, the country could have done better if it wasn’t for high levels of corruption and poor economic policies.”

Taking turns, the DPP gurus listed down different challenges ranging from the economic policies to cost of living, forex, fertilizer and corruption, which they say are traits of a failing government.

They further called for resignation of government officials involved in businessman Zuneth Sattar state capture, adding otherwise, the Tonse Government should call for a referendum that Malawians should give their views on the Tonse Government.

The party gurus have hinted that for all the suffering that Malawians are going through, the Tonse Government should call for a referendum so that Malawians can speak on what they think about the government which has failed them, because given more time, it will continue on its careless path, leaving the kwacha in total shambles, that even the private sector will suffer.

However, the government spokesperson who is also minister of information Gospel Kazako has played down the DPP’s assertions, saying they are a gang that should never be trusted and relied upon, considering they are the ones that messed up the economy in the first place.

“Malawians are lucky, lucky because at the time they are looking for people that messed up things and stolen from them, the DPP suddenly shows up and presents themselves during a press briefing. We are fixing the economy, they know we have a president who is clean and capable of fixing the country,” said Kazako.

A political and governance expert George Phiri has said he agrees with the DPP that the Tonse Government has failed to deliver its campaign promises, but was quick to say a referendum would not be feasible at the moment, considering the status of the economy.

He also said the President can not resign now, otherwise he should meet with the Tonse Alliance partners to discuss the situation and move forward.

The Tonse Government has time and again said that the global Covid-19 pandemic, and now the Russian war have affected the economy, because prices of commodities in the country are determined by external factors.