By Edwin Mauluka

Malawi’s Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Simplex Chithyola Banda, has urged President Peter Mutharika to establish an Elders Council made up of former and current leaders to deliberate on issues of national importance.

Chithyola made the proposal on Monday in Parliament while responding to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by Mutharika on Friday during the opening of the 2026/2027 Budget Meeting.

“I look forward to a day, Mr Speaker, sir, when I will see President Mutharika, President Joyce Banda, President Bakili Muluzi and President Lazarus Chakwera sitting at one table, discussing matters of national importance, symbolising unity of purpose and the spirit of nation-building,” said Chithyola.

In his response, the opposition leader said the SONA contained “serious omissions” on key issues affecting Malawians. He noted that citizens had expected a message of inclusiveness and hope for economic recovery.

“Mr Speaker, sir, Malawians are expecting affordable goods, genuinely free secondary education, tax relief, free meals in universities, and affordable farm inputs,” he said, adding that the SONA “was short and fell below expectations.”

Chithyola dismissed claims that the administration had delivered more in four months than others had in five years, arguing that the country continues to face numerous challenges. These include rising fuel prices, punitive taxes and service fees, youth unemployment, resurging abductions and killings, and increasing commodity prices.

He also questioned the projected economic growth of 3.8 percent this year and 4.9 percent in 2027, saying the assumptions behind the forecasts were unclear.

“Malawi’s economy hinges heavily on agriculture, which depends on subsidised inputs. As we speak, many farmers, especially in the Northern and Central regions, have not accessed adequate fertiliser due to challenges in subsidy programmes,” he said.

He further warned that projections by international financial institutions point to a potential decline of at least 30 percent in maize and tobacco production, casting doubt on the feasibility of the growth targets.

Chithyola accused the President of overlooking key areas such as fiscal policy, revenue collection, public debt, poverty levels, job creation, and both internal and external economic shocks.

On the Community Development Fund (CDF), he said the government must clearly outline credible sources of financing. He also criticised the reduction of maize prices without a corresponding drop in input costs and questioned the decision to import maize from Zambia despite local availability.

The opposition leader, however, expressed support for the suspension of mining licences and the export ban, stressing that mineral resources should benefit Malawians through value addition and export of processed products. He urged government to implement reforms transparently while safeguarding investor confidence.

Meanwhile, Mwanza Central legislator Felix Njawala, speaking on behalf of UTM, commended Mutharika for outlining issues affecting the country.

“I want to commend the President for providing direction on where the country should go,” he said. “As UTM, we will support what deserves support and offer guidance where necessary so that, as a nation, we move forward together.”

Njawala described the SONA as brief and to the point, adding that collaboration across sectors and ministries would be critical in achieving economic growth and easing hardships faced by Malawians.

He acknowledged that while the cost of basic goods remains high, the reduction in maize prices was a positive step.

On foreign exchange challenges, Njawala urged the Minister of Finance to present a clear strategy to stabilise the situation, emphasising the need to expand and diversify forex generation through agro-processing and value addition.

He also criticised the previous administration, accusing it of mismanaging the economy and leaving behind challenges that require urgent correction.

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