“Beware of false angels”: Michael Usi warns Malawians against deceptive politicians

Malawi’s Vice President, Michael Usi, has urged citizens to be cautious of politicians who are now presenting themselves as angels of change despite having failed the country in the past.

Speaking at Kaviwale Sports Ground in the city of Mzuzu, Usi said the nation has entered a period when political image‑building is at its peak, and voters must not be misled by sudden acts of charity or public appearances.

He warned that some politicians are actively searching for funerals to attend so they can be seen “helping,” even though they offered little meaningful support to the people when it truly mattered.

According to Usi, such opportunistic behaviour reduces human grief to a political stage, and Malawians deserve better than leaders who exploit mourning families for publicity.

He challenged communities to ask hard questions about where these leaders were when hospitals lacked medicines, when farmers needed inputs, and when young people were crying out for jobs.

Usi also turned his criticism toward elements within the public service, accusing some government employees of deliberately underperforming to create the impression that the administration is failing.

He described such conduct as sabotage against national progress and warned that no reform agenda can succeed if civil servants withhold effort for political or personal reasons.

The Vice President said public office is a trust, not a bargaining chip, and those who frustrate service delivery for gain are betraying the Malawian people.

He further lamented the paradox of a country that produces many educated graduates each year while large numbers remain unemployed or underemployed.

Usi argued that persistent joblessness cannot be blamed on citizens alone if public systems are clogged by inefficiency, favouritism, and corruption.

He called for merit‑based recruitment, transparent hiring processes, and stronger accountability within ministries and government agencies to ensure that qualified people are deployed where their skills are needed.

“Jobs should go to those who qualify, not just to relatives and friends,” Usi emphasised, urging fairness and professionalism in public sector employment.

The Vice President linked unemployment to a wider governance problem where some officials are “playing games with work” while others engage in corrupt practices that drain already scarce public resources.

He said corruption not only steals money but also steals opportunity because every misused kwacha weakens the state’s ability to hire teachers, nurses, agricultural extension workers, and technical staff.

Usi urged Malawians to reject both corrupt officials and politicians who reappear only during times of tragedy or election campaigns with short‑term gestures that do nothing to solve long‑standing problems.

He reminded the audience that development is measurable, not mythical, and citizens have every right to demand evidence of delivery before giving their vote.

Communities, he said, should track whether campaign pledges result in clinics stocked with medicines, roads maintained beyond photo opportunities, and social programs that reach vulnerable households.

The Vice President framed political accountability as a shared responsibility: Leaders must be honest and work hard, but voters must also remember, compare, and hold them accountable.

He encouraged churches, youth groups, and civil society organisations to document public commitments made during rallies so they can later ask, “What did you promise, and what have you done?”

Usi’s remarks echoed long‑standing frustrations in Malawi over performative politics, weak service delivery, and cycles of broken promises.

His warning comes at a time when political alignments are shifting ahead of the 2025 polls, and many actors are working hard to rebrand themselves as reformers.

By highlighting opportunism at funerals, civil service sabotage, and corruption, Usi positioned his message as both a moral challenge and a governance call to action.

Whether this appeal will lead to stronger citizen oversight and improved public sector performance remains to be seen, but the Vice President has put the issue firmly on the national agenda.

For Malawians weighing leadership choices in the months ahead, his words serve as a reminder that true character is proven through consistent service and accountability—not through staged acts of generosity.