The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has come under fire for failing to honour the legacy of Orton Chirwa, the country’s first Attorney General and founder of the party, by leaving projects tied to his name incomplete.
Among the promised developments are the Orton Chirwa Mausoleum and the proposed Orton Chirwa International Airport in Mzuzu, which remain stalled years after their announcement.
Addressing a rally at Chintheche in Nkhatabay, UTM presidential running mate, Matthews Mtumbuka, said it was disappointing that MCP had sidelined Chirwa’s legacy despite his central role in Malawi’s political history.
“It is a pity that the MCP government continues lying to the people of Nkhatabay. They have deleted the history of Orton Chirwa, yet no one can mention Malawi politics without mentioning the people of Nkhatabay,” Mtumbuka told the gathering.
His remarks came in response to President Lazarus Chakwera’s admission during a recent whistle-stop tour in Nkhatabay that his administration had failed to complete the Orton Chirwa projects. Chakwera attributed the stalled developments to cash flow problems, conceding that the government had not delivered on its commitments.
Concerns over neglect of the Northern Region have also been echoed by church leaders and other stakeholders, who pointed to unfinished projects such as the Rumphi–Nyika Road, Inkosi M’Mbelwa University and the Orton Chirwa Airport.
Mtumbuka urged voters in Nkhatabay to rally behind UTM president Dalitso Kabambe in the September 16 general elections, stressing that a UTM government would restore Orton Chirwa’s legacy and deliver tangible development to the region.
