Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI) has called on the newly elected president Lazarus Chakwera and his vice Saulos Chilima not to relax but quickly start addressing challenges affecting the country saying they have inherited a government which has been at a standstill for over a year now.

In a statement issued on June 29, and signed by its acting Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa, CDEDI said the immediate challenges topping the list and need to be swiftly addressed include the national unity, peace building and reconciliation.

The newly elected leadership has been reminded that the results of the election are clear indication that not every person voted for Tonse Alliance and therefore has appealed to the current leaders to rise above petty partisan interests and embrace all the people as one.

Reads part of the statement: “For us at the CDEDI, it is not the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), or the UTM or any of the nine political parties that formed the Tonse Alliance that has won, neither is it the Chewas or any other tribe that has won, but rather, it is Malawians themselves that have won.”

“It is therefore against such a background that we would like to appeal to the new leaders to invest a lot of time and energy in rebuilding the Malawi one nation dream and forget our political party affiliation.”

On a very sad note, CDEDI has learnt with shock the alleged reports of supporters of the Tonse Alliance, specifically from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), who are allegedly torturing and hacking the DPP supporters and has therefore appealed for the immediate action and bring the culprits to book.

The statement further applauded UTM leader, Dr. Saulos Chilima saying he deserves a special place in our history books for demonstrating true patriotism by foregoing his own presidential ambitions to pave the way for Chakwera as the presidential torch bearer.

CDEDI added that this is the kind of spirit that has been lacking in many Malawians who usually put personal interests first at the expense of national interests.

The organisation emphasized that those that violated the law in the course of serving in the previous administration should not be spared but face the law.

CDEDI has therefore challenged the new administration to set-up a special tribunal to investigate and prosecute all the criminal activities that characterised the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).