Muluzi's handout habits back in desperation for the Presidency

Lazarus Nedi
08:27:04 - 26 March 2008



Bakili Muluzi’s 10-year-rule was characterised by money handouts, which he defended as generosity and spirit of sharing with the poor. However, some quarters of the society blamed the system, saying it breeds laziness and poverty as the President cannot reach every poor person with his generous hand. The critics of the system cited the biblical adage that do not give people fish but teach them how to fish because this helps them to be self-reliant. When President Bingu wa Mutharika came in, he discouraged handouts but his critics accused him of being mean with money. Actually, his administration is accused of locking up money “we don’t know where”. But it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who rely on handouts with Muluzi’s bid for the presidency in 2009. Already, the former president is back to his old habits as captured in this picture distributing K50 banknotes to this little girl at a rally in Blantyre on Sunday. Old habits really never die.

-Main story by Dailytimes