Malawi Pres Mutharika hits out at Nyasa Times

President Arthur Peter Mutharika told a news conference in Blantyre on Monday on his recent US trip that Malawi’s popular online publication, Nyasa Times is “obsessed with him”, claiming there are always negative stories about him on the news site.

After taking a jibe at Nyasa Times recently from Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York where he was attending the 68th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, President Mutharika took another jibe at the online publication this time from very close quarters—at a vantage point, from the top hills of Sanjika Palace.

President Mutharika singled out Nyasa Times as a publication that pedals malicious falsehoods about him, citing a recent report where the publication reported about his alleged extravagance whilst in New York.

Mutharika:  I'm not crazy
Mutharika: Meetings took place in my bedroom

Nyasa Times had reported that the President was lodging in a region of US$17,000 Presidential suite at the historic Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Park Avenue, New York City. It was also reported that he had sojourned to New York with a larger than life entourage of 68 people.

But in an attempt to clarify matters, Mutharika reiterated that he only took a delegation of 20 people “from State House” who he said included his secretary and “security”.

He did not dispute allegations that in the entourage there were also a brother and wife of his personal assistant, Ben Phiri, fully sponsored by the taxpayer.

President Mutharika, however, said if there were other delegates counted as part of his entourage, it was merely for purposes of accreditation under UN procedures. He also said Foreign Affairs Ministry officials were sponsored by the UN.

“The figure could have been inflated (68 people) by the UN accreditation procedures, which record delegates from a country as a single ‘group’ despite that the people may have found themselves in New York on different sponsorships and objectives,” claimed Mutharika.

He also repeated his denial that he was booked in one of the most expensive presidential suites at Waldorf Astoria, enjoying top-notch largesse, when average Malawians back home are floating in painful economic doldrums.

Mutharika said he was on the 13th floor in a suite that had a tiny kitchen, “which could not accommodate my two cooks and a waiter” and that important meetings that he had there were held in “my bedroom”.

He said to the contrary, it was Barack Obama, the US President who was staying in the most expensive suite at US$18,000 per night.

Mutharika said that as an individual, he is not perturbed by the reports but questioned the patriotism of Nyasa Times for writing the stories.

He said the reports do not hamper him as an individual but hamper “the good work that we are doing to improve the lives of Malawians”.

Said Mutharika: “I met one of our bilateral partners who I will not mention; a very important one. He hailed and praised me for the good work I am doing, especially on the steps to reduce government expenditure such as appointing a lean cabinet. But he expressed worry that I was lodging in a Presidential Suite, which costs government $17,000 a night, something which was not true. This is sad.”

During the entire news conference, however, President Mutharika could not produce any documentary evidence whatsoever to discredit Nyasa Times reports except for the word of mouth.

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the northern speech
the northern speech
9 years ago

We wait as long as food is on the table

mduduzi nyanda
mduduzi nyanda
9 years ago

eeeeeeh chi zinjanthropus amwene!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

chidumayo
chidumayo
9 years ago

Go Nyasa Go. You are one of my best informers. There is some truth in the whole story. APM has accepted about the 68 delegates and there is no proof that the extras were sponsored by the UN. Truth pains guys. Do not blame Nyasa but blame yourself for your intentions of pleasing everybody who assisted you during the campaign. Once more Go Nyasa Go and te sky is the limit. Yap.

shaibu wanemanema
shaibu wanemanema
9 years ago

go! go! go! go! go! nyasatimes we want truth to prepail in our country nothing else.

gerald
gerald
9 years ago

Nyasatimes do u have proof that the president was staying at Waldorf Astoria??? This is so shameful ur indeed hurting th country.please stop this.

mbadwa mzika
mbadwa mzika
9 years ago

Amalawi kukonda kuonjezera nkhani kuti ikome. Amaganiza kuti news siziyenda malonda ngati saonjezera. hahahahhahaha. APM boma mufune musafune

Sec-specialist
Sec-specialist
9 years ago

Seriously, you guys at Nyasa times are a big joke. You expected the president to flaunt receipts for his accommodation expenditure just to prove that you are wrong? C’mon, man! For the record I dont like APM but I think you guys are beyond believable. Man up, and own up to your poor reporting.

Mapuyamurupare
Mapuyamurupare
9 years ago

Can the President please stop attacking the media / media houses or institutions.
He is a Big boss why attacking?

Just remain Quiet / Cool as a President. otherwise Lalalalalalala! Media is going to SHINE.

tenthax
tenthax
9 years ago

wakula ndi umbuli ku nyasatimes mupiteso ku sukulu

tenthax
tenthax
9 years ago

Its true nyasa is always against the mutharikas bwanji iwowo osayimako pa u president?, munyoze, musanyoze a Mutharika awiri akulamulani basi

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