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Bingu threatens to ‘smoke out’ Aug 17 demo

August 11, 2011   ·   59 Comments

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By Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has threatened to “smoke out” protestors who will hold another round of nationwide anti-government demonstrations Wednesday August 17.

Civil rights groups want Mutharika to explain his personal wealth, address foreign exchange and fuel shortages and reconcile with Britain, which froze aid after a diplomatic spat.

But speaking on Thursday in the capital Lilongwe when he opened Golden Peacock Hotel by the Chinese investors, Mutharika warned civil society leaders organising the demonstrations that he will use state apparatus to crash protestors in the streets.

“This government will not sit idle and watch property being destroyed,” said Mutharika.

He repeated his “I will smoke you out” threats to civil society leaders and those “perpetuating violence.”

“If the NGOs and opposition say this is a threat, yes it’s a threat,” said the 77-year old Mutharika.

He said “demonstrations like that disturb peace and also discourage tourists from coming in this country.”

Mutharika challenged that he will meet the protestors in the streets “because I will not allow this.”

“If you will go into the streets on 17th august I will meet you there because I will not allow this country to be taken over by the NGOs. NGOs are not elected there was no general elections to elect the NGos.

“Where were the general elections to elect Mwakasungula and others? I have been elected by 2.9million Malawians. I alone have the authority to run this country and I will run it,” he said.

Malawians remain frustrated by a lack of foreign exchange and fuel despite stellar growth statistics.

Mutharika has presided over six years of high, aid-funded growth, but the sheen has come off this year as he has become embroiled in a diplomatic row with the UK, Malawi’s biggest donor, over a leaked embassy cable that referred to him as “autocratic and intolerant of criticism”.

The cable led to the expulsion of the UK ambassador and Malawi’s representative in London was sent home. Aid worth $550 million (£335m) in the next four years was suspended.

The freeze has left a hole in the budget of a country dependent on handouts for 40 per cent of its revenues, and intensified a foreign currency shortage that threatens the kwacha, which has been devalued against the dollar by 10 percent.

Tags: Bingu wa Mutharika, demonstrations, Golden Peacock Hotel

59 Responses to “Bingu threatens to ‘smoke out’ Aug 17 demo”

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1. 59

   Lhiphevere Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 4:05 pm

   
   

   Tawona mabvuto kumaiko ena pali chani apa mpaka kumafika poopsedzana? know tat God who created the earth and heaven will punish u and ur followers Like 1 Reply

2. 58

   Moyamoya Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 3:45 pm

   
   

   We are not supposing to be horrifying one another. Ndife amodzi Like 0 Reply

3. 57

   VICIA Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 3:42 pm

   
   

   You will smoke us, we will make you feel the heat of the smoke you are making.Taona zitsilu ife koma osati aThoko. We will go itno these streets and we can also use the cars you are jerous of tomorow if the country will be fine. Long Live Mwakasungula Long Live Sembeleka Long Live Hajat Long Live Mkwazalamba And Long live all who wish we malawians Good by taking there important time organising this demos. Short Live H.E And Madam Calister Chapola, Chimombo, Munthalika, Chimunthu Banda, Vuwa Kaunda and the father of the Child you aborted. Mxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Like 0 Reply

4. 56

   VICIA Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 3:31 pm

   
   

   21st. July Dialogue is the only way to solve the problems come and discuss this issues aout. 22nd. July Those who have died have died in vain. 10th Aug- I will set a dioliogue committee 11th Aug- I will smoke you out. Lets wait and meet in streets. 4 Days to go. Bingu must go and i mean he will go on 17th. Mxiiiiiiiiiii. Like 1 Reply

5. 55

   vyako ivo Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 3:06 pm

   
   

   usange warya na kutyumba, usange undapesenavo, kutiyamba cha, chifukwa usange watiyamba upesenge cha, kweni uphemerenge!!!! dont think u r keeping malawi in ur pocket, the way u have kept government funds in your pocket. this is malawi mphwanga, flames of fire nyasaland of old.kafumbe Dr davidlivingstone he tell you mo about us. this is not Burundi, umangomva eti. we will flame you on the 17th. tibuskenge iwe, try to follow us on the street, iwe, wavipewa awo wa wapa ma60000, kachikikako ka ngeti chomolia ako, timuotcheninge. wanna know more, watch a movie entitled ‘only the strong’ and listen to the rasta man saying ‘tikamushe’ that will be you Like 1 Reply

6. 54

   wadza Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 2:50 pm

   
   

   bambo wanji otero tikakumana mu strit momo palibe kuchotsela kapena kuojezera Like 1 Reply

7. 53

   chiperon2 Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

   
   

   KODI MWAUMA MTIMA A pRESIDENT? Kodi zoona mtendere mwatopa nawo? Kodi mwaona kuti kukambiran mwa mtendere sibwino? Mdzayankha pa miyoyo imene iwonongeke cifukwa cha liuma lanu. Nanga nzokuonerani kuchoka kumene munali ndi cholinga chofuna kudzasokoneza bata ndi mtendere umene tinauvutikirawu.Kodi ndani angalimbe mtima kubwera pazokambirana ndi munthu amene akufuna kukuthira utsi? Kodi kuyenda pamodzi mumayimba inu kuja tanthauzo lake ndi limeneli? Ganizani bwino. Like 0 Reply

8. 52

   sayimoni bayisikolo Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 1:44 pm

   
   

   My fellow malawian nobody should fear to protest and we should have a peaceful protest because all the property belongs to the malawians and the future generation.These words of “smoking” the protesters should not deter us or cause any fear to peace loving malawians.I urgue my fellow malawians that there is even no any need of losing your precious lives for this lunatic.The martys were people like the John Chilembwe and other martys in the uprising of the 1915.What the peaceful loving malawians are fighting for is for a just society where opportunities will be shared equally.All this anger is rising because of the ever widening gap of the have and the have nots.These social economical problems and endless nepotism by Mutharika have made malawians to be very bitter with the Dpp and its unpopular oldman. Mutharika shouldn’t take malawi as if his personal property.He doesn’t want to take any advice from malawians apart from lies of the dr death Ntaba,vuwas and the tea boys like Malopas.This is a sign that malawians are fed up and are fighting for their future generations.Mutharika you were poor some ten years ago and you have looted enough at your old age.Malawians can’t be taken for granted anymore.The whole political system is crap.It only favours a handful people like the Mullis and other mlakho bootlicker.17 August will be a defining moment for malawian politicis and all of us lets go and march enmasse to change for the better future of every malawian.This politics of poverty practiced by these opportunists is destroying Malawi.These opportunists are there for their own poverty alleviation not looking on the welfare of the ordinary malawian.We only fear the supreme one in heaven not some old corrupt greedy oldmen. Like 2 Reply

9. 51

   THoko Says:

   August 12th, 2011 at 12:59 pm

   
   

   Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see. The organisers will go into the streets alone , people will not assist them. Why none of them is dead I would agree with their move if one of the organisers was shot dead in the last demonstrations. Why mobilising innocent people to die in the streets while they are driving poshy cars to our burial places. These are hypocrites. I have come to understand Bingu well. These so called NGOs mislead Malawians. The problems are there we agree but to go into the streets creates a heap of problems on top of the already heaped ones. Why did you use good cars on the way to Zolozolo burial place, I can’t subscribe to these lunatics. Am happy that Malawians have sensed something fishy here. Many people I meet in the locations swear not to go out on August 17 but resort to remain indoors. God bless our mother Malawi Poorly-rated. Like 0 Reply

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