Mutharika fired Kaliati over a fight with DPP Secretary General Jeffrey wa Jeffrey
President Peter Mutharika has been forced to dismiss from his 20-member cabinet Mulanje West Parliamentarian, Patricia Kaliati after she nearly got into brawls with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General, Grizeder Jeffrey wa Jeffrey in Mulanje district on Wednesday, Nyasa Times understands.
Mutharika relieved Kaliati of her position as Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development without giving any reason.
But Nyasa Times can reveal that the President was forced to exercise his powers in firing Kaliati from cabinet after she got involved in heated argument with Jeffrey that nearly spilled into a fight soon after a development rally Mutharika had in Mulanje district launching the 8th Phase of the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP).
Presidential spokesperson, Mgeme Kalilani said was not briefed on the reasons behind Kaliati’s dismissal, but Nyasa Times credible sources within DPP and is close to Mutharika disclosed that the President made his decision based on the reported argument the two had.
It is indicated that Jeffrey failed to recognize Kaliati in her salutations during the rally and that did not please the fired minister who lambasted the party secretary general, questioning her position in the party.
Kaliati was heard shouting at Jeffrey “Kodi mwabwera liti muchipani inu?” (How long have you been in the party?) And the argument nearly spilled into a fight forcing current Minister of Information, Nicholas Dausi to intervene.
“Jeffrey did not recognize Kaliati during the remarks. She in fact recognized all ministers except her; she even recognized Dowa Central Parliamentarian Jean Kalilani twice, and that did not go well with Kaliati,” explained our source who also witnessed the incident.
“They nearly exchanged blows, thanks to honorable Dausi who came in to cool down the tension. The President was briefed and was not happy with happened.”
Both Kaliati and Jeffrey popularly known as Jeffrey wa Jeffrey played down the issue, claiming nothing of sort happened.
“I did not argue with her (Jeffrey). It’s the President’s constitution powers to hire and fire cabinet ministers,” said Kaliati.
Jeffrey said: “Nothing happened between us, and I did not know that she has been fired from cabinet. Am hearing it from you; she is my best friend we could not argue or fight.”.
Asked why she did not recognize Kaliati in her salutations while all other speakers prior to Mutharika’s speech only recognized five main ministers in the cabinet, Jeffrey played it down claiming not every person present was recognized.
“I don’t think everyone was recognized. But take my word, we did not argue and I can’t argue with her. That incident did not happen.”
The President has since replaced Kaliati with Jeffrey’s deputy, Cecilia Chazama.
Nyasa Times understand that Kaliati was put on the list of high officials in the party as well as cabinet suspected to be working against Mutharika’s administration by leaking information to the media to embarrass the President and other top government officials.
DPP has of late been facing “gossipgate” in its rank and file.
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Go back some 10 years and remember what Kaliati was up to then. She was involved in a corruption scandal involving the Nyika National Park. The Anti Corruption Bureau were asked to investigate and were about to expose her when they were all fired. The report of those findings were never allowed to be published. Chelinda Lodge was closed down pending the investigation – the outcome and results have never been made public. Many staff were sadly laid off and have never recovered from this incident. We (the safari operators at the time) had no choice but to leave the… Read more »
Ukakwela mumtengo usamati kulibe Mame!!!!!
Ukakwela mumtengo usamati kulibe Mame!!!!!
akweni osadandaula, MCP need people like you in mulanje to dislodge DPP, chipani chosayamika anthu amene anachivotera. Akweni sangaluze u MP ngakhale atayimira MCP kapena independence chifukwa cha ntchito zao zabwino kwa anthu osauka. Inde kuchenjera ndikwao,,,koma kweni ndi national hero,,,,thanks Dr Bingu wamuthalika,,sanamusiye kweni mucabinet yake. president okonda dziko lake sangataye akweni…..wachita zinthu zazikulu Ku mtundu wa amalawi….
Well Mr President in removing that DEADWOOD, two more left goodwell & mussa, these people should retire and let young blood come in please Mr President, you have just 2 more years to make a difference in your cabinet or we will vote you all out.
Kaliati has learnt it the hard way. Party hierarchy must be observed at all times. A secretary general of the party is more senior than a mere government cabinet minister. Akweni seems to have forgotten that. And again you don’t mess with Jeffrey wa Jeffrey. Ask Chilumpha he knows better.
Mr President give Akweni another position she deserve a big sympathy despite any short fall u can see in her. She has done a lot to DPP including midnight six. Remember a new broom can sweep better but an old one knows each and every corner and is shaped that way. Mupha chipani. Choooondeeee!!!!
The reason for firing Kaliati does not make sense neither does it tally with APM’s way of doing things. If you ask me, there is more to it than this so-called altercation with Jeffrey wa Jeffrey. APM is well known for taking a lot of time before taking action on matters of national interest including Chaponda saga. Why the sudden change of style if the fight is the real cause of Kaliati’s firing? How come a replacement has been found within hours when it took over a week to find a replacement of Chaponda until CSOs intervened??? In fact, for… Read more »
Yes, we want this to be happenning in this party of DPP. If we say that there all goats in this party you think we are hating the party, now look what is this happenning?
how are you