Malawi leader forms task force for ‘third term’ bid
President Bingu wa Mutharika has sanctioned a group of his sympathizers to form a task force to drum up support and advance the idea to extend his rule beyond 2014, Nyasa Times has established.
Mutharika, 77, who renewed his mandate through a landslide victory on May 19, is barred by the constitution to seek a third consecutive term in 2014.
However, sources attending a task force meeting at the residence of Leston Mulli of Mulli Brothers Group of companies said the group a laying ground work to ensure Mutharika rules beyond 2014.
“We have been discussing a strategy which we are calling it ‘Development Term’ of President Mutharika,” informed the source, a highly ranking ruling DPP official.
Another source collaborated the story saying the main purpose is to drum up support for the upcoming Constitutional amendment bill to the tenure of President from five years to seven years.
“The option discussed to ensure Mutharika holds on to power beyond 2014 are that we amend the constitution to add a term of a President from the current five-year to seven years.
“This will be done together with an amendment of the term of members of parliament from five years to seven years so that the schedule of holding the presidential and parliamentary elections is moved forward together,” said the source.
The group has also discussed an option of debating a motion in parliament that the first five years President Mutharika served from 2004 to 2009 was a mandate of UDF which he was elected on its banner and that he is serving the first five years as President under the mandate of DPP.
“We will argue that this is technically Bingu’s first term, and DPP’s first term to rule,” said the source.
Mutharika’s task force which has most of people from the Lhomwe ethnic tribe of the President agreed to argue that the first five years of the President was disturbed with political fights with UDF and the opposition dominated parliament over issues of Section 65 anti defection law, impeachment and delays to pass on the budget.
Despite previous hints by Mutharika that he would not seek a straight third term, the revelations for task force to map strategies of extending his power are the strongest indication that the President is not ready to step down.
The President’s party has an absolute majority in parliament to amend laws.
It is what we always say. Wiunning is not an issue but the aftermonths. this man is a dictator. Ask those who were with him at Economics and planning, at ministry of Finace before he went away and those who worked with him at COMESA. He has used civil servants’s pension funds for buying his DPP cars which we could glance and cheer for. This is what he does not want the comming president to uncover. It is MUGABE SYSTEM please a Malawiyeeee!!!!!!
A Malopa ndiye afikapodi kotero kuti TVM yanyasa. Pali a Muluzi timayeserako kumvako zina pachinthuchi koma lero muuu zangokahala za okhaokha okonda DPP osati BOMA. Aliyese amene ali ndi mawu olambira Bingu akhoza kuonekerapo. Ukambe dala kuti mzipatal mulibe dawa uwone. Mawa tikupezera mlandu
Let Malawi be a country that shall be respected. We should not take our positions to twist things in a way that they are good for few individuals at the expense of the majority. I hope the people heard it from Mr. President himself that it is not his type to call for a third term realizing that he is not indispensable and that God allows things to happen so it means there will still be another person who could make another good leader as Dr. Bingu has been. We should realise the Dr. Bingu has helped to set the standard and with this standard as the foundation every other person with their right minds would not want to spoil it let alone to pin it at a stagnant position, thus, without seeking stratergies for improving the standards the improving the set standard I call continued positive Development of Our country.
I do not support the views that Dr. Bingu is greedy and a Dictator but that he is a person who wants to do good to Malawi and thus shall avoid the steps which look attractive in the short run but to be realised they are bitter in the long run.
We should not let this issue of extending the term of office for the president spoil what Malawi shall have been in say 20, 30 or 100 years to come for we may cause. We do not want any divisions let alone cival striff in our attributable peaceful country- the WARM HEART OF AFRICA.
MAY THE GOOD GOD BLESS AND PROTECT MALAWI.
for me DR BINGU WA MUTHALIKA,is such a good leader and aperson with the heart of gold,and that he got the peoples problems at heart,but am starting to dought he’s third term bid,some times its people around us who mislead the leaders to start been greedy and selfish,he’s a statesman so shall he be he should listen to he’s heart not ton greedy people around him,other wise he going to end up like DR BAKILI MULUZI who people once respected and look now its like he never before existed,watch out MR PRESIDENT.
Fodya timakana uja ndi ameneyu. Mdala uyu forgets that Malawi belongs to all of us not just the Lomweland inhabitants. Who said that the best dancer doe not leave the dancing floor?
This is not strange to me, like Mugabe like Bingu why among all notable presidents in SADC or Africa only Mugabe seems to be a good friend of this Man, but let me tell all who are doing this that this is Malawi, we are not going to accept this, that will be over our dead bodies. Who the hell do you think you are? GOD? no stupid amendements to our coustutition please. Use your majority for the best of the nation and progress of poor democracy. Our Judiciary please help us because if this happens I will be the first to get an injuction against it as friend of the courts. If this fails I am afraid we can see another Zimbabwe here the only difference will be that in Zimbabwe they had mines as for us kaya
Titichiyani ife a Naphu, kwampenya poti izi nzopaza. My fellow Malawians, it is sadthat we are the very same people that used to clap hands for this. Did we not for see this coming? Akhwakawatu lawo ndi dyera. He reaped where he did not saw in 2004. This time around we are being blinded that malawi said YES with almost 75%. It’s not long when we shall see yet knew surprises. All we need is brace up for impact. Birds of a feather flock together This is manifested by what we are seeing these days. Where the only head of state to grace our functions is Baba Mugabe. Hapana chisingapele adanena mshona. Let us cry silently but He who is just will judge when the time is ripe. Lets not forget that bwaloli ndilosiilana. If we set a precedent now, tomorrow it might haunt us. Bishops, where are you. Will you let justice be eroded in our Motherland just like because of fear,greed,money? Where are the people who speak for the afflicted. Are they all gone? When will be play in the moonlight again. When will our women sing whilst balancing clay pots on their heads and men play skittles. Where is my Malawi, a contry that used to radiate with pride as it said “Warm heart of Africa”? What have we done with our land? Where is all this greed coming from. I love you Mama Malawi, please do not let fear and envy be the order of the day. We have known peace all our life.
This guy is about to make the very same mistake that Muluzi made.Considering that he 77 now, in 2014 he will be 81 and going senile with Alzheimer disease. NO THIRD TERM FOR THE DICTATOR. We dont want another life president.
You have started again. Why do you champion lies? You arent doing any good service to your country, shame on you.
By spreading these lies who do you think you are serving? It doesnt help anybody but bringing confusion in your own country. Shame on you. Do you know who a dictator is or you just pronounce the word without really knowing its meaning? revisit your books please.
Eeeeeiii…..so this is how we go? With only two motnhs in office, such issues have arlready started looming out, what about the next two,four years? Koma kuli zinthu during this term, some ‘very exciting’and some very pathetic. Spare us from the Zimbabweisim please. We are Malawians and we have got our way of governnace and this is wmbedded in the constitution, the spreme law of our land.Have you ever wondered why Muluzi lost fame and favour from Malawians? Power corrupts, and indeed its true. But know that you are fighting a losing battle. Much as we aplaude you for the ‘development’, Nyasaland will not accept this. For our chidren’s sake, i say no third term. PROTECT DEMOCRACY IN MALAWI. let’s not destroy the litlle we have
Ngati mwayi ulipo, imani kachitatu bwana. Anthu ofunika ma third term ndi inu osati a makolija.
Iam in support to exetend the term of office for Bingu. He need to finish all the project which are currentlty in progress.If thoses projects are run by the next president,we will exeperience big problems. Who is the next president? The answer is some from the UDF PARTY which you have just mentioned.
Tiyeni tingozisiya mmanja mwa Chauta kuti zimenezi zisachitike.
I just hope what I have read is just a joke. But if it is true,then God forbid. Malawians are not ready to accept this unpopular thinking by some circles. THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kodi abale tisavitikenazo izi ayi even big Man Muluzi failed. He tried to impose open vote to scare the opposers it failed.There are people in DDP who are interested to rule Malawi too. If African leaders wants respect which I assume Bingu wants then just leave the office after a mandatory 10 years.Anthu nzeru zimakucheperani eti mukati ayi 5yrs inali ya UDF 5yrs ya DPP ndiye chani? Its about the ruler himself who is barred not the party. Task force imeneyo yachuluka ndi mbuli zosadziwa malamulo.Start discussing development on how Mulanje pineapples can be canned again and exported osati za third term inuyo simukufuna kukhalako president? Think think think people.