President Mutharika meeting ‘mysterious’ people ‘one-by-one’ in US, says Malawi govt spokesman

Malawi government spokesman Malison Ndau has told BBC that President Peter Mutharika remained in United States after attending the UN General Assembly in New York to meet “a number of people one by one” dismissing rumours about Mutharika’s health.

Mutharika:   Has no problem
Mutharika: Malawi President disappearing  story now trending in international media

Mutharika has not been heard from since the UN General Assembly, which ended on September 26th and activities which Ndau claims he is conducting have not been publicised on state media.

Asked on BBC what is the exact location of the Malawi leader, Ndau said:“Yeah, the President is in America, after the [UN]General Assembly, he had some assignments to do, there were some people he was intending to meet but he couldn’t do so during the general ‘allemby’ [sick] period, so they had arranged that after the assembly he could meet them one by one.”

When asked how many people is President Mutharika meeting, Ndau said: “Exact number I don’t know but its a number of them.”

BBC asked Ndau to explain how long are these “meetings” supposed to take.

He answered : “They were arranging a number of days.”

Pressed to name the people Mutharika was meeting, he said: “Of course  I am not aware who exactly they are.”

Put to him if he asked who the President was meeting, he said: “yes, but I was told he is meeting  number of people and upon his arrival in Malawi its when he will tell the nation who he has been meeting with.”

Quizzed on the President’s health if he is fit and well, Ndau said there has been rumours of illness which he said were not true.

“Of course there have been those rumours but there is not time the president had been taken ill,” said Ndau.

Ndau is also minister of information and communication.

He was asked if he is aware what is costing the Malawian tax-payer everyday of President Mutharika’s stay in United States, but he feigned ignorance.

“No I don’t  know the exact how much is his cost there,” he said.

Ndau said he speaks to the President “everyday” and when asked if he had spoken to him on Wednesday, the government spokesman said: “Not today, because most of the times we speak in the evening.”

He said Mutharika spoke to the minister on Tuesday and disclosed that he would return home on Sunday.

Brain Tumour claims

Local political activist Gerald Kampanikiza who recently challenged government  to provide video evidence to disprove the rumours of Mutharika’s illness, has maintained his claims that the Head of state is unwell.

Kampanikiza claims Mutharika is in New Jersey at medical facility  called Robertwood Johnson University Hospital.

He also alleges the President has  “brain tumour.”

Kampanikiza challenged government to release video or photos of Mutharika activities after UN General Assembly.

But government spokesman stressed that spreading such “baseless, malicious and sickening” rumours was criminal.

Ndau maintained that Mutharika was in “very good and robust health” and still carrying out his duties while in America.

‘Missing in inaction’

Mutharika’s ‘absence without leave” issue has now been trending in the international media of high repute.

Apart from the BBC, The Economist  also carried the story and Washington Post  published it with Associated Press (AP)copy by Gregory Gondwe.

The Economist reported that whether Mutharika was in fact ill or merely spending time with his three adult children, who live in America, the government’s refusal to be transparent about the president’s whereabouts displays arrogance, quoting  Boniface Dulani, a political scientist at the University of Malawi.

“The Big Man is not only the sole holder of wisdom in the country, but he’s also supposed to be this infallible character,” Economist quoted Dulani. “To say that I am ill might actually weaken the image of the Big Man.”

It also quoted unnamed Western official, who said the lack of transparency can have real consequences,and that the government should be “focused and on their game” with the impending hunger crisis.

The report said, no one knows whether Mutharika is concentrating on the plight of his people while silently spending their money.

Washington Post story of  AP  quoted the executive director of Malawi’s influential body of religious groupings, the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), Robert Phiri,  who said “the principles of transparency and accountability”  compel President Mutharika “to explain why he abruptly decided to stay in the States longer than earlier communicated.”

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Gogodasi
7 years ago

People should expect drama on Sunday. If indeed he returns home he will not hold a press conference because Ndau will tell the media that the man is tired after travelling a long way and needed some rest. This will mean following Malawians more. Just wait and see.

Alfonso Namaona
Alfonso Namaona
7 years ago

Let us swear in Dr. S.C. Chilima on Monday period. If at all the President is meeting people in the US, then it is not on behalf of Malawians who voted for him. He and his Government lacks transparency and if he is sensible enough, he cannot stay that long away accumulating huge expenses for the poor Malawians. When he lands on Sunday, then he must apologize to the nation. This poor decision making shows his mental strength is weak and therefore INCAPACITATED to continue as president.

A nationwide demonstration is coming if he does not explain himself very well.

Kyala
Kyala
7 years ago

We Malawians will always remain stupid.

Mulomwe
Mulomwe
7 years ago

If he is indeed meeting people one by one. I believe he is borrowing lots of money on OUR behalf that our children and their children will have to pay for the rest of their lives. Putting the cutter in more and more debt.

If he is sick there’s nothing for me to say but get well soon.

HE the Life President Mfuti Kasinja?
HE the Life President Mfuti Kasinja?
7 years ago

Why mysterious? What sort of mystery, because we know that the only mysterious beings are Spiritual not living ones, so mystery has to be solved.

Awuzen kuti afana apa Salima
Awuzen kuti afana apa Salima
7 years ago

akugulitsa mafupa alubino aja amagulawa, akamaliza pitalayo abwela mumuwona

akuka
akuka
7 years ago

pajatu ena aja mumkati sanamwalire munthu atayamba kusasa ku sozibele uko!!!! mukubisa chani?

Thinktank
Thinktank
7 years ago

What idiotic govt…..am ashamed of this administration. ..pathological liars. ….are these public servants or mafias?So crooked in their ways. …cry my beloved country!!!

Kkkkkkkk
Kkkkkkkk
7 years ago

It’s true. He was meeting the grim reaper. Now he’s meeting the guard at the river Styx. Next its Satan, then the torturing demons.

Wilson
Wilson
7 years ago

What the hell is going on in Malawi. Ndithu this whole country of educated people is being brought down to its knees like this? This idiot of a president you have is the most useless president on the planet. Starting with his Minister of Info, just listen to the interview he is giving to BBC. This reflects badly on your nation. If a whole fuckin minister can give a fuckin low level interview like that where does that leave all Malawians in the eyes of the world? Which schools did these idiots attend? These are thieves with nothing on their… Read more »

Pulezidenti Opuma
Pulezidenti Opuma
7 years ago
Reply to  Wilson

And i have always said it… bro! This guy is the worst president in the History of humankind. Someone who doesn’t have the ability and skills of running a country. A clueless and good for nothing Leader.THis guy sucks.

mpoloni
mpoloni
7 years ago
Reply to  Wilson

I agree with you Wilson. I am so ashamed as a learned Malawian.

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