MCP wants Kaliati dropped as Minister for ‘bringing Malawi govt into disrepute and should go for IQ test’

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has asked President Peter Mutharika to consider reshuffling his 20 member cabinet and drop outspoken Minister of Gender, Patricia Kaliati for bringing government into disrepute.

The call was made by MCP spokeswoman Jessie Kabwila at a news conference held in Lilongwe on Wednesday.

Kabwila accused Kaliati of making crass remarks against leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera at a ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rally in Thyolo at the weekend.

She claimed Kaliati who spoke at the rally attended by President Mutharika and beamed on tax –funded MBC television, referred to Chakwera as a biblical figure, Lazarus who was raised from the dead, and should wait for next life to govern Malawi.

Kabwira appealed to Mutharika to consider cabinet reshuffle and drop Kaliati, saying her conduct will “decampaining him.”

The MCP spokeswoman said Kaliati need to go for “an IQ check.”

Said Kabwila: “Can she [Kaliati] hold a ministry if the best she can do is to insult people?”

Kabwila said DPP is resorting to insulting political opponents because they have failed to govern and that “they were not the people who were elected by Malawians.”

Presidential spokesman Gerald Viola has since dismissed the call for cabinet reshuffle, saying it will not be entertained by President Mutharika.

Viola also backed Kaliati, saying she was only expressing her concerns and opinion.

He countered Kabwila by saying that the MCP spokesman is the most foul-mouthed politician than Kaliati.