As Malawi burns, where is the Head of State?
President Peter Mutharika is where former leader Hasting Kamuzu Banda was in 1993 when Malawians were agitating for multi-party democracy.
The only difference between the two is that Banda moved quickly to act as a Head of State unlike Mutharika who appears lost and helpless—presumably watching a nation sink in a sea of chaos as he, cowardly, watches the scenes from a small hollow at an elevation.
In moments of political chaos, like the one we are watching in Malawi, you need a leader to stand up and make tough and unpopular decisions not just to save his political grip; but to stop the nation from sinking further in the mud of wreckage.
The case of Mutharika is, please, not a complicated one. He is not facing demands of a system of government change like Kamuzu. Protesters are demanding the removal/resignation of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) boss, Jane Ansah.
One, of course, would argue that what has, Ansah’s resignation demand, has to do with Mutharika?
Well, that is where he comes in as a Head of State. When the entire nation descends into the chaos we are watching, the Head of State needs to intervene.
Banda quickly stood up and granted the people the medium to choose between continued one party-state or adopt multi-party democracy. By that decision, Banda acted as a Head of State and saved the country from burning.
Mutharika must move now and remove Ansah from MEC.
Further, he needs to start engaging HRDC leaders and opposition gurus to begin a process of give and take.
Hiding in the State House and watching the nation burn is potent act of cowardice not expected of a Head of State.
President Mutharika must rise up and save the nation he swore to defend.
What Chiuta has written here is simply madeya. There is no logical comparison between the mentioned Kamuzu Banda’s dilemma and the current situation. Chiuta could have simply stated that he wants the overthrow of the current government, in one sentence. No preamble; no argument; no conclusion. His objectives are as clear as daylight; and he’s clearing advancing objectives of the disgruntled and the politically, DEFEATED – viz: a) political failures like oChakwera and his MCP wanting access to the Presidential Palace through the backdoor; b) political minnows, like Chilima, simply wanting to embellish their pathetic performance in the elections; c)… Read more »
Mutharika has shown maturity by being quiet. If he had blasted the opposition, sent the police and army to kill people, all the idiots protesting in the streets would have found an opportunity to fault his DPP government. Let president Mutharika continue to be cool headed and leave the fools – Chakwera and Chilima – to continue destroying the country until people rebuke them. That will be the end of Chilima and Chakwera’s political career.
So, The Mtambos, Chilimas and Chakwelas are failing to control their own invited guests in the streets. You wanted someone who else to control their mess!
I second this idea.let Chakwera and Chilima do that themselves.why are you shifting the role on Mutharika,when the fire was ignited by Chima/Chakwera.kunali kufuna kumuyesa Peter kuti tione apanga chani?kuyesa zida?????….zachibwana basi. mukatopa mukagona mmakwanu.
A president doesnt have idle time like that one.wazikolezerayo azithimise yekha.ma arrears angongole ndiomwe avuta.ingosalendani ma collateral wo to forfeit ma loan munakaputa ku Nigeria wo.2024 is not far.just wait….
Chilima thinks Malawians are stupid but some of us know him very,very well. Even from back in the days when he was getting fired from work This guy has collected loans all over the place to fund his failed presidential bid and he is desperate. Desperate people do desperate things. Failures always try to drag others down with them. This is a peaceful nation. Malawians are peaceful people.This guy must not try to turn them into thugs for his own hidden agendas.
While the 1993 agitations were truly national with no one being chased out of any region, the 2019 demos are driven by tribalistic and regionalistic tendencies of Mobocratic Arafat and his fake accent friend. The difference is clear.
I choose to disagree with this article, the writer somewhere seemed to drive a good point, but when it came that the solution is to remove JANE ANSA then I see the writer is a compromised person. Legally Mutharika can not fire Ansa while the case is in progress, that will be giving in to the request of thugs and betray the powers of the Judicially. Jane Ansa is a Legal person, did not impose herself as a Chairperson of MEC, She can only resign or get fired once the case is over and its established without doubt that she… Read more »
we rely on you Getrude tell your Robot to act
That’s okay let him be silent, we won’t understand him even when he chooses to speak, he mumbles, he needs a new set of wellf-fitting dentures
That is what happens when the President is the leader of a band of thieves……stealing is what he knows best
Pitala anatola ccithumbatu. Palibepo aziwa iye za mbili ya malawi anta.
Anangolowa mwa myaaa nde akaima pa nsanja kumatinyoza . Ife ophunda eti??????
Just wait
Does he have any advisors to speak off??? Or are they all retarded like his girlfriend Seod White??