Chakwera gets rousing welcome at chief’s elevation as Mutharika fails to acknowledge his presence

Opposition leader in parliament Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday ra received a rousing welcome at at the elevation of Chief Kabudula ceremony in Lilongwe where President Peter Mutharika attended.

MCP Presidential candidate  Lazarous Chakwera arriving at the venue....Photo Jeromy Kadewere.
MCP Presidential candidate Lazarous Chakwera arriving at the venue….Photo Jeromy Kadewere.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  president was cheered wildly in full view of the government officials.

MCP supporters lined up for about a kilometre to welcome their leader as they chanted songs in his praise.

After Chakwera took his seat, ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters, who were ferried to the ceremony in trucks unlike their MCP counterparts, took to the same dusty road to welcome their leader President Peter Mutharika who elevated chief Kabudula to senior chief.

In his salutations, Mutharika never acknowledged the presence of the MCP leader, the head of state’s arch political rival.

Chakwera came second during the 2014 election with 28 per cent of the vote cast while Mutharika had 36 per cent of the vote.

The leader of opposition was also not allowed to speak.

Despite being a government function, DPP secretary general Ecklen  Kudontoni was given the podium and in usual DPP foul-mouthing style, he castigated the opposition that they have nothing to offer in the country.

He asked all traditional leaders to pledge their allegiance to the government not to opposition.

In his speech, Mutharika called on traditional leaders to chase away opposition leaders seeking to hold rallies in their areas.

Political commentators and Malawians writing in social media have condemned the President for the remarks, saying he is now becoming arrogant, intolerant and dictatorial, tenets that characterised the last term of office of his brother, Bingu, before his sudden death in 2012 and the subsquent dramatic though sorrowful fall of his regime, pushing the DPP into opposition for two solid years.

However, there were no incidents of clashes between the supporters of the sworn rivals and the ceremony ended peacefully.

Local government minister Kondwani Nankhumwa was scheduled to elevate the chief but Mutharika was brought in when it was known that Chakwera would grace the ceremony. The area, just like most parts in the central region, is the stronghold of the MCP.

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Josh St.
Josh St.
7 years ago

Presidential candidate? Which election is this? Chakwera is s former Presidential candidate. Once elections are over, there are no candidates any more Mr. Owen Khamula

Unenesko Nguwemi
Unenesko Nguwemi
7 years ago

MCP and DPP demonstrated maturity because it was government business and not party business.Elevation of chiefs is government

daniel mapulanga
daniel mapulanga
7 years ago

Boma iloooooooo kwacha

mbelwa
mbelwa
7 years ago

chindere chakufikapo ici

Mbonga Matoga
Mbonga Matoga
7 years ago

Bravo MCP Bravo all Chewas, time and time again Chewas have taught us how matured politics should be. If this was in the Lomwe land there would have been bloodshed. How can an educated professor, a president of the whole nation for that matter, give a primitive directive to chiefs to chase opposition leaders holding political rallies in their areas? Are we not in a multiparty democracy? Apparently he gave the directive at the rally in the presence of the leader of opposition, what was he trying to instigate. Once again, Bravo to all people who attended this installation ceremony… Read more »

Zafwita
Zafwita
7 years ago

The problem of Munthalika Family and their DPP government is that the dont respect Democracy fought by the Chihanas, Thomsons, Makhumulas, Bakilis to mention but a few.
They also everytime use Rich gear that doesnt respects the poor people who are real malawians.
By the way Malawians learn something from these Family, You must not even vote people doesnt experience Village life of Malawi, who dont know that there are people in villages who fail to manage 1,000.00mk per month.
The Malawian Foreigners they only take life very easy and simple.
Anyway Kalowa Kayaza.

Achimidzimidzi
Achimidzimidzi
7 years ago

I should thank Dr Lazarus Chakwera and all MCP supporters who attended the function. I don’t mind if people acknowledged your presence or not, to me what matters is the function . And I should thank the president, Prof Arthur Peter Muthalika for elevating of the chief. Hoping this is done on merit.

Lupiya Banda
Lupiya Banda
7 years ago

I thot APM has been to America where Democracy reached the last mark. Why can’t he show a piece of that. Acknowledging the presence of Chakwera could not have taken anything from him. Why can’t he be different. I think our problem as Malawians is not exposure but we are cursed nation…….my opinion.

hhmdidi
hhmdidi
7 years ago
Reply to  Lupiya Banda

Not the problem with Malawians….the problem with APM

Maunisi
Maunisi
7 years ago

Chakwera woyeeeeeeeee. Timakunyadilani a President Chakwera. Inu ndiye mwasenza dziko lino dikirani pa 19 May 2019. Mukuvekedwa upresidenti ndi ife mMalawi. Mbavazi sitikudzifunaso mMalawi muno ayi.

mgoloso
mgoloso
7 years ago
Reply to  Maunisi

Anthu ndiye muli ndi nthawi yokwaniradi – pitani kumunda mutukule mabanja anu abale

kkilembe
kkilembe
7 years ago
Reply to  mgoloso

It is time to start praying again.

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