Chakwera says MCP’s risks of losing headquarter driven by political motive: Hits at DPP

March 19, 2015 Alfred Chauwa -Nyasa Times 110 Comments

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Dr Lazarus Chakwera who is also leader of opposition in Parliament, on Thursday said he feels there is a political motive over the way how Lilongwe City Council is pushing alleged K265 million city rates which the council claims MCP owes them.

Chakwera addressing a news conference at MCP headquarters
Chakwera addressing a news conference at MCP headquarters

Chakwera was addressing a news conference at the party headquarters in Lilongwe and said it is surprising that up to now the party has not received summons over the same.

“We are just hearing from the media the council officials have not come to us over the same,” said Chakwera.

Chakwera said MCP the legal team led by its party secretary general Gustav Kaliwo is working on the matter.

“As a party we are not worried and the truth will be known,” said Chakwera.

Chakwera stressed MCP could not lose the building due to such a little anomaly and asked its supporters must remain calm.

The opposition leader also attacked the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on governance and condemned  its Secretary General Ecklen Kudontoni who during a meeting he addressed in Mzuzu had called on CEOs of statutory corporations to support the DPP.

“I condemned in very strong terms those unfortunate remarks and called for a retraction of such undemocratic statements. I asked the DPP leadership to censure the official unless the statements reflected the thinking of the leadership of the party at the highest level,” said Chakwera.

“In typical fashion of the DPP instead of retracting the remarks or censoring the Secretary General, a claim is now being made that the Secretary General was misunderstood or misquoted. It is most unfortunate, in my view, that the blame is now being placed on the media.

“I repeat my demand that there must be an unequivocal retraction of those unfortunate statements. If the DPP insists that the Secretary General was misunderstood then I demand that the DPP must make available to Malawians the complete recording or full transcript of what the Secretary General said so that all Malawians can hear for themselves what the Secretary General said and judge for themselves if what was said is proper,” continued Chakwera.

But President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday disassociated himself from remarks made by Kudontoni.

Mutharika has asked government officials and DPP members to refrain from making comments that mischaracterise the views of the Head of State and the beliefs of the DPP with regard to how Malawi must move forward.

The presidency assured that the policy of the Mutharika administration to separate between functions of State and partisan politics has not changed.

But Chakwera said the statement issued by the President “falls short of condemning the official, it would have been even better to be told that the individual was summoned and censured instead of just generalizing.”

Chancellor College associate professor of political science Blessings Chinsinga said civil servants should not be victimised for not supporting DPP.

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110 replies on “Chakwera says MCP’s risks of losing headquarter driven by political motive: Hits at DPP”

  1. KODI AMALAWI 2019 TIZAVOTELE CHIPANI CHOSALIPIRA NGONGOLE? A MCP PANGANI MANYAZI MUBWEZE NGONGOLE. KODI SIMUNAIWALEBE KUKONDA ZA ULERE?

  2. The question which the MCP president should answer are; Does your party pay city rates? Is paying city rates a political issue? Are you suggesting that all of us should stop paying city rates as long as we can hire a lawyer?

  3. kodi mwaiwala? Lazarotu ndi mbava inathawa ku church kuopa kuyaluka.kungoti ampingo amuumire mtima ameneyu mpaka ku ndende atha kukalowa.so a Lazaro u better shut ur big mouth and stop talking about DPP..DPP and MCP were all outside govt only DPP managed to rise and beat PP. Where were u? Sumadzawinanso mpaka kale kale Chair anakuuzani kale.

  4. a MCP pliz lipilani. palibe nkhani ya ndale apa. Nthawi yonseyi mumadikira kuti akukumbutseni. Akapandanso kukhoza misewu mudziti boma la DPP lalephera chitukuko. SHAME ON U MCP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. ANAZOLOWELA KULANDA ZAMA CARD, NG’OMBE ZA ENI AKE, KUTENGA FERTILISER WA ULELE KU ADMARC, MWINANSO BANK YA MSB AKUKANIZA KUGULITSA KULI NGONGOLE ZA MCP AKUOPA IKAGULISIDWA AUMILIZIDWA KUBWEZA. THE PARTY OF DARKNESS, MUBWEZE NGONGOLE KU CITY KUTI ATUKULIRE MZINDA WA LILONGWE. A CITY AKULEPHERA KULIPIRA ANTCHITO CHIFUKWA CHA AGALU INU. A CITY AKULEPHERA KUKONZA MISEU CHIFUKWA CHA AGALU INU. A CITY AKULEPHERA KUIKA MGETSI M’MISEU CHIFUKWA CHA AGALU INU. A CITY MUGULITSE KATUNDU WA ALIYENSE WOSALIPIRA MA RATES KUTI MUZILIPILIRA MALIPIRO A MAKHANSALA MUSAWALEKELERE AGALU AMENEWA, ANAZOLOWERA KUDYA ZA ULERE, NDI CHIFUKWA CHACHE AMAKANA MATIPATE NKUMATI NDI NKHONDO CHONSECHO AKUFUNA KUTI AZIDYA ZA ULERE. MAGAZI A GADAMA NDI MATENJE NDI ANZAO ANAKUTEMBELERANI. CHIPANI CHIMENECHI SICHIZACHOKA M’MABVUTO CHIFUKWA NDI CHAMAGAZI. MUWALIPIRENSO APAYONIYA KU MINDA YANU MUMAWALIMISA ULELE NGATI THANGATA KUJA.

  6. A city council nthawi yonsei munali kuti?mukubwela pano throu the media nkupeleka 30 dys!kodi a LL city council xool yanu munkaphuzila zichani?

  7. Comment. I hope they have the receipts they last pay the bills. They should start adding the bill from then up to date and negociate from there.

  9. There is indeed an invisible DPP force behind all this issue. Why is the City being hash on MCP only when most residents at Area 25 sector 3,4,5,6,7,8, Area 23, 43 and 44 have huge arrears including the City officials who have Cash gate like mansions but they are paying no city rates.

  10. I know that MCP is very accountable on everything they will pay the bills. It was an oversight as they were busy with campaign to be in government. Now they will concentrate on the paying back the bills. We lost the donor support and with these huge sums can support our national budget.

    How about the bills from the properties in other cities and towns? Please reconcile properly and pay.

  11. I think this so called pastor is very
    stupid. Tell his supporters to remain calm for what? This party of death is owing the council full of mcp councillors millions of kwac kwachas that can be used to develop your city. This stupid pastor instead of finding ways of sourcing the money to pay the rates is busy pointing fingers at another party from another city.
    Lazaro lazaro yur put on shoes that do not fit yu. Just Quit politics and leave it to the politicians the likes of nsowoyas, tired elephant, Jzu.

  12. If you are hearing from media so what? just pay what you know u owe them, other than hide on political motive blame game

  14. apart from this bill MCP need to be sued to pay compensations to the people it jailed without trail and deaths of millions of people in its era

  16. I think Kudontoni was not wrong to say what he said;
    1. It was not by force that CEO must do
    2. It a matter of Must that we all of us assist the development of Malawi, therefore where is a problem when the Chief Executives have been asked to do the same there must be cries from the opposition party.

    Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda used the same formula of putting strong CEOs close to him, he knew their importance. The unfortunate opposition parties and people will cry one way on any development remarks made by the government, we have seen this in a number of African countries except America & Britain – they are informed of what is government.

    party politics and govern – must be separated if we are to see the growth of Malawi. For Mr Chakwela, my advice is that, your background of Church man and education am expecting super politics from you and not the cry baby boy.

  18. Mr MCP President, i think you have better issuues to address rather than dwelling on the childish remark made by Mr Kudontoni. People have held your concern the very first time you commented, so now move forward. Anzanuwotu anamva ndipo akupita chitsogolo.

  19. DPP will never change. Instead of moving forward they are busy plundering the country’s meager resources. Ndiye nkumati zaka 50 zatha tirin paufulu koma osatukuka. Mutukuka bwanji ndi Mr. Ibu for president???

  20. MR. CHAKWERA IS CLEAR SAYING THE AMOUNT WILL BE CLEARED REGARDING THE FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATIONS BEING CARRIED OUT, PLEASE DO SO.
    LILONGWE CITY COUNCIL PLEASE AVOID TO BE ENGEERED BY THE PARTY OR SOMEBODY, THAT IS NOT GOOD AT ALL. ENA AKWAFUNA MA OFFICE AWO KUTI ATENGE. SORRY A MALAWI OPANDA CHIKONDI MAWA ZIZAKHALA PAINU

  21. Just pay the rents. Be exemplary and let the rule of law prevail. Moreover Lilongwe City Council is mainly made of MCP councilors so why criticizing DPP? Zachamba eti?

  23. MCP playing double stands – on MSB you said those that owe it should just pay the money to keep the bank going now on the city rates you owe instead of just setting it – you say its political..kikiki koma guys!

  24. Inuyo ngati mulibe ma plot mutawuni ya Lilongwe mungokhala phee muyelekeze kulanda tikuthizimulani

  25. Useless party president who is always depending on public sympathy for obvious reasons. Shame on you, koma titi a citywo akunama? nanga ma lawyer wo akupanga zinthu opanga ma summons? aneneri onyenga inu munazolowera kupasidwa zinthu zaulere mu church ndi cash gate yomwe shupit zako iwe!

  26. Is it legal fees for City Council to use compound interest on the city rates? It could be used as a deterrent to defaulters but is this not stealing? Lawyers enlighten us coz it is too much.

  28. chakwera ulape ndale kwa iwe sudalemberedwe uayenera ukulalikira taona ukakhala pa msonkhano umakhala ngati ukulalika utenga kuti ndalama obaba otembo onali onzeru koma ana inu mwachepa nazo ndale poti amayi anathawa bwenzi utabwera kuzakongola ndalama bola ife a pp tinalipira kale

  29. Pay the rates ans keep quiet Reverend Pastor LP DR LC! Simple. You have your own Kudontoni in Jessie Kabwira she of the ‘kubela maliro’ fame. Did you condemn her when the people complained of her insensitive remarks? Mwamutayatu Mulungu atsogo! Chilungamo chikuvutika kuti chituluke pa kamwa panupo. Anyway….its a choice you made.

  34. Chakwera munthu wopanda nzeru,nthawi imene Jessie Kabwila ananyoza anthu odwala Aids anayankhulapo kanthu kutsutsana nazo?sianongoti phwii.lero Peter watsutsana nazo zimene anayankhula Kudonton ngakhale ali wachipani chake.ndiye akuchulukaponso nzeru kukhala ngati iyeyo ndiozindikira.ndale simbali yanu akulu koma ubusa womweo basi

  45. Adazolowera kulanda nkhuku, ndi ziweto zina kwa anthu osauka claiming they were donations made to the party at will. They never paid anything even during their rein. They used to solicit money from school children in the name of gifts. The big debt indicates they never paid anything. Even the building they claim to be for the party is was in fact Snatched from the city assembly. ..but who could say anything during that worst dictatorship rein Malawi has ever experienced?

  46. Chakwera iwe ungopanga zoti mulipire basi ukapitiriza kuikapo mdale nyumba ipita uwona unachokeranji ku ubusa kutsata za mziko ?ukomana ndi zokhoma sunati

    1. Ife a dpp sitingasilire nyumbayo chifukwa wathu ali ku State House. Sitingapikisane nanu ndinu ana kwambili. Komwe kuli mabodyguard oopsa ndiye uti cha?

  49. Please let me understand: are these city rates for only MCP headquarters or together where there’s Audit House, Airtel, Bisnowarty and Safari Restaurant? If so that means the mentioned is for Hon. Bisnowarty then Airtel, Auditor General and those on the plot including Sanctuary Police. Otherwise even if MCP hasn’t been paying; the amount can’t be this much, even after making some simple mathematics it can’t be this much. Lilongwe City please be professional because tomorrow you don’t the sane you are denying today you will be serving, who knows. To MCP if you have some arrears to pay please just strategies on how to pay, we Malawians are ready to bail you out provided you will give us your Audit reports on how you are managing your funds including the funding we gave you during campaign and the one you get from parliament.All the best MCP

  50. Why only MCP?Many people in Lilongwe have unpaid city rates mounting into billions. osewo muwalande

  51. MCP pay city rates period. There is no politics here. Settle the bill or the building must be sold so that the moneg be used to develop Lilongwe. Pay pay pay pay. Get a loan from a bank to settle that bill. Our leaders must be exemplary as far as timely settlement of bills is concerned. It must begin with MCP boma in 2019!!!

  52. Fellow countrymen, its high time we realised the importance of tackling issues not attacking personalities. Poor malawians, poor thinking, poor priorities and poor country, so shameful. Ntchito chigololo, ulesi, katangale, umbava, mabodza, nsanje ndi ufiti. Let’s learn from other countries, so that we can develop and embrace the developmental spirit, to develop our lives and our nation.

  53. Mr Chakwera has been on top of the world campaining that us people involved in cashgate should be arrested without mercy…well here I am at maula but look now, Mr Ching’ombe Whatsapp have you gained? You owe L C C alot of money. Tinakakuthandizani ife kubweza!

  54. Achakwera musaone ngati mukuwerenga bible paliso ndale apa munangomva kuti athu amapanga ndale pay the bills ngati mulibe akagwadeni kwa big man basi

  55. big man chakwera, easy. 200 milion yachukuka man. kodi apanga backdate from 1970 chani? the negligence is on the city officials bambo, musadwale mutu, inu mwayamba pompano job. jack up city, its your fault…

  56. big man chakwera, easy. 200 milion yachukuka man. kodi apanga backdate from 1970 chani? the negligence is on the city officials bambo, musadwale mutu, inu mwayamba pompano job. jack up city, its your fault.

  57. It is not about your building guys. It is about unpaid city rates. As one of the corporate citizens of the city of Lilongwe go and negotiate terms of payment with the city council and exercise your duty to pay city rates. Thereafter, as corporate citizens, demand of your city council to similarly deal with other debtors owing it city rates. You could champion a call for all debtors including government institutions to pay their city rates. Show leadership: Clean your house and then mount the high moral horse championing civil campaign for your city council to recover rates owed to it by all corporate citizens, including government ministries, department, and agencies. Be a responsible corporate citizen in all the local government areas. This is a leadership and financial responsibility matter for viable opposition parties.

  58. MCP is a big party. zikutheka bwanji mpaka ndalama kufika pamenepa? hmmmmm zoopsatu. i think there is total negligency. perekani ndalama.ngati palibe tiuzeni tizisonkha pang’onopang’ono ngati muja akuchitira a BB FC. There is no politics here.

  59. No! No! Lazaro that’s not the way. If MCP has unpaid city rates, let’s pay. That will attest to the fact that you are a strong party. MCP is not a brief case party or family party. In terms of human resource and structures MCP much,much superior than any party.

    But don’t respect them, if they don’t respect you. If they call for blood you can equally shade blood. You don’t need to remind them.

  61. WHERE WAS LCC TO LEAVE THE FIGURE TO REACH 265M? DOES IT MEAN THAT OFFICERS AT LCC WERE DEAD AND NOW HAVE ARISEN AND REALISED MCP HAS A BIG DEBT? SURPRISING! MALAWI IS FUNNY STATE HOW CAN WE PROGRESS & PROSPER WITH SUCH TYPE OF DOING THINGS. SHAME ON CEO & OFFICES LCC U ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS AND YOU ARE HAVE NO ETHECS.

  63. Its difficult to understand that the ex- Rev Dr Chakwera is politicising the issue here. The city council has been loosing revenues for so long and its time that they have to start a follow up of what the people are owing them. Are you happy Dr Chakwera to see the city council struggling while your party is owing them too much. What type of politics is this that when people want to change the old ways or running things we rush to say its politics. I beg you Dr Chakwera, remember the bible says that you shall know the truth and it shall set you free. This is the truth, your party is owing the city council. The question is any you should sit down with the old gurus of the party, look into the books, what was happening for the party not to honour its city rates. What was happening with the money that was allocated to pay city rates, you will end finding out that there has been a PARYGATE in MCP. Be a gentleman Dr Chakwera, people are watching, if you are complaining to pay the city rates that your party is owing , what more when you ascend to government, by the way which you should forget about it, it wont happen.
    My advice visit the budget lines and see what has been happening with the allocation which was meant to pay city rates before you come out and accuse others, may be a PARTY GATE was happening.

  64. My fellow MCP members lets sit down and discuss ways and means of settling this debt. We can talk, accuse, point fingers but the debt still remains.

    We should not forget that we are a government in waiting. Lets show them that we are a responsible government in waiting by servicing the debt.

  65. Sizikugwirizana ndi ndale apa..inu mungopereka ndalamazo basi..akufuna ndalama ndi LCC kapena DPP..anthu opusa a MCP inu…nkhani ili apa si ya ndale yayi

  67. those of u saying MCP ndi opanda nzeru think twice b4 u make ur comments. MCP sikukana zoti they owe the LCC some money due to acrued city rates. The point is how much is the money. The figure mentioned by the LCC is what is questionable. So use ur brains bfore u use tongues….

  68. Chakwera should really not drag this issue into politics. As a party we can call a government in waiting, setting good precedents is good. Do you support defaulting of city rates? if not kalipileni ngongoleyo and do not politicize the issue

  69. Bambo chakwera, pamenepa ndale zili pati? Ifenso nyumba zathu timalipira city rates what more with ur big premise? Chakwera please be exemplary.how can city council carry out its work effectively when u r keeping such a huge amount.madala pliz be civilised and do not fool ur supporters.Lilongwe is our city so lets support its service delivery by paying city rates.

  70. Some of the comments on MCP hqs building are misplaced. Lets be serious guys coz the MCP president is spot on there is smtg amiss with the whole issue i dont believe LCC couldnt collect rates for 15 solid yrs. Bingu and Tcheya were in power and nothing happening WHY? Mmmm ichi nde chibwana cha mchombo lende iyaaaa

  71. The remarks by jessie kabwira on NAC also represented those of MCP. Can I ask this fallen pastor

  73. Am very disappointed with Chakwera, it’s a good thing he lost. Apparently he has never read the part in the bible where Jesus advised the Pharisees to give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar!

  75. The outstanding city rates were published in the papers. What do you mean they should come to you, you should go to them and settle the bill.

  77. Bwana chakwera Lilongwe city council ndi chipani cha DPP ndizosiyana , Musakambe zambiri ai ngati ndalamazo mulibe kambanawoni muzipeleka pang’opang;ono a LCC.Inuyo muzikhala nyumba yosalipira city rate?

  78. A Chakwera za ziiii apa. Kodi pakanapanda ngongole yi zinazi mukanakamba liti. Ndale mukukamba ndi zopusa. Inuyo mukhale chitsazo chabwino.

  81. Stupid man of collar.

    I wish you remained in the Ministry where you were used to brainwashing people.

    Pay up or let the property be attached.

    This man makes me sick.

  82. Stupidity at its best!!

    Was it DPP that was telling MCP not to pay city rates?

    If you want to blame someone blame Tembo, what was he doing with the money that parties in Parliament get?

    Just pay up!!

  85. kodi a Kongelesi simumamva bwanji? Ngongole ndi ndale zikugwirizana bwanji? Ngati simufuna kulandidwa katundu ndiye mungolipila ngongolezo. DPP ndi nkhani ya ma city rates sizikugwilizana, mungolipila muone ngati angakulandeni katundu. A Galatiya ngati ndale zakukanikani mungobwerera mkachisi palibe kanthu. Pelekani Pelekani za Kaisalazo. Nthawi ya nyakula, n’gona, makadi ndi kubela anthu ziweto inakutherani ndipo sidzakwananso, munazunza komanso kupha a Malawi kwa zaka zambiri.

  86. Do you think a party that has such debts if voted into government can avoid cashgate? This is how PP was trapped ending into cashgate.
    There should be a legislation that if political parties have huge debts and record of not paying, such parties should be disqualified unless the debts are settled.

  87. If i may ask Mr Chakwera` when last did your briefcase party honour city rates payments?
    Don’t use “political vendetta” as a scapegoat,pay the municipality or risk to lose the building
    Now I get the hang of why our cities are failing to deliver,

    1. When did a party with offices and elected officials become a briefcase party? Consult your dictionary /thesaurus to help you get the meaning mmalo moonetsa umbuli wanu bambo!

  89. I thought Chakwera was a streetwise man but he is proving to be a brute. Blaming politics on non payment of city rates is being very myopic. The fact remains that MCP is expected to be paying city rates and has not been paying over the years.

    By the way, I ve observed that you are running the party through useless press conferences instead of going out to hold meetings with the “Malawias” you falsely claim to represent. One other thing which is clear now is that you are very shallow in your arguments. Am now convinced that that you are dull and do not fully comprehend national issues. Please do a lot of research and only comment on issues you fully understand. John Tembo anali ana amuna odzitsata zinthu and was not just making noise as you are doing now. Ndindale izi osati pente whose blind followers are desparados.

  91. Chakwera is very far from politics,ican see he can’t take mcp into government any more and the party is just wasting time in trusting him that he can become the state president,mark my words

  92. The question is do you owe City Council or not? Dont be mad at DPP as it has nothing to do about city rates. Ask obaba Tembo why he was not paying. Munazolowera nthawi ya Kamuzu you were just grabbing those assets and farms. Pay up man. Kuzolowera za ulere za ku church.

  94. If the bills are there ,let members know and should find means how to pay
    coz loosing that building will not be good to our party.

  98. Chakwera 265m is too much how can city assembly survive without rates.the building must be sold and shame on you

  99. Mr Chakwera if there is no Debt MCP is owing the City Council then its well and good. But if MCP has an outstanding bill as a Party just agree to settle, consult your members to contribute something start now. Please dont use threats to intimidate the Government, this will be counter productive to your party, just find ways of settling this bill, any queries go and justify your position with the City council, dont you have Accountants? . There is no politics here, we want responsible leaders who can honour debts not tricksters. It is on record that during the time of MCP regime this party was not settling bills, they used threats to intimidate
    workers @ Water Boards,Escom, Please payyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy your bills now.

  100. Its DDP behind that koma ife a MCP sitingalore kuti building imeneija ipite pamtengo wozizira ngati a DDP mukuifuna building imeneija ndiye mwalemba m’madzi

  103. Dr Chakwera people wanted you as a new person in Politics pano mwayamba ndale dont be surprised za ma city rates when did the MCP last paid the city rates shut up

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