Chiefs slam calls for Mutharika to resign

Some traditional leaders said opposition parties had dragged the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) stakeholders conference down to a shameful level after they used it to call for the President Peter Mutharika’s resignation.

Two major opposition political parties—Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and People’s Party (PP) – gave Mutharika 90 days to leave office , accusing the Head of State of  sliding the Malawi into a failed state economically and socially.

PAC held a two-day stakeholders conference under the theme Defining Solutions to Economic and Political Direction in Malawi with efforts to find solutions to the problems dogging the country.

But  in a news conference in Blantyre, traditional leaders who included  Paramount Chief Kyungu, Senior  Chief Lukwa, Paramount Chief Lundu, Senior Chief Kaomba, Senior chief Kapeni , Senior Chief Malemia,  Senior Chief Tsabango and Traditional Authority Kilipula said they cannot condone irresponsible statements calling for regime change.

“We as chiefs do not support the call for resignation of the President,” said Kyungu.

“We believes that the problems the country is facing have been there for ages and they have not come because of President Mutharika,” he added.

Chief Kaomba said there is no way a President can resign in 30 days.

“The ailing economy and food security problems cannot be faulted on President Mutharika’s 18-month rule,” said Kaomba.

Kaomba said Mutharika  has set out progressive interventions to address the socio-economic challenges confronting Malawi.

However, opposition leaders said the chiefs are speaking to “justify their allowances “ saying it is a clear indication that Mutharika was out of touch with the plight of Malawians.

“If President Peter Mutharika is not an honourable man, let him do the honourable thing and resign,” said Peoples Party vice president Kamlepo Kalua.

At the PAC conference, the opposition rapped the President of being responsible for the high cost of living and ailing economy, dwindling service delivery peppered with empty talk on Public Service reform.

MCP spokeswoman Jessie Kabwila said its “decision time” for the President to resign.