Columnist accuses Mutharika of naked favouritism, nepotism: ‘Malawi belongs to all of us’

A prominent newspaper columnist in Malawi on Saturday added his voice to the cacophony of accusations levelled against President Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government on nepotism and ethnicity favouritism.

Mutharika has come under heavy criticism from opposition in the way he has selected his cabinet and some public appointments. Critics accuse him of practising nepotism by giving top positions in government to people from his southern region, loyalists and his tribesmen.

They argue that the new appointments and cabinet has exposed rationalistic agenda of the DPP-led administration.

Mutharika: Accused of nepotism and tribalism
Mutharika: Accused of nepotism and tribalism

And writing on his ‘My Diary’ column in the Weekend Nation, the paper’s editor George Kasakula said he expected President Mutharika to appoint ministers into his Cabinet based on their competencies and not where they come from.

“This is for the mere reason that this country belongs to all of us—13 million-plus Malawians— and not just one tribe or one region,” he pointed out.

He added: “A Cabinet that has 13 ministers from the Southern Region, three from the Central Region (it has always been underrepresented in the DPP governments, for whatever reason, even when it gave votes to the late Bingu wa Mutharika in 2009) and four from the Northern Region is not an all-inclusive government that attempts to share the national cake equitably.”

The columnists calls for equitable distribution of the national cake.

“We all pay taxes that the State imposes on us without discrimination. It is not just citizens from one region who pay more than those of other regions.”

Kasakula asked Mutharika to be “fair” arguing that as a taxpayer he is “livid” to see “naked favouritism” practised by the DPP-led government.

The previous DPP government led by Mutharika’s brother, late Bingu wa Mutharika, also faced widespread criticism on nepotism.

Many people who spoke to Nyasa Times said Mutharika and his DPP could do well to listen to this free advice instead of continuing to display the “executive arrogance” that Malawians have now come to detest.

In the Nationals Assembly this week, Member of Parliament (MP) for Mzimba West Harry Mkandawire, expressed fear  that Muthatika’s nepotism will plunge the country into untold misery.

 

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