Deguzman succumbs to pressure, apologizes for ‘tribalist’ remarks

May 8, 2019 Nyasa Times Reporter 35 Comments

UTM  Party sympathizer, Deguzman Kaminjolo, whose post on Facebook generated mixed reactions when he described members of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) as mere “ancestral spirits’ dancers and farmers”,  says he has withdrawn the remarks citing “consultations and advice from family and friends from across the political divide.”

Deguzman: I am sorry

Kaminjolo, a journalist turned PR specialist, wrote on Facebook that he had also apologized to the Chewa Heritage Foundation (CHEFO).

CHEFO had taken offense with Kaminjolo’s remarks, forcing them to hold a presser in the capital Lilongwe in which they demanded an apology from Kaminjolo within 48 hours.

According to Kaminjolo, he had a “frank” and “convivial” discussion with Richard Mdyetseni–CHEFO secretary general–where he outlined the sensitivity of the remarks considering the present political weather.

“On my part, I acknowledged the ill timing of such a remark, but explained to him there was no malice or intentional ridicule intended for the Chewa Tribe, their cultural beliefs, or the farmers in Malawi.

“None the less, the remarks were uttered, and I take full responsibility and retract without any conditions,” posted Kaminjolo on Facebook.

He urged politicians not to leverage on the remarks by associating them with UTM leader Saulos Chilima, UTM or any party.

Kaminjolo insisted he was not a member of UTM.

“I have never held a position even at the lowest level. My association with UTM is merely as every Jim and Jack potential voter,” he said.

He also said his stance was sincere.

“It hasn’t been forced or coerced, as such I urge everyone who might have aligned with me over the issue to stop antagonizing on social media, members of CHEFO.

“I have noted with regret acrimonious innuendos against Mr. Chikumbutso Mtumodzi. Chikumbutso is my friend from long time ago and no matter the circumstances we will never become enemies. We spoke out our differences last night and decided our friendship is more important than our political differences,” wrote Kaminjolo.

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35 replies on “Deguzman succumbs to pressure, apologizes for ‘tribalist’ remarks”

  1. MCP ndi Chipani chotembeleredwa . Sichingawine AYI! Muwonanso nokha pa 21 apa. Tizamvanso kuti atibera. You are very in sensetive choncho mungawine inu. You still scare the hell of many Malawians. Mpaka pano Amalawi akufuna kuti aziwe zoona zenini zankhaza zanu (Truth). Mukuganiza munthu wa kwa Moto Village ku Mangochi, abale ake Orton Chirwa ku Nkhatabay, Abale ake a Atati Mpakati angakuvotereni ? Come on! What Kaminjolo said if at all he offended you – is nothing than what your imported Kamuzu did to many Malawians. Tears are still running down their cheeks. A Chakwera apite akaonane ndi ma victim anu kuti akazimvere okha and have them compensated.

  2. Much as Deguzman apologised , the guy insulted amizimu and alimi but he didn’t mention Chewa. Am Chewa myself. It’s MCP which was supposed to complain not Chewa coz he didn’t mention them. Richard Mdyetseni acted so funny with an aim of destroying UTM votes within Chewa tribe . To my surprise all MCP seniors, him inclusive bn a senior MCP member blown this out of proportion coz they are scared of UTMs penetration in central region .this has made other people like me to think twice about voting for MCP. What’s the difference of removing tribalist DPP and replace it with another tribalist MCP. Why CHEFO acted where there was no word mentioning them . Its a sign that PP and other alliances will be ignore in an unlikely situation where MCP will win

  3. His apology has not changed how he feels about Chewas. That is his honest opinion. it is sad that in Malawi there are other people who feel that the tribe they belong to is more important than the others. But which tribe is that?

  4. Deguzman sanalakwe. Chewa’s are just vindictive and vangeful. Deguz’s post was benign, but some “gule wa mizimu” honchos thought it was targeting them. I stand with Deguz, and I will vote for UDF.

  5. Though wapepesa anawa sanakule ndi mwambo. Tonse achewa tiyeni ku MCP kapena DPP.DPP inatilemekezera Kamuzu pamene UDF inanyoza ndikumanga kamuzu.

  6. NDIMAFUNA NDIKAVOTELE UTM basi ndasintha maganizo!!
    i better vote for DR LAZ
    mwatiwonjeza mpaka- ALIMI OVINA NYAU
    vote yanga wayisokoneza basi

  9. Apapa ndinene kuti, zoti bwenzi atadzamusankha kukhala State House Press Officer or Information Minister, zafera mmazira eti?

  10. Deguzman Kaminjolo may have apologised but that’s just window dressing, the fact remains : he HATES Chewas.

  12. Whomever he was targeting, he meant to hurt them. Do we live in such world these days?
    Penapaketu…………..

  13. Kamanjolo sanachite bwino. zakhala bwino kuti mwapepesa akaminjolo. As for malawi, malawi mngwatonse, mitundu yonse yomwe tili muno. akanakhala malawi mngwa achewa okha bwenzi pano mutatenga kale boma. no one tribe has enough votes to give them victory. pitala muthalika uyu adamuvotela ndi achewa, alomwe, asena, atumbuka, ayawo, angoni, atonga ndi ena onse omwe amaika umalawi patsogolo osati mtundu ayi. UTM adzaivotela ndi amalawi anzeru omweo, not tribalist kaminjolo or tribalist chewas, lomwes e.t.c.

  14. Before Deguzman kulankhula zakezi ndinalitu was UTM. Koma panopa ndawawuza a chewa anzanga kuti tiyeni tibwele email ku MCP. Ku UTM kulibe khalidwe.

  15. While CHEFO might have forgiven that malicious journalist we the Chewa Identity Keepers (CIK) have and will not forgive him. We are calling all Chewas who feel offended by the remarks to stand up and protect their Chewa ID. For too long we have been offended without response. Our silence has be considered has cowardice. We have been stretched to the limit and this is our breaking point. Enough is enough. CIK executive members will soon meet to map way forward in dealing with this and other abusive acts against our land, culture, language and way of life. We are not politicians but protectors of our way of life

  16. Palibe kupepesa apa monga iwe Kaminjolo ukunama ngati? A nyau ndi anthu aumve sungafanane nawo iwe muyawo. Anthu awa ndi ma primitive – nangano nyau ndichinthu chonyadisa. Anthu amangozipaka manyi muthupi. Ndichifukwa timangomva kwaoko kuli Cholera. Ndiponso MCP siyinso apa akhalira mwatibera basi. The battle is between UTM and DPP period.

    1. You can’t win elections by bullying other tribes in case you win it would be difficult to lead them.

      1. Mwayiwala how you chewas and your Kamuzu bullied other tribes in Malawi. Munalitenge dziko ili ngati lanu you jack ass. Mpaka pano simukumvetsa kuti MCP inasiya kulamulira. Just like UNIP in Zambia MCP is cursed and will not return in the govt. Mukayambe mwapepesa nkhaza zonse munachita zaka 31 years. The people of Moto Village in Mangochi, Orton Chirwa folks in Nkhatabay, Atati Mpakati folks will never forget you guys. Tears are still running down the cheeks. Musanamizanepo Chakwera musavotera nokha tione ngati mungawine.

  17. Shee ndiye makobimunadya aka mubweza 4million to campaign on social media for UTM mayoooo MCP Boma

  19. SO THIS IS THE DEGUZMAN, MWATI MUYAMBE KUNYOZA OCHEWA LERO… CHOSECHO M’MASUKULUMU MWAPHUZIRA CHICHEWA…..MUKATI MWAPANGA BUSNESS MUKULANKHULASO CHICHEWA…

  20. ITS SO SAD THAT A JOURNALIST AS EXPERIENCED AS KAMINJOLO IS WOULD STOOP SO LOW AS TO DESCRIBE SUPPORTERS OF MCP AND ANCESTRAL SPIRITS. THIS KIND OF JOURNALISM IS UNFORTUNATE AND DEMEANING TO THE CHEWA CULTURE. DEGUZIMAN SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAT EVERY PERSON HAS THE RIGHT TO ASSOCIATE WITH THE PARTY OF HIS CHOICE.

    WE CANT ALL BE UTM NO MATTER WHAT! IF THIS IS THE CALIBRE OF PEOPLE IN UTM, THEN AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THIS PARTY WILL NOT BRING THE CHANGE WE SO MUCH WANT IN THIS COUNTRY

    1. Inu mukuona ngati anthu mukapita nawo mu nkanyumba akavota ndie osamadzinamiza ifeso nda achewa

  22. Lero mukufuna vote ya ma ancestral spirit omweo, agule omweo, olimi omweo, inu amtauni otsogola, kuchenjera pa mouth. Oh paja ndi Facebook, kuchenjera zala inuyo. Onthu ofumbi omatope omwe aja mwati lero mwafuna vote yao. Okhe tikuonerani

  23. Paja a UTM ndi aja amakana ma sincere apology aanzao aja. Lero ziri mnyumba mwanu mukufuna anzanu alandire apology. Koma hypocricy yake abale…. Mmmh

      1. Asakudziwa ndi ndani kuti akukana kuti simembala wa UTM because he knows the serious damage his stupid mind has brought to UTM.

    2. Duguzman made the utterances on facebook. He has written CHEFO and apologized through facebook as well. Besides, he no executive member of UTM and he never uttered those words at a UTM podium. Consider all these outline facts against how Ben Phiri did he and that he is a Campaign Director. A Malawi kumakhala ndi nzeru pokamba zinthu

      1. Awa asadzalamulirenso Malawi… They are too tribalistic and regionalistic than the lhomwes.

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