Does Mutharika really deserve peace- award, or should be General Nundwe
News in town is that former president Peter Mutharika has been named as this year’s recipient of the Uhuru/Raila Peace-Accord honorary award at the 5th London Political Summit and Awards 2020.
But does Mutharika really deserve this award? To answer this question, one needs to understand how this award came to be.
The Uhuru/Raila Peace-Accord was created in 2018 by the London Political Summit following a truce between Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on March 9 2018 after a conflict that emanated from a 2017 general election.
The award recognizes African leaders that have promoted peace, democracy and possess high levels of political tolerance.
It is debatable, though, if Mutharika’s six years as a Malawi leader has proved beyond reasonable doubt to earn him the Uhuru/Raila Peace-Accord.
However, it must be underscored that this award, fundamentally, aims to measure and honour a leader’s capacity to manage a nation in times of political tumult.
Mutharika’s measure, then, would not be found in the five years he was in power; rather, between 2019 and 2020 when popular revolts terrorized the streets demanding electoral justice.
Yes, Mutharika was adamant in defending and keeping Jane Ansah at the helm of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) when thousands took to the streets baying for her blood.
It must be underlined that Ansah symbolized a breakdown of electoral justice and for Mutharika’s resolve to defend her was a big blow to the country’s entrenchment of democracy.
Equally shocking was the move by Mutharika to play a victim after losing elections—he didn’t accept gracefully, something which is, again, a measure of democracy.
He put up strange arguments to discredit the electoral process and, even worse, he chose to retire to Mangochi instead of heading to Lilongwe to hand over power peacefully. For that, Mutharika must be slewed and not be forgiven.
However, besides his worse, Mutharika will be remembered for allowing Malawians to air their views without repression; even, as a Commander of Defense Force (MDF), he recoiled from pressing the panic button to buttress the protesters.
So does Mutharika deserve this award? I doubt if he does, especially, if you look at the legacy of entrenched State corruption, abuse of power and tribalism that his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) machinery let loose on Malawians.
Even worse, when you have one of his party’s shola boys, Tay Grin, being an ambassador of these awards, you just sit and wonder: Is the choice for Mutharika not politically motivated?
Should it had been General Vincent Nundwe of Malawi Defence Force. You have your say.
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As for the Nundwe suggestion highly laughable…
Just answer this simple question:
Who is the Commander In Chief? Is it not the President?
So was it Nundwe giving orders to Mutharika or Mutharika giving orders to Nundwe?
Less nsima more beans so that our brains can think…. we don’t think well sometimes!!
Why are we so emotional, biased and shortsighted? Honestly its pathetic.
Mutharika deserves the award 1000%. YES HE DOES. Do you think marches, demonstrations and all the exercise of democratic rights would have been tolerated by militant minded leader with no respect for peace and constitutionalism? Do you really believe protests would have not turned into running battles with hundreds of casualties as a result? Do you think it’s accidental that we have an independent judiciary if it weren’t for a leader that believes in constitutionalism?
I’m not saying the management of all government affairs under his watch was good….far from it. There was corruption and mismanagement yes! However, lets let’s acknowledge the good no matter how seemingly i significant it seems. A major reason we have a new dispensation in Malawi is because Mutharika allowed constitutionalism. If it had been left to party driven thuggery, the security forces and the judical system could easily have been weaponized against the opposition and the citizens.
Sometimes let’s think and not behave with herd mentality like sheep!
Who is Nundwe mwaiwara kut that position is appointed by the president nde muzifaizira zoba ndi bwana wake
#muthalika deserves that award
When Kamuzu was handing over the mantle of power to Muluzi in 1994 many people did not recognize the significance of this peaceful hand over bcoz they were still angry with him (Kamuzu) for his past atrocities.
Several years later Kamuzu was elevated to a hero status. The reason is simple – TIME! Time had allowed to expose the hidden achievements of the old man.
Most people can’t see the significance of Peter’s achievements at leas for now bcoz of anger, hatred and propaganda they have against him, but time will also expose the achievements of this old man.
My take is, he deserve that award.
Award or no award, so what…!!! Let the sleeping dogs lay. Malawians, let us just pat our backs. For kicking out mbabva Pitala out of government was no simple task. We are free from him and we should be happy. He can get his awards, so what!!!
For me I don’t care who gets these useless awards. All I care about is that I am finally freeeeeeeeee……!!!!
Wangochokera kumene kotamba iwe eti!? Gona kaye. Phwalalakonso ndipo. Koma uchila chule iwe.
Did he accept defeat like Dr. Kamuzu Banda? Do you remember what he said in his last speech? He was accusing opposition of violence yet he was the one who sent thugs to terrorize the opposition? Who came with the idea of tippex in May 2019? What was the intention? Was the intention peace or war? Who went to MCP offices to teargas Chakwera and the US envoy? Who beat Mayaya almost to death in Blantyre? Who petrol bombed UTM offices in Area 24 killing innocent people there? Muthalika deserves a place in hell.
Mutharika deserves the award looking how he handled the pressure from the opposition. Seeking appeal was also a sign of being democratic otherwise he has all the powers to cause anachy after the court rulling. Malawians because of hatred they don’t want to look things positively, so anyone supporting or in government now can’t see anything good of Mutharika. He is the modest president Malawi has ever had.
It is a shame and a disgrace to the nation of Malawi. Details have emerged why he got the award. Our elections without observers were the best ever the multi-party democracy was born, so outsiders aim only to humiliate us just like in this award.
Well the organisers are lunatics like Muthalika himself, they do not follow our coumtry current affairs.
Some organisations and institutions character is to gain recognition hence offer their awards to current/former State Presidents. For example Universities that award Honourary PhD’s would prefer to give it to State President or First Ladies. There is glamour associated with the function
This a stupid discussion, ask yourself if people would have died who you would have blamed and you will get you answer. You have to accept that even if you hate someone not everything they do sucks.
But didn’t people die bcz of his thuggery. Didn’t you hear about the petro bombing of a family in 24?
Kumuika munthu mai nkamwatu uku. Ananena litilo kuti wacita accept defeat???? analuzatu monga ma number simmawaona?????
A4 inali yovolerezeka
A5 inali Likasa..
musatinamizeko. plan inamusolobana pano sangaphiliphitheso mlamba unakapizidwa mu madzi oocha.
akadali ku self isolation or kku kwalantini.
A Malawi tizingodikila tsiku lomwe azatichule kolandira ACE AEARD.
HOPE MWAIDZIWA ANTHU
Muntharika deserves More than this Peace award. The country would have been on fire if it wasn’t for his calmness and tolerance. Don’t forget You stole his Presidency but he let u get away with it. No African President does that. What did General Nundwe do ? In my books, General Namathanga equally matched him.
Nundwe does not deserve that.
Nundwe deserves zero recognition. What he did all along was to dilute the the military reputation by utilizing them in political issues whereby Chakwera/Chilima on their own knew couldn’t garner the popular support other than the involvement of the military. Unfortunately, Nundwe was so unprofessional by allowing to stoop so low in order to receive kickbacks like what the situation is like to day: getting reinstated after retirement. What I am saying here is exactly what the Generals in the USA have said that they intend not to allow their soldiers get embroiled in political matters, nor should they be seen on the polling day. They say they will leave the politicians to sort out their differences themselves. Where was Nundwe’s common sense when it mattered most? It is therefore silly for a sane person to compare Mutharika and Nundwe based on their standing in society, period. Stop showcasing your idiotic minds, please. Unfortunately, the judiciary’s reputation was also compromised because money exchanged hands. On a poor note, that is what the DOJ under William Barr has been corrupted. USA should form an interesting ‘Case Study’ in various higher learning instutions as to how to corrupt/confuse government institutions and how to carry yourself around responsibly. What a contrast and comparable cases you have here.
create your own Nsundwe Meritorious Award and give it to your preferred candidate nundwe
Kenya is most corrupt country in Africa after Nigeria. The Prince of Thieves deserves this award.
Honestly speaking Malawi has never had a tolerant and patient President like APM. Kukanakhala kwina nkhondo inakwana ndithu Ku Malawi. Komanso to accept defeat amidst so many issues should not be taken for granted. Let’s learn to appreciate good things. There is nobody who is 100% perfect. Olo amene timalemba pano we have our own weaknesses.
The question should be “Did Mutharika accept defeat without inciting violence? Or did he try in any way to harm or intimidate anyone because he had lost? Did he cling to power?
If the answer is “yes ” then he deserves it.
The author of this article is a confused lot because he introduces the awarding organization as specially for political leaders. And yet you mention Nundwe, this is completely absurd on your part. You need to critically think about an issue before you bring it before us. All these awarding bodies have their own criteria of choosing who wins or not. The same applies, reporters award, its the same. Who are you to write that Nundwe deserves the award instead of APM? Nonsense!! Let them do their work, kungozolowera criticizing zopanda ntchito zomwe.
Inu, peace award yitinso abale? Does anyone really know of this organisation apart from a few Malawians and may be a few other Africans?
They knew no one else would accept the award and remembered there is a former president in Malawi who would fall for it. Hence APM.
Peter deserves it. Nundwe was a thug himself. He allowed pipo to damage properties belong to poor struggling Malawians.
To be honest general Nundwe is too weak for that position. He allowed mtambo to take the nation towards civil war by escorting demonstrators. In the end thugs and vagabonds (from both dpp and mcp sides) grew wings and started killing police officers, fought running battles with the army etc. Thanks to general namathanga for putting an end to the humiliation MDF was suffering. Namathanga revitalised MDF as a feared and professional entity. Nundwe accepted to come back so he can clean his image, the man failed miserably.
On the other hand apm deserves the award, the man is simply Africa’s last democrat, give him the mo Ibrahim award also. We need more of apms in Africa.
Not surprising, paja APM anali wawo including the so called International obsevers. This is just the beginning and we will see more international recognitions/nominations/awards going to him. Time is the best judge.
Mike Fiko you are a pathetic fool. Can the level of patience and tolerance demonstrated by APM be compared to what your nundwe is purported to have done? Munthu opanda nzeru iwe Fiko. Go to hell with your stupid and clueless Nonse alliance. Fotseki.
Yes APM deserves more and more awards for being very democratic and also for developing this country beyond measure. You should know that it is only APM who was able to do major developments using local resources and we must applaud him for that. There were more projects targeting the youth and women during APM compared to abusa Chakwera who is busy pleasing his old family members only.
Useless award, so yes he deserves it
I think as an institution which offers the awards, it has a panel which uses well laid out criteria for choosing the awardees. Therefore the choice of Mutharika is in order.
zapita zitayeni.
Wait, wait! Did you say APM ALLOWED us to air out views without repression? What the fuck is that?!! Freedom of speech is our birthright. This right never came from anybody, least of all the fuckin’ APM. Don’t you forget that! MXII! Ase!
I think ngobwax was born after 94
Nundwe is not a politician and doesn’t qualify for an award designed for politicians.
Nanu a Nyasatimes muzikhala ngati muli Mu UK. Bungwe lampasa maliseche award ndi bungwe lopanda ndi address yomwe. Kutha uku akulandira zilizonse trying to be relevant
Muchila