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… Read more »
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… Read more »
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