DPP hold demos against ‘sickening rumours’ on Mutharika

Hundreds of followers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Saturday afternoon took it to the street to demonstrate against those who have been spreading rumours that President Arthur Peter Mutharika is critically ill while others reached the extent of claiming the Malawi leader is dead.

The rumours gained currency after  government’s silence and the president’s delayed return from the United States of America where he went to attend a United Nations General Assembly meeting.

Mutharika left Malawi on 16th September for the assembly and was expected back home on 29th of the same month.

But speaking to journalists during the march to Blantyre District Commissioners Office where they delivered a petition, DPP Governor for the South Charles Mchacha said the party has gone through rough and tough times reading the comments about Mutharika’s claimed ill-health due to his delayed return through social media.

Mchacha said as much as his party understands that people have a right of freedom of speech-as stipulated in the constitution of the Republic of Malawi, but said they are supposed to have limits.

He said people have being talking alot of ‘nonsense’ towards Mutharika.

“So today we submitted the petition to show our grievances, we want the social media, all ill-intentioned Malawians to respect our
president” said Mchacha.

The petition was signed by Mchacha himself and was delivered to Blantyre DC Charles Kalemba.

In the petition, Mchacha wants action against those who “exceeded the boundaries of freedom of speech”.

The march protests started at Sunbird Mount Soche through Clock Tower to the DC office all the way to Southern Region DPP office.

President Mutharika is expected to return home this Sunday through Kamuzu International Airport at exactly 3:00pm according to latest information from Presidential Press Secretary Mgeme Kalirani.