JB courts Muslim leaders over Mia resignation
Malawi President Joyce Banda on Tuesday invited leaders of the country’s two Muslim organisations, Muslims Association of Malawi (MAM) and Majilis Ulama in the capital Lilongwe during which she pleaded with them to help detaching Muslim links with former Transport Minister and the ruling party’s vice president Sidick Mia who has unceremoniously dumped government and the party.
Impeccable sources who attended the meeting told Nyasa Times that President Banda also asked the Muslim leaders to lobby the Muslim community to vote for her during the forthcoming elections.
Moslem officials who attended the meeting include, MAM chairperson sheikh Idrissa Muhammad, his vice sheikh Ibrahim Shaibu, MAM’s Secretary General Sheikh Dr Salmin Omar Idruss, Majilis Ulama chairperson Sheikh Mussa Matola, Mufti Abbas, and Traditional Authority Chowe.
The sources say on the strategies to woo support from the Muslim community which they described as easy catch for People Party, Traditional Authority Chowe offered to issue a strong press statement condemning the resignation of Mia in which he will also appeal to Muslim community not to follow him wherever he may go.
“MAM’s chair Sheikh Idrissa Muhammad told President Banda that all along he has not been in good terms with Mia. He revealed that his enmity with Mia came soon after he refused the request from Mia to tell the President during the Muslim women Ijtima in Lunzu, that all Muslims in the country are behind Mia, hence if the president will not pick him as her running mate, Muslims will not vote for her during May 20 elections”, the sources revealed.
Mia is the vice chairman of MAM’s board and he has reached out to many Muslims in the country by sponsoring their projects. Few weeks ago, Mia donated a vehicle to Kanjedza Islamic Sisters in Blantyre plus K2 million for operations.
This raises a question of whether Muslims would abandon him for the sake of few religious leaders who seek favours from the President for their personal gains.
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