Joyce Banda says Mutharika shouldn’t resign, ‘let court decide on nullification of elections’
Former president Joyce Banda has said there is no need for President Peter Mutharika to resign when the dispute over the May presidential elections is at the High Court in Lilongwe, sitting as a Constitutional Court.
Banda said this in an interview monitored by Nyasa Times on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The Constitutional Court to continue hearing the presidential election case from UTM presidential candidate Chilima, first petitioner, and his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) counterpart, Lazarus Chakwera as second petitioner.
Banda is in political alliance with the second petitioner Chakwera. Her People’s Party (PP) and MCP are working together.
She, however, told BBC’s Lilian Mwendo on Saturday that Mutharika should continue being in the seat of power until the determination by the Constitutional Court will decide on his legitimacy and that Malawians should wait patiently for the court ruling.
But Banda said Mutharika should take a lead to resolve the current political impasse which has rocked the country following the disputed presidential elections in May this year.
“I think we have far gone into so much pain, so much anger and so much destruction> I think there would be a lot of healing and I think that the person that should take the lead in the healing should be the President,” said Banda on BBC.
Asked if she could work with Mutharika in efforts to resolve the current political impasse, Banda said it will be tricky.
“I do not know how that can happen before we know the results of the court because, if the courts say nullification, then everybody will have to run and campaign again,” said former president Banda whose husband is retired chief justice for Malawi and and Swaziland, Richard Banda SC.
The presidential election case, being covered live by some local broadcasters, is being closely followed by members of the public and is topping topical issues for discussion in social gatherings as the court’s verdict, will go one way, or another.
The lady is aging badly. She has never been a lawyer. Which leadership project is she in support? Alhomwe forever? Or Bakili Agenda of Never will the Centre nor the North produce any presidential material? JB not an accident to be a president you’ve demonstrated the grit to follow issues critically koma apa Auntie palibe presser yogwira ndime bwinotu dimentia!!
Who told this stupid woman that we want Mutharika to resign? Only dunderhead reporters ask this fool for her opinion.
Why rushing in calling for resignation of APM? So its true that Ansa was just a leeway? Your mercinaries are acting on pretext of something? Shame
Chakumbiri stupid too
I don’t agree with Joyce Banda. Mutharika is not a legitimate leader of our country therefore he has no mandate to rule. He needs to resign and the constitutional court appoint a caretaker gov’t until there is a rerun. Allowing Mutharika to be in office is giving him a licence to loot our resources. He will use tax payers money for a rerun. He has already proved that he is using tax payer’s money to buy his position. He is terrorizing Malawians for exercising their right. His cadets are being paid to do unlawful things. If the court rule against his presidency there should be an inquiry to determine the way in which the fraudulent activity was conducted and all those responsible should be sent to jail. All property of the corrupt syndicate should be confiscated and given back to the r
Mercie, In your Opinion who is a legitimate leader in Malawi? please dont display your arrogance and lack of legal knowledge in public. Mutharika is an Internationally, Locally assented President until the Court determines otherwise. If you are speaking based on tribal lines, then in your house and your children you can say that, but not to all MALAWIANS
just bcoz he spared from the fugitive life you were in pls put your big pig buttom down. usatinyasepo apo. you are a jezebel wa nyanga
Idots
Ass whole JB. These people causing havoc uR one paying them.What R u talking About? ..u think uR hiding?no way.Ur not going to get wat u want.period!
Looking at the comments on Nyasatimes, it is now clear that Mutharika has more supporters than My lady, my Lord, My neighbour and my headman from Kasiya road.
The Hi-Five advocate the rule of law; MCP should walk the talk osati uku kumapelekela zida ku ma demo. The essence of court is to promote order so these violent demos have no place in a democracy. Well said madam but call a spade by its name-the call to topple Jane Ansah is unlawfully forcing court to nullify the election using autocratic democracy rule where the masses are used to advance political agendas. Let us be sober and pierce the political veil. The other part of this game which is not told is the quantification of the disputed ballot papers. We heard the same where being audited, this is vital as people can make informed decision not just mare speculation on percentages. just thinking out loud
Common anyone listening to the court proceedings would not encourage anyone to resign even Ansah unless you are a complete MORON like Mtambo and Chilima.
THIS IS A POLITE WAY AND NICE WAY TO SAY MUTHALIKA WON, but amalawi ambiri ndi mbuzi amapita kuzioneselo chifukwa chilima has put on a military uniform. EVEN JOICE BANDA HAS IT THAT APM WON. Open your eyelids
Yes she is right there is no need for Peter to resign as per our constitution provides that there shouldn’t be a vacuum of power at any given time. Even if the constitution court finds that there were irregularities during elections & nullify the the results, Mutharika will remain the State President as the status quo will revert to how things were before the elections. All we need is for justice to take its course & the truth be found. As much as I dont like the leadership of APM but at the moment there are no grounds for him to resign.
True
Nobody in Malawi says APM should resign, he is our president at the moment. The challenge is he acts so slowly on issues that concern Malawians. Let the courts resolve this issue using legal means
One good interview. Mutharika should not resign now. There is no need for vacuum in presidency, till the court makes judgement on whether he is legitimate or not
Peter Hitler Mutharika is a mental sick man and there should be no be excuses made about him. 70% of Malawians rejected him in the general elections, and he has imposed himself on the nation that doesn’t want him. He uses violence against dissenting voices. This will not deter Malawians to take their country back. He has formed a militia group similar to that of Rwanda, the Interhangwe DPP cadets. This notorious militia group of the DPP cadets is well armed with guns, petrol bombs, hand granades, pangas, and machetes that are brandished in our streets to slaughter innocent Malawians. It is time for Malawians to abandon a Unitary system that empowers dictators like Peter Hitler Mutharika. It is time for Malawi to go for a Federal system where each province of our three provinces will be allocated points according to the population of each province. For e.g; the Southern region will be allocated 35 points, the Centre =30 points, and the Northern region 25 points. In order for a political party to win the presidency it must have more than 50 points. The presidency must also be rotated among our three provinces. The governorship in the provinces must also be rotated among the indigenous tribes of that province. This will definitely unite Malawians as their voting won’t be based on tribe or region but the substance each political party brings on the table. Peter Hitler Mutharika is an old buzzer that its brain is not progressive but is stuck in the medieval thinking that has seen nations being destroyed. You can’t impose a political system that make one region a dominant to others. Therefore after this madness of Peter Hitler Mutharika is gone Malawians must sit down and craft a Federal system that will keep Malawi united and equal and not others being above others. We shouldn’t be like “animal farm” where others are above other animals while the law says we are all equal. For the sake of Malawi Peter Hitler Mutharika must step down and let millions of Malawians determine their destiney. RESIGN PETER HITLER MUTHARIKA LET MALAWIANS DETERMINE THEIR OWN GREEN PASTURES. WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF THE MUHAKO REGIME THAT PROMOTE HATRED, TRIBALISM, REGIONALISM, AND MANY ISMS THAT HAVE DEVIDED MALAWIANS TODAY. ALLUTA CONTINUAAAAA
66% of Malawians rejected Chakwera, 80% rejected Chilima and 61% rejected Muthalika (fewer than they did in 2014), pali nkhani? All three were heavily rejected, full stop. Remove that tribalism from your eyes
I agree with this comment 100%.
And 65 % rejected Chakwera and 80% rejected Chilima.
“Drumming for Justice” or whoever the f**k you are, you are just a pathetic tribalist. Otherwise APM has not imposed any electral law on Malawians. The current constitution was collectively developed and approved by Malawians in 1992/93 and we have always used it in post one-party era. Why then do you have to attack an individual because you are not happy with some provision in our laws? Are you sure you will not come again here to complain or rise against the ‘so called’ Federal system as you did in the one party system and even now? Eish!
Chindele
Wisdom from our Mother
AM AN MCP FAN WHAT JOYCE BANDA IS TALKING IS TOTALLY WHICH SIDE RU MADAM. THE WAY THE COUNTRY IS MOVING IT LOOKS LIKE WE DONT HAVE ALEADER , HE MUST STEP DOWN PITALA AND GIVE OTHERS WHO CAN BE CAPABLE TO DRIVE THE BUS
Step down on what grounds
Stupit Tosh, you are mentally sick.
Mmmmmmmmmmmm! hahahahahahahaha! you have said nothing here TOSH.
He won’t resign. Period.