Joyce Banda turns up heat on Mutharika: Asks Malawi leader to respond to resignation calls
Former president Joyce Banda has added her voice to calls for President Peter Mutharika to resign to allow those who carry the hopes of Malawi people take over after claims that he and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) received about K145 million ($195,000) from a contractor supplying food rations to Malawi police.
Mutharika’s spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said President Mutharika had done nothing wrong after the leaked Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) report went viral on social media.
But Banda in quotes reported by international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) asked Mutharika to do the right thing and resign.
“When a president is not involved looting or shady deals he or she does not hesitate to instruct arrests of those involved… he should therefore respond to Malawians call to step down,” Banda is quoted as saying.
She said Mutharika cannot continue in office.
Banda, who is seeking the nomination of her People’s Party to contest for presidency in polls due in May 2019, joined civil society organisations, main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for the president to resign.
The former president’s party secretary general Ibrahim Matola described DPP as “a club of professional[s]– who have been plundering public resources” since the time of the late president Bingu wa Mutharika.
“They accuse us [PP] of Cashgate, but we did our best to bring all wrongdoers to book. We never shielded anyone. And here we have a leadership which is [allegedly] benefiting from Cashgate, how can he fight corruption? Let Malawians speak against this in next year’s elections,” said Matola in quotes reported by local newspaper, The Nation.
Banda has also accused the Mutharika administration’s failure to arrest any individual in connection with the K236 billion Cashgate.
She was embroiled in the Cashgate—the plunder of public resources at Capital Hill exposed under her watch in 2013— but the former president has made statements clearing her name from the scandal.
Minister of Information and Communications Technology Nicholas Dausi, who is also the official government spokesperson, said institutions such as the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have responsibility to investigate and prosecute and “it is not up to the President to ask them to do that.”
Malawi will hold presidential and parliamentary elections in May 2019 at a time when corruption cases have recently rocked the country’s politics.
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Let us be honest madam. You don’t have qualities of a leader. I would recommend you just retire or continue globe trotting to escape cashgate because, believe you me, Chakwera will be after you, and a number of DPP gurus, come June 2019. You could gain a bit of reprieve by joining MCP instead of wasting time believing you can lead this country again.
Amai, just explain to Malawians the relationship between Lutepo’s benefitting from cashgate and the 22 vehicles you personally benefitted through your party. Did you resign or talk about resignation.
You also sold presidential jet, a government asset, yet no money was received by government. Did you donate away the jet? Did you resign after this day light robbery by yourself of the jet?
Spot on bwana Hon Matola!
Awa ndi ma ‘PROFESSIONALS’ enieni. Makhang’a, Mizozodo!
Akanakhala mu Flames bwezi tikusangalala tiri muma quarter finals a World Cup pano
Unfortunately ma professional ake MBAVA magogo zokhazokha.
SHAME!!!
Cash gate began with Bingu and you took over from him who did you arrest who was connected to Bingu cash gate? What happened for you not to arrest them?
I do not understand this resignation of President in Malawi from all parties which claim our president peter Mnthalika to resign.
Thought and respect our laws because our constitution never say:
1. President must resign because of corruption or receive bribe.
2. DO NOT DECEIVE THAT YOUR BETTER THAN DPP EVEN YOU,YOU HAVE WEAKNESS THAT ARE SHAME TOO.
To finalize, wait May 2019,Malawian to vote out there leader.
I think we must upgrade civics education to all who believe there are Malawi for peace but there war build.
Destructive woman!! we all saw how people died and are still dying because of your irresponsible, lying shallow government!!! why do you want Malawians to give you another chance to ruin the country? Do you want to ruin Malawi beyond repair? You stole Malawi’s money, you have lived on that money abroad and now you want to re align your pocket? you are a shameless thief who is cruel enough to go back to the scene of crime and beg to be allowed in again! Malawians are not that stupid Ma’am!!! I am Malawian and I really, really do not… Read more »
If malawians are not stupid why is peter still in power when he and his cabinet did everything to shield a thief george chaponda who is until now free when poor people were starving to death? Cleaver pipo would turn heat on the president to apologise right away,did the he do that instead he insult people what a shame!
Did she resigned during the famous cashgate?….EVIL woman
Nkazi uyu Che Jhumo wa cashgate anamutuma Lootepo kubha and gave her 24 cars, Kalonga anaba ndikumugulira mabasi, nanga Mphwiyo, Kasambava, asaaaa….lero ndikumati yavi yavi kutinamiza ngati wodziwa comwe akunena…asaaaa!
DPP AND PP anhyani akukandana pachikundu. Mbava ndi mbava basi.
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