Kabwila brands Mutharika ‘inept’: Insists Malawi President should ‘humbly resign’

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Jessie Kabwila who was arrested this week for allegations of plotting to overthrow President Peter Mutharika government has said   the best way to put an end to the current economic and social crisis is the resignation of Mutharika.

Kabwila first made call for Mutharika to resign as a consultative meeting by Public Affairs Commiteee (PAC).

Special advisor to Mutharika and his spin doctor Hetherwick Ntaba said the President will not resign  and trashed the calls as “baseless”

But Kabwila despite spending a night in police custody accused of treason, on Wednesday remained defiant and repeated her calls for Mutharika to step down.

She told Daybreak Malawi program on Capital Radio that Mutharika should “humbly resign.”

“The real heart of the matter is that this government has not prepared to tackle the food situation,” she said.

About 3 million Malawians are facing food crisis due to the drought has hit many part of Southern Africa and floods that Malawi experienced last year.

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Allan Chiyembekeza said in Parliament when he presented  a ministerial statement on the food situation in the country on Monday, that State grain trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) has 9 300 metric tonnes (MT) of maize in stock.

Chiyembekeza denied reports that he said there was about 50 000MT of maize with Admarc, but that it was in the process of procuring the amount.

Kabwila told Capital Radio that her arrest on Monday “brought me closer to the hunger situation.”

The MCP spokesperson said she slept in an empty stomach and on the cold floor without blanket.

“This was only one night but majority of Malawians are sleeping hungry for days,” she said.

On the allegations that she was making a coup discussion on WhatsApp, Kabwila  trashed the accusation.

“Nobody can topple a  government through WhatsApp,” she said.

“It’s not about overthrowing government . This is a government falling on its own,” she said.

Kabwila said the President should heed to calls to resign.

“Just respectfully resign. Your are in ept. You have failed,” said Kabwila.

Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world as 74 percent of the population here lives on less than 1.25 dollars a day, and nearly one in 10 children die before their fifth birthday. The rising cost of basic commodities has added to these woes.

Kabwila said its “decision time” for the President to resign.

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