Kaliati, Kalirani blast President Banda, dare govt to arrest them
Two former female cabinet ministers and now senior members of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Patricia Kaliati and Dr Jean Kalirani on Sunday went to town blasting President Joyce Banda’s first 100 days in office, saying she is “hopeless”.
The two told a rally in the capital Lilongwe which was addressed by DPP leader Peter Mutharika and attracted crowds that President Banda has not inspired hope in her presidential take off.
Kaliati, former information minister and now DPP director of women, accused the Banda’s for running a country with security breakdown.
“The President is failing to provide security to its citizens. Instead of working on some pressing issues, she is never in the office. What a shame,” Kaliati said to a thunderous applause.
‘Coup that never was’
Kaliati, who is amongst the ‘midnight six’ ministers accused to have plotted to circumvent the constitution and install Bingu’s brother, Peter, as president instead of Banda who was vice president then, denied that they had plotted a constitutional coup.
And adding her voice, Dr Kalirani, DPP Vice president and former Minister of Health, said the transition was peaceful after the sudden death of Bingu wa Mutharika. She said accusations of coup plot were misplaced.
“We were governing the country and we couldn’t have plotted against government,” she pointed out.
She said coup claims were malicious accusations against the DPP members bent at persecuting them.
“If they want to arrest us, let them go ahead and arrest us and satisfy their will,” said Kalirani MP.
She also accused government on the security laxity, saying cases of sexual assault on girls and women are “on the increase.”
Kalirani also said Malawians were facing starvation under the new government and ripped President Banda for putting her priorities wrong, saying she is running as “ trial and error “government.
