Kapito says Mutharika fanning flame of anger in people: Cama blast MBC, Malawi police

The renowned human rights and consumer activist, John Kapito has added his voice to the growing concerns over the damage the political demonstrations are causing on both public and private property including loss of business and has appealed to President Peter Mutharika to take conciliatory tone to help end post-election impasse.

Kapito: Poor Malawians are at the receiving end

For the past two months the country has had a series of demonstrations organised by civil society organisations (CSOs) with backing from opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM, protesting the May 21 presidential vote and demanding resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah.

Addressing a news conference in Blantyre, Kapito, who is Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director, said while it is constitutional right to demonstrate, it was worrisome that the demonstrations have not been peaceful and they need to be managed.

He accused President Mutharika for his  tone during his public speeches, saying it is “only fanning the flame of anger in people who want to demonstrate.”

Kapito said President Mutharika should rather be in forefront of preaching peace “ and not issuing threats.”

The Cama boss pointed out that the demonstrations have far –reaching consequences to the economy  of the country as  there were serious elements of vandalism where shops were looted, business premises such as banks and other business places were targeted and vandalized including individual homes of various personalities that were targeted for unknown various reasons.

“Consumers and Traders who are being inconvenienced or attacked have different political affiliations and that requires to be respected for a peaceful co-existence. In trying to safeguard their businesses some opted to close resulting in loss of business and significant inconveniences to their consumers. These losses affect the business community at all levels from manufacturing to small scale vendors and workers.

“The economic loss to traders, manufacturers and vendors cannot be quantified easily but its impact has wide reaching economic and social repercussions affecting on their livelihoods and sustainability,” explained Kapito.

Meanwhile, Kapito has cautioned the careless utterances by people in social media and some radio and TV stations which have contributed to instill fear amongst business people and consumers.

Kapito took a swipe at taxpayer-funded  Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), saying they portrayed messages that could be misunderstood to indicate that any planned demonstration or public assembly is a deliberate and destructive ploy by people who want to overthrow the leadership of this country.

MBC planted seeds of hatred through its programming that infuriated some protesters, noted the Cama boss.

He also blamed the delays and unwillingness by the City Assemblies to provide clearance to demonstration organizers as one of the issues that played a negative role in creating anger among the demonstrators.

Kapito also criticed Malawi Police, saying the law enforcers need to put their acts in order to minimise incidents of violence during demonstrations.

According to him, the police failed to protect demonstrators from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) zealots.

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Natty Prince
Natty Prince
4 years ago

Dziko ndi mayi ndipo maiko onse ndi ana awo tsono pali mwana modzi dzina lake Malawi eeeeeh ndi mwana womvetsa chisoni kwambiri amazitenga ngati ndi dolo koma ndi mavuto okhaokha chonde mwana iwe sitha upulikira kwambiri

Mwananyanian
Mwananyanian
4 years ago

Disheartening that Kapito heaps all the criticism on the winners of the elections. Not fair analysis at all, when the winners are sitting and observing, and doing the job of governing – which they were elected to do – while the losers foment discord, or more appropriately, revolution as some would opine. No leader, including APM, would abrogate their constitutional duty to maintain peace in this country. If it takes the Police to practice their target shooting, so they can protect lives and property, so be it. Governing a country, even a small Malawi, is not an Assemblies of God… Read more »

Sanjemuleke
Sanjemuleke
4 years ago

My proposal is to defund MBC given that the Opposition is in majority.

Richie
4 years ago

Koma a Malawi tiyeni tifufudze kuti zinakhala Bwanji tikafunse anthu ku eastern region lower shire balaka kuti anavota chiani nanga Bwanji ma mp a mcp sanatuluke kumeneku
Osangomvera atsogoleri a njalawa
Kodi if they really did not favour DPP
Why did they not unite (mcp and UTM

mtete
mtete
4 years ago

The Kapito I knew ages ago.

Kennedy
Kennedy
4 years ago

Peter is useless just like police officials, tell me what is he responsible for? Stealing and misusing tax?

Muzungu Joseph Nkhuku
Muzungu Joseph Nkhuku
4 years ago
Reply to  Kennedy

Roads, infrastructure, economic success. Shall i go on? As an outsider looking in for many years his rule is the first where ive actually SEEN the progress.

mahome
4 years ago

Madando must go

Ignatius
4 years ago

Leadership is not only judged by one element but the best style is auto-cratic stlyle is the best, so Kapito is just a disgruntled ex-board chair

Gerald
Gerald
4 years ago

In my view MBC is useless

che nnungu
4 years ago

And we are not stopping the Demos until the Madando resigns

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