Malawi ex-first lady Shanil suss out an apology from DPP’s Ben Phiri

April 19, 2019 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 43 Comments

Former First Lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri (formerly Mrs Muluzi) has rejected the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of elections Ben Phiri apology over offensive  and insensitive remarks he made in Balaka west, demanding he makes another rally in the area and withdraw his slurs.

Shanil: Let him go back to the people 
Ben Phiri apologised

Phiri told a rally in the constituency where Dzimbiri is vying for a second parliamentary term that the former legislator had her marriage broken with former president Bakili Muluzi because she is not satisfactory in bed.

“I have not seen the apology because I am told he has posted on facebook, I am not on Facebook but my response is that he should go back to the audience he made the offensive remarks and make the apology,” she said.

He said people in her village have no access to social media platforms therefore, he said, what he said is still stuck in their heads.

Women rights activist Emma Kaliya advised Dzimbiri to seek legal redress over the matter.

“The remarks are just unfortunate. We, at Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre condemn it. This was insulting the modesty of a woman,” she said.

Ben Phiri’s remarks have received countrywide condemnation.

In a video clip, Phiri says Muluzi divorced her because she is not good in bed.

“I have never seen a yao who can fail in bed but this one completely failed this is why her marriage ended,” said Phiri to the hand-clapping of women in the rural Balaka.

In his apology statement, Phiri however says: “As most of you are aware, there is a video [clip] in circulation in which I was captured at one of the campaign rallies in Balaka district with sentiments directed at the Hon. Dr. Shanil Dzimbiri which have been interpreted as attacking the modesty of a woman.

“I would like to sincerely and unconditionally apologise to Dr. Shanil Dzimbiri, her family members, women of Malawi and all Malawians offended by the remarks.”

He further apologized to the DPP for what he says the damage the sentiments gave caused to the party, saying the sentiments do not represent the position of the party or its leader.

Dzimbiri is a humble down to earth woman who never insults anyone during her political rallies but practices issue based campaign.

The former First Lady comes from the same area as the sitting First Lady Gertrude Mutharika.

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43 replies on “Malawi ex-first lady Shanil suss out an apology from DPP’s Ben Phiri”

  1. All you people calling shanil to accept the appology whats your problem exactly, wat will you lose if she gose to court?, that was character assassination at it its highest order , inu chikukukhudzani ndi chani? Let them sort it out , wat are you afraid of? She has a right to defend her character and no-one has a right to turnish it.

  2. Kulibe zokhululukaso apa. Apite ku court basi akalipire uchitsilu wakewo Ben Phiri. Iyeyo akuti Shanil is not good on bed, adamuuza ndani? Amagona ndi iyeyo? Akalipire basi ali ndi ndalama zambirimbiri za cash gate plus zogulitsa ma bones. Mesa iyeyo akuti maliseche ake ndi Peter? Nde Shanil zumukhudza bwanji?

  3. Mayi Patricia Shanil Fukulani Dzimbiri accept the apology and dont listen to mama Kaliya zopita ku khoti. Khoti will not apologize to you, the damage can be removed by an apology. Ironically people who were listening to this Ben were callping hands and ululating when he was saying this. The guy attracted a large crowd. So poti wazindikira kulakwa kwake inu ngati Mkatolika ( If you stopped wearing buyibuyi that is) please forgive mnyamatayu and move on with your clean campaign messages . To error is human and you are not an Angel . Mama Kaliya is not an angel either. Alternatively invite him to come kwanuko ku Balaka West azakupepeseni pamaso. I hope your chigayo business( Zake Investment) is going on well at that trading center .

  4. Acceot the apology mayi Shanil Patricia Dzimbiri Fukulani as you are populary known. That is how we build a nation. Ana ena amakhala ofuntha koma timawachita accomodate. Taking matter to Court wont help as the man has already accepted his mistakes. Pepani kuti analowa mkati kulkamba za banja. Ife tifuna issue based campaigns. Komanso nawo anthu akwanuko ndi zitsiiru poti ankamuombera mmanja Beniyu. I attended the rally it was heavily patronised by people from your area omwe anaknyadira kumva izi koma enafe zinkatinyasa. So madam vomerani kupepesa if anything mumuitane azapepese pamaso panu.

  5. Iwe shanil just accept the apology and move on. Ilitu ndidziko ndiye musakhale ngati ndinu anjelo oyera.

    Dr Ben Phiri has apologised and that’s enough.

    Don’t listen to the mad woman Ema Kaliya akunamizani. Don’t aim at creating more enemies please.

  6. Nanunso a MEC mwangoti phwiiii osapereka chilango bwanji ? Koma akanakhala otsutsa bwenzi mutayankhula, tikukuonanitu musayese ngati anthu sawona. Malamulo achisankho munayika nokha , koma simukuwagwirisa ntchito , ngati pa 21st May 2019 pangakhale nkhondo , izayambika chifukwa cha inu a MEC . Ndiye musamale , choyamba tizayamba kuthana ndi MEC yonse kaye . Muluzi walakwa chani , Iwe Ben Phiri unavinidwa koma ? Ubwerenso uzapangise msonkhano tione ngati suchoka ndi miyala , iwe mbuzi ya munthu , mzibambo wosazindikira, tizakumana ayise , usayerekeze kuponda phazi lako kuno, uwafunse ambuyakowo sanakumane ndi miyala ku Kasungu ? Iwe ndaninso iwe.

  7. Kodi kalitcheretchere ameneyu,paja mumati ndani? Benson/Benford/Benwell? Mudakamutenga kut inu a D-PWIPWI? matolatola apaso mwatola awa awawa awa,apolofesaa oyee!

  10. ben phiri wawonjeza ndale zakalekale izi. ATENGEREDWE KU KHOTI BASI AKAYANKHE MULANDU. tumpale anamangidwa ndi ma issues ake omwewa . chilungamo chiyende ngati madzi basi

  11. Sincere apology siikanakhala ndi phrase iyi: “interpreted as attacking the modesty of a woman.”

  12. Kodi chipanichi ndichonyoza azimayi??First it was Mchacha vs Kaliyati. Cadets vs Kaliyati at parliament, cadet undresses woman at Mbaluku then latest Phiri uyu kusambula mzimayi

  13. its unfortunate that he even insults a tribe YAOs , what sort of Malawian does that? this age and era people are still defining eeach other by tribe. SAD

  14. Just be modern and civilized, Abiti Shanil, and accept the apology. Whether an apology is made in similar venue as the derogatory commentary, the most important is whether the apology is deemed genuine. And, you do not argue that Phiri is not genuine, do you?

    1. Start by telling Dr. Phiri to be civilized. And you say he is a PhD holder? I would have understood if it was Mchacha. Just like JZU once said, should sichotsa uchitsiru, koma umbuli

    2. How many people who attended Ben’s rally know he has apologised? It is us with access to social media who didn’t even hear what he said know he apologozed. Shanil is not wrong to demand that he apologize through the same forum he made the allegations.

  15. I always believed that Ben was one of future leaders but am really disappointed with his rotten remarks and attack on our sister, mothers of Malawians just because of cheap politics. Ur remarks r a minus to the whole Dpp.

  17. Madam former first lady, I understand the pain you have gone and are still going through from careless, primitive and childish remarks from one Ben Phiri. However, the guy has ‘sincerely’ and unconditionally apologized and so, publicly, rare from a top politician. You know, to him its over and done, the best you can do is to take this opportunity and show us your civility and difference from savagery. Im sure other women in your camp have advised you kuti mumunvetse phain Ben phiri, coz the way I know you, you cant do that. Kindly reconsider and stand on your nobility and let everyone be able to identify a monster from a noble character. If not careful, everyone will see (only with a sober mind) that one Ben Phiri has stood up to civility. Pls reconsider madam😎. Those others that are advising you to reject an apology anazionongera kale and they are happy to have a recruit in you.

    1. You must be another cadet. Ben Phiri did not talk to Shanil you fool. He talked to a different set of people and the insult is in the heads of those people so, he should go back to the same people for his apology to be meaningful.

      1. I see no point of calling me a fool for urging the former first lady to seize the opportunity by showing that she’s better than what a group of people are trying to make her. And why should I be another cadet by having a different opinion from yours?

        If you read my comment, as calm as I am, i said (only with a sober mind), and Im sure you arent one of this kind, and I don’t blame you, its your choice. My comment has no political connotations but civility. A Malawi lets for once see things as they are and not be influenced by politics.
        I rest my case, in the end, she’s the one to decide what advice she takes and how history will remember her. I wish her well

        1. Don’t you see the need of the same setting here?? He said it during campaign gathering, why can’t he do the same when apologizing? Why do we like compromise!! He need to face the music, period!!

  18. Ben phiri why please don’t let power control your ability of thinking the world is too short

  19. Nanunso a Welari nkhani apa ndiyosuluka? Nkhani ndi chipongwe chomwe chinamera nthenje ku DPP chokonda kunyoza amai athu m’Malawi muno kuyambira ma Regional Governor awo, ma concillor, ma MP, mpaka President wao coz President samadzudzula mwano womwe anthu ake amalankhulawu. Zamanyazi zeni zeni nkumati amaimirira amai mu Africa ansah!

  20. IF I WERE PETER MUTHARIKA, I WOULD HAVE BANNED BEN PHIRI FROM HOLDING ANY POLICAL RALLY. THE GUY IS SO OVERZELOUS WHEN HE IS IN FRONT OF A MICROPHONE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT HE HAS COURTED CONTROVERSY. FEW MONTHS AGO HE REFERRED TO PRESDIENT PETER MUTHARIKA AS MALISECHE (PRIVATE PARTS) IN AN ATTEMPT TO COERCE PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTHERN REGION TO VOTE FOR A FELLOW SOUTHERNER!

  22. Malawi State ruled by thugs….. Also apologize to Dr. Bakili Muluzi… I don’t think Muluzi can discuss his private life with Ben Phiri …. vote wisely, let’s build the Malawi nation

  23. Weak men insult women! Such a dumb ass even if she wasn’t satisfactory in bed whats that has to do with Dpp campaign? how will it benefit the people? is that issue based? cluessless party trying to say anything to get votes! We certainly wonder your Phd now must really be fake on Mr Ben and those satanic allegations might be true after all Mr pastor!!

  24. Iam from Thyolo 35 km from muntharika’s home but I hate these party because they don’t respect other peoples freedom of association kodi tonse tingakhale a DPP zitheka? Chonde Mr Phiri ngati mulibe mfundo zouza anthu kakhaleni pansi.

  25. This man called Ben Phiri seems to be so excited with things. He is among the guys who hav destroyed DPP with such sentiments

  26. I totally agree with shanil.ben phiri is showing signs of a primitive politician.again he seem to be desparate to see apm reelected as be is aware that he could be locked up if such does not happen.

  27. Our partisan police recently arrested one Mwakibinga for insulting the modesty of woman when he likened the first lady’s goggles to Rango. I am waiting patiently if the police would do the same to Ben Phiri.

  28. Time is up for Ben Phiri and Agogo. Desperate tacticts after kukhuta zokuba zamisonkho ndi petulo wa MERA. Tionana after 21 May!

    2. Katengetse ka chitsilu kameneka kopanda ndi personality yomwe!Ndale zomwezi mpaka kumanena ngati zinthu zimenezi. If it was notfor the stolen money, you would have been insignificant. Chitsilu!

    3. Wasalukaso bwanji, Inu simuzakula? Aliyese akamakula maonekedwe amasintha, pokhapo ngati simufika kumeneko chifukwa chamatenda mulinawowo. Wasalukaso angapange za nzeru wapanga apazi? Just tell your Ben Phiri to do what Shanil has said period!

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