Malawi Law Society fault ‘tribalistic’ Mutharika

Malawi legal watchdog has given a dressing down to the  President  Peter Mutharika for  making  “nepotistic” statement against members of the legal fraternity.

Malawi Law Society (MLS)  president Mandala Mambulasa and secretary Felisah Kilembe in a media statement made available to Nyasa Times condemned Mutharika on his claims against the composition of the commission of inquiry into former president Bingu wa Mutharika’s death, describing them as nepotistic and unacceptable.

Mutharika claimed during a political rally he held at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe on Sunday, that the chairperson of the commission retired Supreme Court judge Elton Singini and then Attorney General  Anthony Kamanga were from the same village – Nkhatabay.

The President dismissed the treason charges he faced during his predecessor Joyce Banda’s administration as a concoction and “total rubbish”.

The Law Society censured Mutharika, a law professor turned politician,  for making disturbing statement bordering on nepotism.

“We find the statements to be nepotistic and unacceptable in an open and democratic society where every citizen has the right to economic activity and work anywhere in Malawi regardless of their ethnic or tribal background,” said the statement.

Further read the statement: “It s also important to appreciate that the persons mentioned were professional public officers duly appointed in their various positions by the then head of State.”

Mutharika has been cautioned against attacking members of the legal profession when carrying out their work.

MLS pointed out that the Commission of Inquiry  was duly commissioned and contained statements made by the witnesses summoned to give evidence to the commission and not the views or opinions of the commission members.

“It is wrong for the President to attempt to impugne the statements made by some witnesses such as the former Army Commander,  General [Henry] Odillo, at public rallies knowing too well that such witnesses do not have an opportunity to respond to such unnecessary attacks through the same podium.

“Such conduct has the undesired effect of making law-abiding citizens hesitate to give truthful evidence when summoned by duly instituted Commissions of Inquiry,” reads the statement.

Mutharika has recently increasingly received public bashing as practicing nepotism and mostly favouring people of Lomwe tribe (Mutharika’s tribe.)

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