Malawi Muslims condemn DPP regional governor for Islamaphobia
April 26, 2018
Zawadi Chilunga - Nyasa Times 20 Comments
Concerned Muslims have asked the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to discipline Julius Paipi, the regional governor for the eastern region for what he said at a political rally in Mangochi urging people not to vote for Muslim candidates.
The Muslim remark angered Mangochi district campaign director for the party Wellington Mangulenje who has since resigned from his position in protest and withdrawn membership from the DPP.
Addressing a news conference on Wednesday , Sheikh Yahaya Hanif described Paipi’s remarks as offensive and provocative. And Malawi Muslim Community in the United Kingdom have also condemned the remarks.
“As Muslims, we have very good working relationship with the current President and his party. President Peter Mutharika has supported our various activities such as Ijtima which took place last year. So, for somebody to bring divisions between us and our President is very unfortunate and unacceptable,” Hanif told reporters.
The Sheik said DPP should distance itself from Paipi’s anti-Muslim remarks.
And Sheikh Yunus Makunganya said Paipi should apologise and the DPP leadership should also say sorry.
“Our religion teaches us to forgive if somebody apologises,” said Makunganya.
Sheikh Nordin Yasin rejected claims by Paipi that Islam is a religion of violence, saying it teaches peace and asked Muslims to remain calm.
In a statement made available to Nyasa Times, Rhodrick Junaid Kalumpha, Secretary General, Malawi Muslim Community UK, condemned the “ egregious and callous remarks” by Paipi.
Kalumpha said what the DPP Regional governor alleged against Muslims in Malawi is “ disgusting annotations” which have no place in modern day society, let alone modern day Malawi.
“As bonafide citizens of Malawi, Malawian Muslims have the right to seek any political office through any party of their choice under the democratic processes instituted by the Malawi Constitution. Conversely, every Malawian has got the freedom and right to choose any anyone to represent them regardless of their religious inclination. These freedoms of choice are enshrined in the supreme constitution of the land,” said Kalumpha n the statement.
“Perhaps Mr Paipi needs to be reminded that Malawi is a secular state, as such, politics of religion has no place in such a state. Mr Paipi also needs to be schooled on the fact that many families in Malawi, especially in his region which he claims to govern under the ruling DPP, are of mixed religious heritage. Indeed it is not uncommon to find that numerous families have both Muslim and Christian members. Throughout the Eastern region, we find churches and mosques built side by side, a testament to the fact that members of both of these great religions live in peaceful harmony. And indeed many of us have been both to the mosque and to the church at one point in time, and we have friends from both religious denominations,” the statement added.
The Muslims are calling on political leaders in the run up to the General Election next year to desist from such dangerous remarks and to focus on issue-based politics that will lift the living standards of many of our people.
Kalumpha said the DPP leadership should not only discipline Paipi from but also to apologise for the careless remarks.
“Malawi belongs to all of us, Christians, Muslims, animists and other religious denominations. It is in this vein that we applaud the action of Mr Wellington Mangulenje, the Mangochi DPP Campaign Director, who upon hearing Mr Paipi’s despicable remarks, resigned from his position immediately. We hope the DPP top leadership will address this matter with the seriousness it deserves. The Eastern Region will be watching,” concluded the statement.
DPP spokesperson Francis Katsaira said a team of party officials would be investigating the matter and an appropriate action would be taken .
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20 replies on “Malawi Muslims condemn DPP regional governor for Islamaphobia”
Malangizo kwa asilamu anzanga. Dziwani kuti ngati pali region ya mu Africa yomwe anthu ake anapangidwa brainwashed mma mphunziro ndi khani ya za chuma ndi azungu ndi southern africa. Ngakhale ndi munthu amene amati ndi graduate ya university ma comment amakhala omvetsa chisoni. Mwachitsanzo amene amati asilamu ndi akhanza khondo ya ku Mozambique amamenya ndi asilamu? Nanga ku Zimbabwe the so called kugullahundi operations komwe over 20000 were killed in matebeland anali asilamu?
Ku south africa 1000 people die everyday through violence related deaths ngati kubayani ndi kuomberana amenewo ndi asilamu? Tikanena za utsogoleri one of the brutal regime in Malawi’s politics inali nthawi ya Kamuzu Banda, ndi asilamu angati anali nduna mu Boma la Kamuzu. Maiko amene mukuwanene achisilamuwo anthu ake ndi ozindikira kwambiri they don’t take nonsense policies like structural adjustment policy (anapita sukulu yeni yeni akudziwa damage ya policy imeneyi in southern africa). Ngati mukunena khani ya ISIS and Boko Haram, mabungwe amenewo si aslam ai. Mukunakhala oti munapitadi kusukulu mukadamafunsa mafunso ngati awa kuti if indeed Boko Haram ndi asilamu why kill and kidnap muslims not Christians? Cholinga cha Boko Haram ndi kuipitsa Islam and muslims, remember since independent only 2 if not one Christians presidents ruled Nigeria the rest are Muslims . A malawi anzanga omwe muli asilamu chonde makoment ngati awa okhudzana ndi chisilamu osamayakha ayi. Anzathuwa samatha kuwunika khani based on wide sources of information because our education system is highly controlled and biased.
Jones watch your speech! This kind of remarks will cause havoc, Islam is about peace not violence.Do u think America where there are a lot of Christians has good people? They r the ones who starts war in Islamic countries yet the blame comes back to Muslims. In Malawi Christians and Muslims leave peacefully but your opinion and that of Paipi of yours can cause a damage!!woke up jones
Muslims are a danger to any society, in fact what the regional governor said is the opinion of his party. . Goodall said almost the same remarks in Mzuzu about amwenye, jappie Mhango said the same thing. What have you do with them. No sensible Malawian should vote for a Muslim, azivoterana okhaoka.
NGAKHALE PAIPI SAKUNAMA KUTI MINYOMBAYI NDIYA MIHAWU MWACHITSANZO ANAYAMBANA NDI ANTHU CHIFUKWA CHOGULITSA NKHUMBA PAMENE IWOWO AMAGULITSA MOWA KOMANSO KUMWA MPAKANA MUNTHU ANAFAKO KUMENEKO AKUTI ISLAMIC STAKE.NETHER THE LESS PAIPI SAMAYENELA KULANKHULA CHILUNGAMO PAMANSO PA MINYOMBA
Despite the bad remarks by Paipi, Mangulenje would not have resigned before hearing what the top brass of the party would handle the issue. Mangulenje as a politician should know that politicians sometimes become overzealous in their speech to out-do their opponents not knowing that in the process they can easily make blunders. Paipi might have only have a picture of Mia forgetting that he have people of the same faith in his own party. Despite the pain, Mangulenje would have known that this Paipi was not speaking on behalf of the party. Now that he has resigned what would he do if Paipi is removed from his post? Is Mangulenje thinking that the DPP sat down to write what Paipi was to say on this particular rally? These two guys are both from the same region and I am sure they have known each other for a long time. Mangulenje would have approached his fellow senior member after this rally and talked to him and correct things amicably. But this rush might bring some suspicion that they have been at cross-roads from time back. There are a lot of moslems in DPP who have been irritated by his remarks but resigning should not be the first thing. It is only the opposition MCP which can benefit from Mangulenje’s action. And many who will be backing his action are those from the enemies of DPP.
You are very very right Santana, resigning is not and should not have been an option at this stage. It might have been obvious that Paipi was completely engulfed by the Mia mania to an extent that he wrongly assumed that the name Mia and Muslim or Islam can be used interchangeably. On the other hand I feel that DPP would have come out quickly to condem and distance itself from such remarks.
The guy is principled, cannot take shit like the rest of you do.
Zimandidabwisa moslems supporting DPP and making an alliance with DPP through Atupele. Inu Kodi zimene anapanga Bingu dishing the party sizinakukwaneni? DPP want to use u and damp u after mavote.
Ndi MCP yokha inakhala ndi asilamu mosayambana nawo.
Izi akufuna akuyikireni ma TA achilomwe ku Machinga and Mangochi.
Akangowinanso a DPP u will see how u will dance.
Mbuli ina iyi pano. Muslims aint UDF
Who is mbuli here? Politics wayamba kuyichita follow liti? Don’t you know the bond between UDF and Midyomba? Don’t be childish or pretend as if you stay abroad. UDF =YAO=MUSLIMS.
what type of investigation this was said at a raly
Dpp shud indeed apologise including Mr Paipi himself!!Malawi is a secular state,as such those remarks are totally unacceptable. Bravo Mangulenje!
This called paipi thinks like a child, if DPP can not FIRE HIM, then it means dont like muslims in this country, SO, ine ngat msilamu okhuzidwa ndikukupemphan inu adpp kut ameneyo achoke pa mpando wa u governor ap ayi TIMATCHA!!!
Yaya look at Malawi ,violence is perpetrated by DPP cadets.Compare the recent Mangochi and Mulanje bye elections. Did you hear of any Violence in Mangochi which dominated by Muslims? Maganizo anu ndi a chikalamba you must between 70 and 80 yrs old.
Well, go to the Middle East in fact everywhere around the world – Nigeria, Libya etc. Why are we searched so much when we fly these days? Who is involved in terrorist attacks in the world – killing innocent people who have nothing to do with their causes? Think about religion.
Look at the world – where is violence most prevalent and by who?
What Mr Paipi said at the rally is true, but I don’t agree with him. In countries where Islam is deep-rooted, violence is not an issue, but may be he said at the wrong time and place. For the sake of peace, I apologize on his behalf and from the bottom of my heart “Sorry to all Muslims in Malawi and outside”.
You are short sighted Awize. Which countries are you mentioning? Why can’t you first of all assess the role of America in all these wars before black painting Muslims. America starts the war, supports terrorists like in Syria, then you say it is Muslims. Shame on you.
Open ur eyes Awize, Muslims are not violent people neither is Islam a violent religion. The problem with people like you is that your perception was programed to be subjective and not objective where Islam and Muslims are concerned. Diso lanu limangoona zoipa zokhazokha zabwino ayi. Violence is a weakness of any human being regardless of their faith. But since your mind is operated like a robot you are incapable of noting that whenever a Muslim does something wrong religion become the distinction of identity yet when the same has been done by a Christian. religion is never mentioned. The violence that issued in the Northern region where Mosques were burned and vandalised during the post elections of 1999 was never attributed to Christianity. Yet when pork seller was assaulted in Mangochi Islam and Muslims were identified as perpetrators. Such is the hypocrisy of this world!!!
Malangizo kwa asilamu anzanga. Dziwani kuti ngati pali region ya mu Africa yomwe anthu ake anapangidwa brainwashed mma mphunziro ndi khani ya za chuma ndi azungu ndi southern africa. Ngakhale ndi munthu amene amati ndi graduate ya university ma comment amakhala omvetsa chisoni. Mwachitsanzo amene amati asilamu ndi akhanza khondo ya ku Mozambique amamenya ndi asilamu? Nanga ku Zimbabwe the so called kugullahundi operations komwe over 20000 were killed in matebeland anali asilamu?
Ku south africa 1000 people die everyday through violence related deaths ngati kubayani ndi kuomberana amenewo ndi asilamu? Tikanena za utsogoleri one of the brutal regime in Malawi’s politics inali nthawi ya Kamuzu Banda, ndi asilamu angati anali nduna mu Boma la Kamuzu. Maiko amene mukuwanene achisilamuwo anthu ake ndi ozindikira kwambiri they don’t take nonsense policies like structural adjustment policy (anapita sukulu yeni yeni akudziwa damage ya policy imeneyi in southern africa). Ngati mukunena khani ya ISIS and Boko Haram, mabungwe amenewo si aslam ai. Mukunakhala oti munapitadi kusukulu mukadamafunsa mafunso ngati awa kuti if indeed Boko Haram ndi asilamu why kill and kidnap muslims not Christians? Cholinga cha Boko Haram ndi kuipitsa Islam and muslims, remember since independent only 2 if not one Christians presidents ruled Nigeria the rest are Muslims . A malawi anzanga omwe muli asilamu chonde makoment ngati awa okhudzana ndi chisilamu osamayakha ayi. Anzathuwa samatha kuwunika khani based on wide sources of information because our education system is highly controlled and biased.
Jones watch your speech! This kind of remarks will cause havoc, Islam is about peace not violence.Do u think America where there are a lot of Christians has good people? They r the ones who starts war in Islamic countries yet the blame comes back to Muslims. In Malawi Christians and Muslims leave peacefully but your opinion and that of Paipi of yours can cause a damage!!woke up jones
Muslims are a danger to any society, in fact what the regional governor said is the opinion of his party. . Goodall said almost the same remarks in Mzuzu about amwenye, jappie Mhango said the same thing. What have you do with them. No sensible Malawian should vote for a Muslim, azivoterana okhaoka.
NGAKHALE PAIPI SAKUNAMA KUTI MINYOMBAYI NDIYA MIHAWU MWACHITSANZO ANAYAMBANA NDI ANTHU CHIFUKWA CHOGULITSA NKHUMBA PAMENE IWOWO AMAGULITSA MOWA KOMANSO KUMWA MPAKANA MUNTHU ANAFAKO KUMENEKO AKUTI ISLAMIC STAKE.NETHER THE LESS PAIPI SAMAYENELA KULANKHULA CHILUNGAMO PAMANSO PA MINYOMBA
Despite the bad remarks by Paipi, Mangulenje would not have resigned before hearing what the top brass of the party would handle the issue. Mangulenje as a politician should know that politicians sometimes become overzealous in their speech to out-do their opponents not knowing that in the process they can easily make blunders. Paipi might have only have a picture of Mia forgetting that he have people of the same faith in his own party. Despite the pain, Mangulenje would have known that this Paipi was not speaking on behalf of the party. Now that he has resigned what would he do if Paipi is removed from his post? Is Mangulenje thinking that the DPP sat down to write what Paipi was to say on this particular rally? These two guys are both from the same region and I am sure they have known each other for a long time. Mangulenje would have approached his fellow senior member after this rally and talked to him and correct things amicably. But this rush might bring some suspicion that they have been at cross-roads from time back. There are a lot of moslems in DPP who have been irritated by his remarks but resigning should not be the first thing. It is only the opposition MCP which can benefit from Mangulenje’s action. And many who will be backing his action are those from the enemies of DPP.
You are very very right Santana, resigning is not and should not have been an option at this stage. It might have been obvious that Paipi was completely engulfed by the Mia mania to an extent that he wrongly assumed that the name Mia and Muslim or Islam can be used interchangeably. On the other hand I feel that DPP would have come out quickly to condem and distance itself from such remarks.
The guy is principled, cannot take shit like the rest of you do.
Zimandidabwisa moslems supporting DPP and making an alliance with DPP through Atupele. Inu Kodi zimene anapanga Bingu dishing the party sizinakukwaneni? DPP want to use u and damp u after mavote.
Ndi MCP yokha inakhala ndi asilamu mosayambana nawo.
Izi akufuna akuyikireni ma TA achilomwe ku Machinga and Mangochi.
Akangowinanso a DPP u will see how u will dance.
Mbuli ina iyi pano. Muslims aint UDF
Who is mbuli here? Politics wayamba kuyichita follow liti? Don’t you know the bond between UDF and Midyomba? Don’t be childish or pretend as if you stay abroad. UDF =YAO=MUSLIMS.
what type of investigation this was said at a raly
Dpp shud indeed apologise including Mr Paipi himself!!Malawi is a secular state,as such those remarks are totally unacceptable. Bravo Mangulenje!
This called paipi thinks like a child, if DPP can not FIRE HIM, then it means dont like muslims in this country, SO, ine ngat msilamu okhuzidwa ndikukupemphan inu adpp kut ameneyo achoke pa mpando wa u governor ap ayi TIMATCHA!!!
Yaya look at Malawi ,violence is perpetrated by DPP cadets.Compare the recent Mangochi and Mulanje bye elections. Did you hear of any Violence in Mangochi which dominated by Muslims? Maganizo anu ndi a chikalamba you must between 70 and 80 yrs old.
Well, go to the Middle East in fact everywhere around the world – Nigeria, Libya etc. Why are we searched so much when we fly these days? Who is involved in terrorist attacks in the world – killing innocent people who have nothing to do with their causes? Think about religion.
Zodabwitatsa ngati? Ndie kukhala kwao akanganya amenewa.Kusankhani mitundu ,Kuba ndi Kupha ndiye ngodya zawo .Ndimangokuonani mukamakakamira DPP. Akazatosiya kusankha mitundu chipani chizathera popo.
Look at the world – where is violence most prevalent and by who?
What Mr Paipi said at the rally is true, but I don’t agree with him. In countries where Islam is deep-rooted, violence is not an issue, but may be he said at the wrong time and place. For the sake of peace, I apologize on his behalf and from the bottom of my heart “Sorry to all Muslims in Malawi and outside”.
You are short sighted Awize. Which countries are you mentioning? Why can’t you first of all assess the role of America in all these wars before black painting Muslims. America starts the war, supports terrorists like in Syria, then you say it is Muslims. Shame on you.
Open ur eyes Awize, Muslims are not violent people neither is Islam a violent religion. The problem with people like you is that your perception was programed to be subjective and not objective where Islam and Muslims are concerned. Diso lanu limangoona zoipa zokhazokha zabwino ayi. Violence is a weakness of any human being regardless of their faith. But since your mind is operated like a robot you are incapable of noting that whenever a Muslim does something wrong religion become the distinction of identity yet when the same has been done by a Christian. religion is never mentioned. The violence that issued in the Northern region where Mosques were burned and vandalised during the post elections of 1999 was never attributed to Christianity. Yet when pork seller was assaulted in Mangochi Islam and Muslims were identified as perpetrators. Such is the hypocrisy of this world!!!