Malawi opposition dismiss ‘coup’ talk

Opposition leaders in Malawi have rejected claims that there is a plot to oust President Peter Mutharika.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) said allegations that its leader plans to overthrow Mutharika’s government is “fiction.”

Chakwera is said to be in state intelligence notes uncovering coup and that plotters have set June 2016 as the deadline to have President Mutharika toppled.

“We have no intention to overthrow the government,” MCP public relations officer Alekeni Menyani said.

He said MCP rejects “in the strongest possible terms” the allegations.

The allegations also implicate international community including United States diplomat Virginia Palmer as aiding the plot for hosting meetings at her official residence.

US officials dismissed the claims and accusations as “ludicrous”.

The United States says it only supports political transitions that are democratic, constitutional, peaceful and legal.

Umodzi Party president Peter Chisi also trashed the allegations that there are  plans of destabilization and coup against Mutharika government.

Chisi told a local radio that it was “laughable and discreditable”that the international community is being linked to the  said plot.

He said the coup report is a mischievous propaganda claim which he suspects to be advanced by the state machinery.

The coup talk had also received a condemnation by Malawians in general.

Social-media and comments on Nyasa Times story show Malawians denounce the claims.

“This is unfortunate. Oh yes, Professor Peter Mutharika has failed, but to overthrow him? Ah no. Malawians don’t need such madness. What Malawians need right now is for the professor to resign. He doesn’t, and then we start revolution,” reads  in part a comment posted on Nyasa Times by a reader  under the name Kadakwiza.

A Facebook status by Lloyd M’bwana in part reads: “Please, Mr. President and your questionable aides do not divert us from economic mess you have inflicted on Malawians with the staged plot that the opposition parties with support from US Embassy wanting to remove you on that hot seat…

“Malawians want maize in ADMARC, Malawians want electricity tariffs to be lower, Malawians want the Kwacha to be stable, Malawians want drugs and food in public hospital and Malawians want reduction in inflation rate. This madness won’t take your leadership anywhere but witnessing what transpired in 2011-2012. We want solutions now not this raw deal.”

Sitinga Kachipande wrote on her  Facebook page that the information relied in the coup story was highly questionable: “Seriously, this sounds like utter nonsense that probably can’t be proven.”

Meanwhile , Nyasa Times understands that security officers have launched an investigation into  the coup allegations and stepped-up surveillance to opposition leaders.

Chisi said investigating the report  is nonsensical and warned the report would harm Malawi’s relations with its cooperating partners implicated.

The government spokesperson and police have, however, refused to comment on the issue.

President Mutharika and his government have in recent months been receiving criticism over the country’s continued economic hardships.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :