Malawi opposition leader says Mutharika will be cornered: Analysts wary anarchy
Leader of opposition in Parliament Robin Lowe has warned President Peter Mutharika of any attempts to cling to power after July 3 2020, saying fresh presidential elections should be held as a constitutional court and the Supreme Court ruled that he was not duly elected as President.
In his State of the Nation address delivered to Parliament on Friday through a recorded video, Mutharika persuaded the lawmakers to consider postponing the election due to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic despite the court order to hold the fresh vote within 150 days, after the court ruling on February 3.
The 150 days will elapse on July 3.
But Mutharika warned the opposition, he would not accept to be removed from power—even by the courts, or the people power movement, warning that would be tantamount to treason.
But Lowe said Mutharika’s attempts to undermine the fresh elections will not succeed, saying the country will still have the elections as ordered by the court.
“We will comply with the court orders and after 150 days, Mutharika will be cornered,” said Lowe.
Lowe said it is clear that the President is against the court ruling and does not want to comply with it.
He said Mutharika’s time in power is over.
Lowe said the opposition was aware that the ruling party is seeking to introduce laws to reverse the court rulings, but said the opposition may bring own legislation depending on the situation to ensure the elections are held within the period ordered by court.
Governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times that President Mutharika is working tooth and nail to frustrate the court’s decision and asking Parliament to rebel against the Judiciary.
“What Mutharika is doing is to sow seeds of anarchy which unfortunately may backfire on him in the short or long term.
“But why is Mutharika behaving like this? Does it mean he doesn’t understand the tenets of constitutionalism, rule of aw and judicial accountability. Certainly, as a professor of law Mutharika must be well conversant with these basics of law,” said Munthali.
However, he pointed out that the problem is that “Mutharika is simply trying to create a crisis or anarchy in order to pursue narrow political interests in a context where the likelihood of him retaining the office are slim due to the threat posed by Tonse Alliance.”
Munthali noted that while Mutharika’s running mate Atupele Muluzi is excited about the fresh elections, the President has apparently proven to be disinterested in the fresh elections and he has devoted more time out of public appearance to scheme on how he would stop or further delay the new vote.
“Mutharika knows very well that it won’t be easy to win the election hence his disinterest in the election.
“ In summary, what we are saying now is an attempt by a leader to cling to power through unlawful means.It is important that all electoral stakeholders and Malawians of public will stand up and defend Constitutionalism, rule of law and our hard earned democracy,” he said.
Ernest Thindwa, a political science lecturer at Chancellor College (Chanco)—a constituent college of the University of Malawi — said the President should concede that Malawians have a right to choose who to govern them.
“It is now beyond reasonable doubt the interim president in his continued mood of abusing office is bent on denying Malawians their constitutional right to choose their leader through a free, fair and credible elections. Citizens have to rise to the occasion to demand and defend their constitutional right to elect a President of their choice in an election that reflects popular will,” said Thindwa .
He argued that President Mutharika needs not be reminded that at the moment, he has no mandate and that the ultimate authority to rule derives from citizens.
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MALAWI ARMY SHOULD RISE UP AND FOLLOW THE CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER AFTER 3 JULY 2020.
WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR
Can someone please confirm that APM studied law and that he qualified and became a lecturer in law and became again a professor of law.
Many are looking at things from one view point without taking into consideration the stand point of the otherside. Unfortunately, when you set out to do a thing you always think your model is the best, which of course is not.
Mutharika is not going to be cornered. That is a child’s thinking. Much as Chakwera and company has a following, Mutharika also commands a following too. Now if you intend to cheat by using the courts, don’t think the otherside will accept that hands down.
Possibly those who are encouraging this might have forgotten how volatile politically things were in the late 50s and early 60s when people fought for freedom to assist Banda oust the colonialists. That scenario can always repeat itself but now that will be an all out insurrection among “Malawians” instigated by Chakwera and Chilima in order for them to fulfill personal ambitions. Mark my word, nobody will accept that with their hands folded.
God is not Abraham. Both side are praying to him. So let wait and see what happens at the end of the day.
this guy is playing destruction tactics; Anthu akubwera ku msonkhano wa Atupele ndiye vuto. osanamizana anthu akubweratu. mavoti ndiogawana awa. ndiye mukamangomulekera Chilima msonkhano mupeza mavoti atapita.
What started like a joke, has now turned into a big thorn in dpp’s flesh.
Soon after the courts proceedings , the dpp team highly underrated Chilima and Chakwera.
Interestingly, unfortunately or blindly, they ( dpp crew) kept on saying “palibe mulandu pamene paja , boma sililuza , tiwina ife” , up until the last whistle.
A lomwe guy once predicted in an audio clip that matupi ndi mizimu ya a malubino anapha a dpp ija yakwiya ndipo singawasekerere.
Now , they’ve sensed nyekhwe !! kkķkk hahaha
Muthlika just do the needful thing that you retain the little respect that remains. Do not be cheated. Parliament cannot enact the laws to counter act the judgement that has already been passed. The laws to be made shall apply only to future incidence. Do not be cheated come 3rd July you are just a nobody. Let me remind you that Malawi soldiers are professionals. They are always guided by the laws. Remember during Bingu (MHSRIP) they defended the law. During your ascention too, they defended the law. So do not be myopic. Chitseko chikamakupwanya katundu do not be surprised.
The judiciary ndiwomwe amapereka most of solutions in politics.Peter Munthalika is not Malawi himself.The citizens will rule Malawi forever.Analumbiritsa president ndi majudge,amalumbiritsa ma members of parliament ndi majudge,omwe amamasulira malamulo ndi majudge,omwe amateteza malamulo adziko ndi majudge ndipo amene amapanga enforce Kut lamulo kugwire ntchito ndimajudge. Executive yikakhala ndivuto pazamalamulo,abwalo lamilandu amamasulira.Ndipo members of parliament akakhala ndi vuto lamulo lawo lomwe amapitanso kubwalo lamilandu Kut akamasulire bwino.The judiciary is doing it’s job of protecting, interpreting and enforcing the constitution.Wether Munthalika likes or not he is leaving the state house.The citizens will not be abused for the second time.Munthalika needs to be arrested if he tries to Stop election.kulesa election kuyaka .
I have run out of advice for idiot. I will wait for 3 July. And it is just around the corner!
Anthu ankati Kamuzu anali dictator koma analora (NEVER RESISTED) kukhale referendum 1993 and presidential elections 1994. Mbava zikopa zisankho yet they claim anawina ma elections. DDP like a SCARED TIMID DOG has its TAIL TAGGED in between itsegs PEEING UNCONTROLLABLY, kkkk
Don’t we have other unbiased analysts??
Go for Steven Maseya or Ho0e Chisanu
Both Munthali and Thindwa are talking nonsense the judges created this crisis as the conspired with the opposition for a regime change.
Every case that was being brought before them from the govt. Was being shot down with reckless abandon. Ironically every case that was brought to them by the opposition was always right does it means all lawyers representing the government are incompetent? The answer is definitely NO!
The issue of covid 19 is well documented and yet the Judge ruled in favor of those who feel that the disease is not real.
Every president has power and prerogative to protect his citizen. He can postpone the election if he feel the need to.
These so called political commentators are actually agents of opposition.
You sound as desperate as APM. Or is it ignorance?
You are an agent of DPP. In short you are a cadet. So we are not surprised with your baseless comments.
Backbencher I confer to you a degree in Master of Arts in Imbecility for Poor Countries
Mr president please you must remember that zotengerana kuntoso sizabwino just follow zomwe ma bwalo amilandu adanena, think about our country and our future not zopenga ngati zimenezo.
Voting is on.I will be at polling station by 07:00 to cast mine for a change
muthalika think malawi is BINGU’S ndata farm where he can do as he likes. but he will see another side of malawians once 3 July is met without elections. everyone around the world will know that muthalika is an enemy of democracy….
Spot on! Perhaps his elder brother lied to him that he bought Malawi
Gologolo, pa mtengo wakakamila. Za manyazi! We want change! We want change! We want change! We want change! We want change! 1993!
So called analysts, does the opposition have two-thirds majority? They don’t. Mukhaula muona.
All well-meaning Malawians who know it is time for change will be on board. No need for 2/3 .
Ukhaule ndiwe cadet
Parliament is above courts. We will wait for what parliament decides. Stop making these foolish comments.
@Qute
Seek professional help for free at Zomba Mental or Lilongwe Bottom before it’s too late. Three arms of government are at par with each other, none is superior to the other. President cannot reverse decisions made by parliament nor parliament can reverse decisions made by courts. Are DPP morons suggesting that each time we even a by-election parliament will convene to set up date.
Exactly APM has no mandate to rule. We will match to Sanjika palace life or death. We will match to defend our hard won democracy. We are more than ready to defend our country using all necessary means.
Now that we know clueless Mutharika’s schemes to operate outside ‘the tenets of constitutionalism, rule of law and judicial accountability’ by making sure no fresh presidential elections (FPE) are held but he remains in charge to run the affairs of the country and slap ‘charges of treason’ anyone who stands in his way, it is incumbent upon ‘all true patriots’–the likes of Thindwa and Munthali and others— to make it clear to Mutharika and his Mbava (UDF/DPP) alliance that this is not going to happen in our Malawi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yikuwopa nkhalamba and yes he doesn’t understand the law as he’s too dull. We won this freedom when NTCHONA was in hiding abroad, hence WE WILL NOT accept for him to mess us about. Mr Professor of LOW, your time is up. May you be reminded that you are illegitimate president currently.
Some1 needs to educate APM seriously…….!
Muntharika is seeing what will follow him after he fails. Cashgates, Killings of albino, as he has been named in most of theses cases, cadets were unleashing war as it was in area the big man is very much worries. as his MPs will be enjoying their salaries and instanty they will switch sides to continue to eat moneys and disclose more lot and evils of their old boss did. Moslty, its Kalekeni Kaphale who is ill advising Mutharika.
I wish this interim president was wise enough to learn from what has recently happened to his counterparts like ex-Sudanese President Al-Bashir. Even with 100% of military backing, his clinging to power crumbled and now he is languishing in prison. Popular rising does not fear tanks and guns. It’s unfortunate that in the process many innocent Sudanese lost their lives, and God forbid that Malawi should be dragged into anarchy by a power-hungry 80 year old man that seems to have lost his mind. I pray that the MDF will not support this madness at the expense of innocent millions of Malawians. He has almost lived his life span and now he doesn’t care what happens to the millions of the Malawi youth whose future already looks scrappy under this interim President’s leadership. May God answer our National Anthem, this is the time! FREEDOM IS COMING TOMORROW!
U president ndikumayembekeza wokoma, but comes with responsibly. If you don’t deliver you are booted out.
Ma analyst ake atumbuka okhaokha. Kkk. Check section 83 of the constitution and see nyekhwe there. The judicial coup falls flat.
No it doesn’t. You will see what will transpire. Malawi hs been here before and Malawians won.
MISALA KAPENA KULEDZERA?
Mutharika will be shocked to see himself a hopeless idiot than he already is. We, the people are watching