Malawi political tension rising as PP threatens violent halt to Mutharika’s rule: Dausi condemn chaos threat

The erstwhile ruling People’s Party (PP)  has raised political tensions dramatically  after telling  President Peter Mutharika that he risked being removed from power through massive protests if he does not resign within 30 days.

PP administrative secretary Joseph Chikwembwa, who is also leader of Orange Partners, an arm of the PP,   said in a statement that Malawians are simmering with anger at an economic crisis that has caused price rises and that President Mutharika is failing to introduce policies that would build investor and donor confidence.

In the statement, PP said it believed the majority of Malawians have lost trust in the Head of State so much that few options now remained for Malawians to restore their livelihoods which is calling for the President to go as they cannot wait for 2019 when the next elections are going to be conducted.

Chikwemba said Malawian stood ready to confront Mutharika head-on, even if he resorted to brute State machinery to crush dissent if he does not resign by 30 days or call for a referendum to allow him exercise presidential powers.

He said social and economic right of Malawians are deliberately being violated.

Chikwemba warned of a popular uprising against Mutharika is he does not resign.

“The President and his government have demonstrated favouritism and ill-will in the way they are handling issues of corruption. Malawians re aware how the case of [former minister of agriculture, irrigation and water development George] Chaponda is being handled.

“President Peter Mutharika defied a court order by sending Chaponda to Germany as a minister while the High Court injunction was in forces,” Chikwemba said in the statement seen by Nyasa Times.

PP argues among others that there is “high level of nepotism and tribalism, favouritism and ill-will in dealing with corruption introduction of tax on water and hiking university fees and maize price.”

Reads the statement: “Malawi has limited access to potable water and the introduction of tax on water will make it even harder for most Malawians to access water and most of these individuals will resort into drinking from unprotected wells or directly from polluted rivers.”

Chikwemba said the hiking of maize price and university tuition fees amounts to “disproportionate to people’s ability to pay”.

The PP also accused President Mutharika of “failing to employ teachers, doctors and nurses trained through the tax payers’ money.”

Chikwemba further accused Mutharika of failing to resolve the epileptic black-outs by power utility service provider Escom and erratic water supply.

He said PP is also condemning “high level of nepotism and tribalism practised by Peter Mutharika.”

Chikwemba said with the concerns, the PP request to President Mutharika is to go peacefully in 30 days and that if he does not go, they will call for civil disobedience.

He said Malawi country cannot afford Mutharika and his DPP administration for one day longer after the 30 days ultimatum.

Government spokesman Nicholous Dausi described the “threat of civil disobedience” as unlawful and said the State machinery will be prepared to act.

Dausi who is Minister of Information and Communication Technology said PP created the mess which Malawi is in when they presided over a regime of Cashgate, saying they have no moral ground to accuse the administration which is “trying hard to clear the mess.”

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