Malawi President Mutharika claims: ‘I was hunted like criminal, survived 5 assassination attempts’

President Peter Mutharika has said the culture of hatred resulted in him being hunted like a criminal at the time he was campaigning for the presidency.

President Peter Mutharika : I survived
President Peter Mutharika : I survived

Mutharika said it was only by the grace of God that he managed to survive five assassination plots in the run up to Malawi’s national elections in 2014.

“When I was campaigning to lead this country, I was hunted like a criminal. I survived five assassination attempts. I am happy that most of you gave me refuge, solace and courage. You have been the fortitude of the persecuted as Christ wishes,” he said during the consecration of a bishop at the weekend.

Mutharika said one of the challenges facing Malawi was the culture of hate and envy that derailed people from fighting poverty.

“There is a war of good and evil in the country. Every time people fight for the good, evil fights them and every time people fight to take others to light, darkness and its forces interfere,” he said.

Usual complaint

Mutharika has over the past two years been complaining about the persecution he suffered when his predecessor Joyce Banda was in power.

Among others, Mutharika regularly cites his arrest over allegations of plotting a coup d’etat when he was in opposition as an example of persecution.

During the Banda regime, Mutharika faced treason charges for allegedly trying to prevent Banda from ascending into power.

Treason slammed

Many analysts have said authorities in Malawi use treason charges to silence those in opposition or government critics.

One prominent Malawian lawyer recently observed that it was time Malawians demanded answers as to why a lot of resources were spent on sedition and treason offences without any appreciable progress being registered.

The lawyer Khumbo Soko said cases of treason pointed to an unprincipled use of law enforcement powers by the state.

“The history of prosecution of treason offences in this country, especially since 1994, is rather troubling,” he said.

Cases of politicians and army officers in Malawi who are arrested over treason cases end up being dropped or in acquittals.

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Innocent
Innocent
7 years ago

Sono wati umphwetsere kwa prophet wathu major1. Wachepa sungatithe ife ndife ana a mulungu.

Kenkkk
Kenkkk
7 years ago

What a joke? Peter has no shame. A total disgrace. What suffering when compared to that suffered by many Malawians?

Chimunthu
7 years ago

This is a pathetic attempt to play the sympathy card. The man needs to get real and face up to the failings of his administration and do something to put them right, instead of winging. No sympathy from this commentator!

tony kanyenda
tony kanyenda
7 years ago

He’s is an embarrassment of a president, and one ruling through the backdoor, APM survived 5 assassination attempts, in his dreams but not in the country, maybe he is confusing with the bees that attacked him sometime ago in 2014

The Patriot
The Patriot
7 years ago

Thank you Mr President for sharing your survival story with us! All I can say is that you are a kucky guy if these assassination attempts are to be believed. From the picture you are trying to paint, one can easily conclude that Malawi is a rotten country of political assassination attempts to opposition leaders . The question is what are you doing as a President to stop assassins threatening the lives of opposition leaders now? Having gone through tough times as an opposition leader, what are you doing to protect the lives of Chakwera , Kamlepo from assassins? Or… Read more »

Machiavelli
Machiavelli
7 years ago

kodi inu mumafuna kutchuka bwanji. Who attempted to kill you? Treason amanama? We were there and we all saw how you and the big mouthed akweni wanted to prevent JB from getting the power. Zoona ndithu mphongo ngati inu from time to time muzikhala mukudandaula kuti munthu wamayi ankafuna kukuphani. zamanyazi, just concentrate on development. we need to see those implicated in the 200 plus million kwacha cashgate being prosecuted including the seven ministers. Joyce Banda is no longer in power and you will gain nothing on kumangokamba za mmbuyo. we want to see you transform this nation osati the… Read more »

Observer
Observer
7 years ago

You are a criminal kumene dyabulosi iwe

Ngalamayi
Ngalamayi
7 years ago

I don’t believe this. Is he looking for sympathy?

Petre Mathanyula
7 years ago

What is this bububu talking about? Is he not the one promoting hatred in this country? You government created unfounded coup allegations for MCP members and yet that story has never seen the light of day. Who are to claim that people of this country hate to the core. As for the coup it’s true you did not want Joyce Banda to ascent to the presidency after the death of James Phiri. That was a genuine case and if Malawi justice system was perfect you would have been jailed by now. Usatinyanse.

thunguwire
thunguwire
7 years ago

Mr President, Kamlepo survived 23 murder attempt

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