Malawi President Mutharika denies exercising nepotism: Hits at ‘stupid’ critics

President Arthur Peter Mutharika has rejected enied claims that he is exercising nepotism, saying he is not trabalistic and his Cabinet has four northerners and some are holding crucial positions in the civil service, yet there is no ministers from his home district of Thyolo.

Mutharika stop over at Champhira
Mutharika is met by DPP Campaign Director Jappie Mhango at Katoto
Mjutharika says those appointed in positions re on their own merit

“There are some politicians who are saying the President sidelines the north; this is a lie. They are saying I practice nepotisms and I favour people from the southern region,” said Mutharika.

Mutharika was speaking on arrival in Mzuzu at Katoto Roundabout during a whistle-stop tour on his way to the northern region from Lilongwe.

“Some people say I only appoint people from  the Southern Region, But my Cabinet has no minister from Thyolo. Let me tell you that in my cabinet, I have four ministers from the north.  Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodal Gondwe, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jappie Mhango, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Grace Obama Chiumia and Deputy Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Clement Mukumbwa,” the President said.

He also said the Attorney General Charles Mhango who is “one of the best lawyers in this country” is also from the region and that he chose him on merit.

The Malawi leader bashed his criticis, saying “ those that accuse me  of exercising nepotism and tribalism ndi zitsiru (are stupid) and don’t know what they are talking about. They are wrong, as wrong as they can be.”

Mutharika, who then started reading from a prepared paper,  added that at Malawi Defence Force most senior positions are held by northerners including the post of deputy army commander and legal adviser.

At Malawi Police Service, the president said, he has promoted Commissioner John Nyondo and others from the north.

He added that Chief Justice Nyirenda is from Nkhata Bay and that Director of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is also from the same district.

Mutharika added that in civil service, out of 225 positions from grade E to A that a president appoints, 83 are from the north.

He said while the population of the north is nine per cent of the country’s population, it has 33 per cent of the positions in the civil service.

“I’m saying this to show the people who spare time talking about nepotism and tribalism that they are wrong,” he said.

The President told the gathering that his government has a lot of development activities taking shape in the region.

He said soon government will open Mombela University as ground work has already started.

Mutharika then said finally money for new Mzuzu Airport has been found and his government will build an international standard airport in the city.

He also said his government is fulfilling its promises to rehabilitate Mzuzu-Nkhata Bay Road and city roads.

On his way from Lilongwe, President Mutharika stopped over at Champhira in Mzimba South where he addressed people who gathered there.

Speaking at Champhira, Inkosi ya Makosi M’mbelwa V thanked the President for taking time to visit the region.

He assured the President that chiefs from the northern region are in support of government as it has always been the trend for chiefs to support government of the day.

President Mutharika is in the northern region to undertake various development activities including Commissioning of Kalenge Water Project in Chitipa District.

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santana
santana
6 years ago

Those who are doubting DPP’s win in 2019 should tell us who will win and give reasons why Malawians can opt for this candidate. We would like to know why you think the candidate is doing in his party or the nation for him to deserve a win in 2019. Reasons should not be what APM is failing to do but should be why that candidate deserves a win.

MAMBALAZ
MAMBALAZ
6 years ago

MR PRESIDENT OUR BROTHERS

AND SISTERS NEED INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
STADIUM
MOMBERA VERSITY
AS YOU PROMISED THEM

IF YOU FULFILL THOSE PROMISES THEN YOU CAN
TALK NOT THESE FAKE STORIES

Gibson Haward
Gibson Haward
6 years ago

Your Excellency Dr A. Peter Muthalika My name is Gibson Haward, Malawian National based in Cape Town. Am from an NGO called UniFam working directly with UNHCR. Thank you for the Speech Addressing audience who took an initiative to welcome you as the First Malawian Citizen upon your Arrival in Mzuzu City. I would like to upload your leadership for all outlined vital projects in all mentioned Districts within Northern Region as all previous Government has been promising since decades in which implementing of the promised Projects have been incurable disease. However, I would like to remind the general public… Read more »

Phaghlani Vwavwa
Phaghlani Vwavwa
6 years ago

The president’s statements and words themselves are in fact tribalistic. As President of a country why worry about where someone comes from? If the population of the north is only 9% why do we have quota system then ? 91% of the population can easily dwarf the 9% . Why formulate a policy targeting just 9% of the population? And why is it that every president we have had speaks as if they are in foreign country each time they are in the North? And also they put it like we should be grateful for whatever they have done for… Read more »

senzangakhona
senzangakhona
6 years ago

I watched the broadcasting of the HE’s speech and it appeared to me the growing popularity of the MCP is a big thorn in his fresh. But this was expected given the fact that he tolerated corruption, nepotism and theft in his government. And I may be wrong but he sounded drunk and I was not surprised to hear those derogatory words coming from his mouth. And I was like this HE does he know that sometimes we watch television with kids? If kids hear such foul language from the state president would they respect him or may be they… Read more »

Fellow
Fellow
6 years ago

Kampaign basi. Are those in positions capable? or chosen in merit?

Maunits
Maunits
6 years ago

Muthalika zake zada. Palibe chabwino apa choncho zinthu sizilibwino ku blue camp. Watukwana ma donors ndi civil society dzana, lero akutukwana ma critics macritics ndiye ndani palinzeru apa! shame on you!

innocent m\'bama
innocent m\'bama
6 years ago

zikomo mr president zoona ndizisilu ndithu i agreed my president you realy try your best like late ngwazi banda

Kaloswe
6 years ago

Who dosent know that you are tribalistic iwe Muthalika

Geof
Geof
6 years ago

that’s true we are all Malawian and the issue of nepotism is not tolerable here

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