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.

“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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