Malawi President Mutharika rebuffs CSOs ‘wishful thinking’ on K4bn: Will not personally receive the petition
President Peter Mutharika has refused to personally receive a petition from some defied civil society organisations (CSOs) planning the April 27 demonstrations over the controversial K4 billion allocation to legislators.
Mutharika said it is “withful thinking” from CSOs that he would get out of State House and personally receive their petition.
CSOs have unveiled plans to hold nationwide protests on April 27 2018 to express displeasure with government’s handling of the K4 billion allocation to members of Parliament (MPs) and other issues.
In a statement, the CSOs said their decision follows inconsistencies, illegality and a cloud of suspicion that characterised the K4 billion ‘miracle money’ pay-out that raises governance and accountability questions.
But President Mjutharika through his spokesman Mgeme Kalilani said he was not party to the demonstrations and would not be associated with them, therefore it is “wishful thinking” to expect him to receive the petition.
Said Kalilani: “ The President is not part of the planning group on how the so called demonstrations shall go about. If the planners say they shall hand over their petition to the President in person, only them [the planners; can explain what they mean by that.”
Presidential press secretary said in as far as the State House is concerned, President Mutharika is not party to the demo.
The CSOs have maintained that they will push Mutharika to get out of State House to receive the petition.
Through the demonstrations, which the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) and others are supporting, the CSOs want to force cancellation of disbursement of the K4 billion fund, and push for the resignation or dismissal of Cabinet ministers Goodall Gondwe (Finance, Economic Planning and Development) and Kondwani Nankhumwa (Local Government and Rural Development) over their roles in the scam.
The demonstrations are set to be held under the theme ‘For How Long Shall Malawians Continue To Be Taken for Granted? Loss of Public Trust in the Current Administration: Time to Reclaim Our Destiny.’
The CSOs argue that the K4 billion allocation is illegal and not in the best interest of Malawians, hence the need to immediately cancel it.
The CSOs have also asked the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate allegations that government bribed some MPs from the opposition parties to frustrate the Electoral Reforms Bills through rejection, abstaining or absenteeism during last November sitting of Parliament.
The K4 billion issue—that initially saw 86 legislators mostly affiliated to the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its working partners getting about K40 million each—came to the fore during the Mid-Year Budget Review Meeting in Parliament in February after Malawi News first reported about the matter.
But Nankhumwa clarified that both sides of the House decided to distribute the money equally, meaning that each of the 193 legislators would now receive K20.7 million.
However, the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) later made a U-turn, saying it does not want to be party to the fund.
Capital Hill has long argued that the money, described as Quick Grant Project, is meant for rural development, but the CSOs feel Gondwe’s conduct on the matter is beneath his resume and a betrayal of citizens’ trust as the country’s purse keeper.
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APM should ignore these noise-makers. Don’t take them seriously because their intention is destroy.
The right way, the best way and the surest way to reclaim Malawi’s destiny is TO VOTE APM OUT OF GOVERNMENT ON 21 MAY, 2019 and usher in a TRUE SERVANT LEADERSHIP THAT IS HUMBLE, HUMANE AND CAN MAKE MALAWI A MIDDLE CLASS NATION. LET MALAWI VOTE WISELY COME THE ELECTIONS.
Smart brains swallow their pride whenever they get voice of reason……………!! I mean, are saying what the MLS president Mwiza Nkhata has said through daily times is trash? Take it/leave it, you have to operate as per the Law………..!! If the Law is not saying it, then don’t do it!!
Makani bwanji kodiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii? Nayenso kalilani, ndi bamusi 2 utuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Mukuwanyikitsaka a gogowo!! Ndikukulatu za law zinatha m’mutumo
Do you need to be part of the planning team to receive a petition?. It is from the people to their president. The former are raising concerns for the attention of the later
I really don’t understand why you (CSOs) should even think of delivering a petition to the president. For heavens sake, he is the architect of the corrupt Malawi we see today. He doesn’t care about what Malawians say, feel or do. He is so out of touch with reality 9proof is there for everyone to see). If he had his way he would order the military to deal with demonstrators. My advice to you SCO, change your tact and urgently mobilise sympathisers, especially the youth, to vote appropriately. Remember that Prof Peter Mutharika was elected democratically into office, through the… Read more »
It is very sad that our president is surrounded by useless people. People who only know how to buy plots from Ministry of Lands through dubious means. Avoiding CSOs won’t solve the problem. If APM receives this petition citizens will know that they have a listening president. The president needs to have dialogue with the concerned groups and find a solution. We are all Malawians let’s not behave ngati dziko tinabwereka.
Chindere
YES, GO AHEAD WITH DEMOS AND TO THE END WE WILL SEE WHAT YOU WILL GAIN.KODI ACHAKWELA CHIMENE AKUWOPELA MAVOTI NDI CHANI? INUYO MATCHANI KOMA IFE SITILOLA ZOTI LAZALO ALOWELE PAWINDO COZ PETER SANALOWELE PAWINDO.
“Withful thinking” is what Mgeme and APM are practising………..!! These people seem to have forgotten that Malawians have the mandate over their destiny, not visa versa!! Mau a akulu akoma akagonela………………!! You better seriously consider Bishop Msusa’s advice which he gave in June 2017. The Bishipo emphatically urged you people to listen to advice that the public give you on matters of national interest. Remember, he even went off board and added in an angry tone that and I quote: “am not a prophet but I can say that the power of a gun shall not be feared one day.”… Read more »
Yess i agree with this decision, Smoke this OLD Man out of State house until he receive the petition. Why should he remain at our State house built by our Taxes if he cannot even handle Electricity problems we are facing?
Mukatuluka baba tinkhala pa gate la state house mpakana mudzatuluke bansi, ngati simudzatuluka bwana tizigona pompo mpakana tidzavote