Malawi President says Chakwera still frustrated over poll loss        

President Peter Mutharika has dismissed Leader of Opposition Lazarus Chakwera’s criticism of the presidency, describing them as rantings of a frustrated loser of an election.

Chakwera on Thursday issued a hard hitting statement, attacking Mutharika as a failed leader and for failed leadership, urging Malawians not to give him another presidential term.

Chakwera said Mutharika lives in “Mutharika Republic” whose capital city is Kamuzu Palace where everything is paid for by tax payers money whilst the tax payer are finding life extremely hard.

But presidential spokesperson Mgeme Kalirani said what Chakwera said was not true and came from a frustrated person.

“Dr Chakwera contested the 2014 presidential elections on Malawi Congress Party ticket, His Excellency the president Professor Peter Mutharika contested the elections on Democratic Progressive Party ticket and he won the elections. Since he lost the elections to Professor Mutharika, Dr Chakwera has always been frustrated,” Kalilani said.

Chakwera highlighted a myriad of problems; political, economic and social rocking the nation which he said Mutharika and his administration have completely failed.

He did not only critice but also offered a five-step solution which the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  leader insists are the only way to help turn around the country’s fortunes.

Chakwera suggested that separating the Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) from the Executive arm of government could give power and independence for the ACB to investigate corruption by members of the Executive branch.

He said: “If Mutharika was serious about fighting corruption, he would have implemented this solution right now.”

He also suggested that government should create a special court in the Judiciary that will focus exclusively on corruption and fraud by public servants so that cases of stealing taxpayers’ funds are given priority and speedy conclusion.

Chakwera further advised Mutharika to suspend all top government officials who were at the helm of government ministries during the time money was siphoned from State coffers in what has come to be known as Cashgate until an independent investigation clears them of collusion in the corruption that resulted.

He, however, said passing the Access to Information Bill was another solution to expose all public officers with business interests that are using the State as a means to personal gain, and that those officers should be removed from office.