Malawi veteran critic Tom Likambale endorses Mutharika-Atupele ticket
Some people have asked me my position as far as Malawi’s current politics is concerned, especially in light of recent events which will culminate in a new presidential election this June 23rd. I believe I owe my friends and loved ones an honest and sincere answer.
I have been a UDF member since the party’s birth and was against the DPP since its own inception. I hated former President Bingu wa Mutharika’s double-crossing of previous President Bakili Muluzi. I also hated Bingu’s own hatred of myself and my family. In addition, I disdained the “Midnight 6” incident — among others. All this (and more) meant that I was a sworn opponent of DPP, I believed, forever.
I was in shock and disbelief when DPP won the 2014 polls. I had expected, and hoped, that former President Joyce Banda would forever vanquish the DPP to political oblivion where it belonged. Well, she did not and I have spent a lot of time since then regretting it.
All this being said, you may be asking where I stand now.
It is simple: I was disgusted by the role the HRDC, MCP and UTM played in violent demonstrations for the past 11 months. By contrast, I was charmed by the patience and forbearance President Arthur Peter Muthatika displayed in response. I was also turned off by MCP’s and UTM’s manipulation of ConCourt through family and friendship connections, to produce what I still consider a partisan judgement.
And, of course, I am pleased that DPP has found reconciliation with its parent party, my party, the UDF.
We Christians preach forgiveness and reconciliation. My Christian beliefs both compel and permit me to forgive and reconcile with the DPP.
For these reasons and others, I wholeheartedly endorse the presidential ticket bearing the names of President Arthur Peter Mutharika (DPP) for President and Atupele Muluzi (UDF) as his running mate.
Restraint under intense provocation is a very important quality in a president especially in our circumstances where agents provocateurs always seek to exploit ethnic, racial, regional, political and economic tensions. In the past 11 months, President Arthur Peter Mutharika has shown that he has this quality in spades.
Real progress in national develpoment can only happen under conditions of peace, harmony and cooperation. That is the value that the Mutharika-Muluzi ticket brings to the table. Vote wisely. Vote for this ticket on June 23rd. Zikomo
- Tom Likambale is one of veteran great critics in Malawi social and political issues and he is based in Canada.
This article is all about Likambale whose opinions are old and stale. Tell us something new if you wish to call yourself a “veteran critic”!
Likambale Likambale, indeed you have stated your choice regarding which side of the alliance, and equally everyone will have there own reasons for supporting their chosen side. Our politics are tribal and have always been and no matter what arguments or justifications we make no matter how colourful, no matter how well articulated they may be, they will just show our side of that tribalistic divide, in this case the name Likambale to me sounds Yao or Lomwe, and will not therefore be surprised to see you are supporting DPP/UTM alliance, but again you are entitled to make that choice… Read more »
It is not the reasons he has stated but his historical love for UDF. His comments on the Courts are unfair and regrettable. To be fair, UDF and Atupele must thank the courts and those that moved it for the Party to be of substance again. APM patience is an admission that he did not genuinely win the 2019 elections.
After all, APM has got no patience but has got no clue of solving a crisis. I hope we all remember the Academic Freedom issue when he was Minister of Education, the judicial issue when he was a Minister of Justice. This time around, an Interim President but once again very MUTE!
kukhala ku kanada nde tivutike ndi maganizo. munadya nao basi .munkanyemeredwatu paja. mwaesa taiwala?????????
True Peter has no time for useless things.1-he managed the country without doners 2- managed to pay servants without break3- Managed to raise pay for pensions 4- Constructed a lot of infrastructures.4-funded election.All this while being pulled back by Chakwera and friends.Doners are not stupid they have observed this that’s why they came back and still supporting Peter’s government.
Thom likambale zakale kale kkkk ife nganganga ku tonse
I don’t even remember this guy, after all he has only one vote
Likambale, you’re living in your own world….!!! It’s a pity.
Zingawenga sumadzipatsa boma. I will vote for APM-AAM ticket without any regrets.
Irrelevant. Strong ties to Bakili Muluzi.
In fact APM has vote most Malawians