Mulli’s DPP link to Mulhako wa Alhomwe draws fire: ‘Malawi is for all’
Mulhako wa Alhomwe board of trustees chairperson and businessperson Leston Mulli is dominating the media headlines over his pronouncement at the group’s annual festival at Chonde in Mulanje when he vowed to prevent critics of President Peter Mutharika from claiming any seat or votes in the May 21 Tripartite Elections.
Analysts in quotes reported by The Nation newspaper on Thursday faulted Mulli for his remarks and the paper‘s editorial comment said the statement by the Mulhako chair is “politically dangerous” that should be condemned in strongest terms.
“For the record, Mutharika and several of his Cabinet ministers are influential members of the grouping; hence, one would be tempted to ask: Is Mulhako wa Alhomwe a vote mobilisation arm of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)?” reads the editorial.
Speaking during the 11th commemoration of the annual Mulhako wa Alhomwe festival at Chonde in Mulanje on Sunday, Mulli, who claimed the DPP was in power to stay, said no person who disrespects their elders can prosper.
But commentators have observed that Mulli’s sentiments have potential to create anarchy, divisions and stoke political violence as the country heads for elections.
The paper’s comment said Mulli’s statement has taken Malawi back to the time when there was no political tolerance in the country.
“We would want to remind Mulli that Malawi is in a multiparty dispensation where political tolerance has to be the order of the day,” said the paper.
The leading daily also faulted government spokesman who is also DPP publicist Nicholous Dausi for stating that what Mulli said is his opinion, saying that does not inspire confidence.
“DPP should rise above party politics and condemn Mulli’s utterance. We need not remind them that the 1994 genocide in Rwanda started with careless statement such as the one made by Mulli.
“Malawi is for all. We are one people despite different tribes and it would help no one to create divisions based on tribes,” the paper said.
And in comments reported by the paper, University of Livingstonia based commentator George Phiri warned the DPP that people like Mulli are alienating the party from other tribes.
“Much as we understand Mulli is neither DPP nor Mulhako, his sentiments may imply DPP is for the Lhomwes only,” said Phiri.
Political parties also commented to the story in the paper.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Reverend Maurice Munthali said to associate DPP with the Lhomwe belt – districts of Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Phalombe, Mulanje and parts of Zomba – is to show that they have no regard for others.
Munthali said they have been “vindicated” that the DPP practises regionalism, tribalism and nepotism “because they have allowed Mulli to make these utterances in public.”
People’s Party (PP) spokesman Ackson Kalaile Banda is also quoted in the paper criticising Mulli for tribalising DPP, saying “Malawians should not allow such people to use tribes for political gains.”
United Transformation Movement (UTM) spokesman Joseph Chidanti Malunga also feared Mulli’s sentiments may incite political violence.
“What kind of a country are we going to have if we say the Lhomwe should support DPP, the Ngoni should support party ‘X’?”
Chancellor College base political analysts Ernest Thindwa observed that Mulhako wa Alhomwe cannot be separated from DPP, saying the cultural grouping was formed as a strategy to secure the Lhomwe votes.
And despite the political tone, Mulli has lighter moments and attracted some chuckles across the audience, most of who had tasted the free Chibuku opaque beer and food on offer.
He declared: “We don’t want to have Lhomwe women failing to appease [sex] clients out there. There are some tricks and items to help make your trade as exciting and profitable. Even for men, we have something for you as well. You can have the battery charged up at all those pavilions. Go get some help!”
Mulhako wa Alhomwe was formed on October 25 2008 by late president Bingu wa Mutharika to promote the Lhomwe culture in Malawi.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Uku ndiye kulankhula nandolo wa 5 billion admarc itagula.
What Mulli said is nothing new, since the formation of Mulhako one cannot tell the difference between Lhomwe as a tribe and DPP as a party…simply stated Lhomwe is DPP and DPP is Lhomwe..Full stop! But my Lhomwe friends please dont get carried away with power! There is no way you can rule this country for ever ndiyeno musamathe mau!! Dziko limasintha amangwetu. Last time is was Ben Phiri of the “Maliseche” fame encouraging Lhomwes and Southerners to vote APM not on merit but just because he is one of their own!!Now Mulli has put it clearly. Anyway tsiku lina… Read more »
Before you speak listen, before you write think, before you critisize wait…panopa olo DPP ingapange chilichose cha normal it will still be nepotism, regionalism, Tribalism and whatever you mention it…….my point is we stick something in our mindset kut DPP. ma function ngat omwewa in other cultures akuchitika koma timaiwala Munthu sazatheka lets just wait 2019 tripatite elections vote izagwire ntchito basi and vote ili mumtima because tiyaankhula mkutopa tizikangana, kudana pa zinthu zopanda ntchito zosayenera kuzikokomezaso olo MMALAWI BWANJ…….see more.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with mobilising for votes using tribal or any other social grouping. A few years ago the Zulu tribe was mobilised to support IFP. However, this has tended to be short-lived as people intermarry with children not belonging to one particular tribe. We all identify as Malawians so the message should be that of unity vs dividing citizens on narrow tribal lines. There are so many Lhomwes whose other parents are Ngonis, Tumbukas, Mang’anja, Chewa etc. How do you then mobilise such voters. Multi is shortsighted and so was Bingu Wa Mutharika in 2008. It’s high these… Read more »
First we should condemn tumbukas for dominating in all NGOs. Mulli is being practical it is happening only Mulli says what is out there. Bravo Mulli
Isn’t the big problem us Malawians who associate with the very people we are castigating here by voting them into power again and again. Why? Because we get carried away by the prospect of amassing wealth through plunder of public resources with no regard for the disadvantaged. We should know by now that APM and his cronies care a hoot about anyone who is not Lhomwe, more especially Mulakho. So, Muli is only articulating APM/Lhomwe policy through DPP. We are doomed. But wait a .minute. All is not lost. Remember? There is May 2019 round the corner. Let’s make use… Read more »
Let us go to tribalism, Alomwe alipo ochepa MMalawi muno. Please dont do that people wont vote another Lomwe in power.
im a lhomwe but this is more like mulhako wa amphumbwa look at the frontiers they all milking the govvy coffers one way or the other.
Iwe Mwana Wakwithu….it is not nice to belittle other people’s culture. The Lhomwes call that bird Pumbwa. It is only those who speak the dialect that makes lips swell after speaking it for the whole day that will mispronounce/misspell it as mphumbwa.
hahahahhahaha kkkkkkk wanenesadi uyu asaname kuti ndi mulhomwe, ndi mtumbuka weniweni, there’s no way mulhomwe angayitchule mbalame ija mphumbwa.
Sincerely Mulli’s pronouncement has to be regurgitated with a sober mind by Gawa Undi and Inkosi Ya Makosi Goman V!! If participation is linked to supporting DPP, are these chiefs DPP members? Were they in support of the pronouncements? So far what is their take? I for one strongly feels that it would have been proper if these chiefs gave their own comments on the pronouncements by Mulli than remaining silent as is the case now!! Secondly, does Mulli or DPP have interest in other Malawian tribes? If yes for what, since everything as per the message belongs to the… Read more »
walakwa chani Mulli ponena chilungamo?