Mutharika behaving like ‘dictator’ – Church and Society

President Peter Mutharika has been accused by governance of CCAP Livingstonia Synod, Church and Society, of acting like a dictator similar to the style of his late brother leader, Bingu wa Mutharika.

Executive director of Church and Society, Moses Mkandawire, told a news conference in Mzuzu that Mutharika is morphing into the intolerant autocrat.

He accused Mutharika of his “emotional and hostile approach” during a news conference he held last week, saying his outburst and table banging were exhibiting that he is increasingly applying autocratic governing style.

Mkandawire also faulted President Mutharika for his foul-mouthing and lack of decorum as Head of State in some of the words he used when he addressed journalist in live broadcast on October 8 while responding to growing criticism of his alleged bloated delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) amid a crumbling economy.

He picked Mutharika choice of words like “nonsense” and then “the banging of the table should not come from a leader.”

Mkandawire accused government of being insensitive towards the suffering of Malawians, saying people are dying of hunger and lack of drugs.

“Such deaths could be avoided if government started caring and looked into solutions to the problems,” he said.

Mkandawire said the President showed similar style of his late brother, Bingu of being a dictator, asking him “to draw lessons from Bingu’s scenario.”

Late Bingu wa Mutharika’s eccentric intolerance went too far forcing mass action.

Church and Society is warning Mutharika not to be posturing himself to lead Malawi to an era of absolute dictatorship but rediscover his own diplomatic manner.

He said Mutharika must have reflected on his approach at the news conference and “regretted it.”

“Use of words such as nonsense or stupid are very unfortunate and they should not come from a leader,” said Mkandawire.

Mkandawire said Mutharika should not be allergic to transparency and accountability, saying Malawians have constitutional rights to demand the same from their elected leader.

“It is not good to shout at people who are suffering. A leader should be with the people who are suffering,” said Mkandawire who is also leader of 16 key civil society organisations under the Civic and Political Space Platform (CPSP) .

Mkandawire advised President Mutharika to watch his tongue and control his emotions when addressing issues being raised by Malawians.

He said the country does not want to experience another July 20 2011 scenario when there are viable ways of addressing issues.

Presidential spokesman Gerald Viola said Church and Society “has a right to observe the President’s leadership.”

Viola however dismissed the dictator tag, saying Mutharika is a democrat and progressive leader.