Mutharika rebuffs CSOs, Chakwera joins peaceful demo: Petitioners say time to rid Malawi of ‘executive thieves’
President Peter Mutharika on Friday rebuffed the civil society organisations (CSOs) to personally receive a petition from them after nationwide anti-government protests of the social, economic and governance ills Malawians are facing.
High Court Judge Charles Mkandawire in an order given to the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) ruled that President Mutharika should personally receive the petition.
But Chief Secretary to the Government, Lloyd Muhara said President Mutharika was preparing to leave the country as scheduled for New York to attend the 73rd United Nations General Assembly (Unga).
Instead the Lilongwe City Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Moza Zeleza received the petition at Capital Hill on behalf of the President after midday.
Leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera who endorsed the CSOs cause, joined the protestors in Lilongwe clad in a red t-shirt.
Chakwera, who is also Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, said he was in agreement to concerns raised by the petitioners on issues such as deterioration of basic services like blackouts, high rate of unemployment and the general decay of the state of governance.
“Come May 21 2019 Malawians have a golden opportunity to change leadership through the power of the ballot,” said Chakwera.
In their petition seen by Nyasa Times, the CSOs accused President Mutharika for not coming to face them at a dialogue meeting and not receiving the petition.
“As Civil Society and all Malawians of goodwill, we are at pains to learn that a servant can have the audacity to refuse to meet his employers in order to account for how he was using the powers to govern on their behalf,” it reads in part.
The CSOs said they view the recent developments as “signs of lack of servant leadership”, but also a clear expression of “continued executive arrogance” where the President feels “too executive and important to be approached by heavily taxed ordinary Malawians.”
It reads: “You seem to be a leader who has unfortunately lost touch with reality on the ground, and as such Malawians have every right to conclude that you take them for granted.”
Organisers of the demonstrations have issued assessment of a 10-point petition in which the HRDC demanded that President Mutharika should cancel the appointment of Rodney Jose as Inspector General of Police and wanted the Electoral Reforms Bills to be re-tabled in Parliament in their original form as recommended by the Law Commission, saying since the April 27 petition there has been inaction .
They have also noted inaction on demands for the cancellation of the K4 billion payout to parliamentarians, resignations or firing of Cabinet ministers Goodall Gondwe (Finance and Economic Planning) and Kondwani Nankhumwa (Local Government and Rural Development) for their role in the payout, and for the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the payout.
The demonstrations held under the theme ‘Restoring our Destiny’, are a follow up to HRDC’s April 27 ten-point petition against poor governance which the group claims government did not fully address.
The CSOs, among other issues, demanded government to address worsening corruption in the country and theft of fuel worth K 1.9 billion at Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom).
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration has also been challenged to free taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation.
In the fresh petition, the CSOs said they are concerned with the “sad reality” that many prominent cases bordering on corruption in DPP government are not being investigated and that suspected culprits are not being prosecuted.
It cited remarks by Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Reyneck Matemba recently that all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) citizenry are rotten with stinking corruption.
CSOs have also raised concerns on nepotism and highlighted in their petition that a big majority of Presidential appointees in senior government positions are restricted to people from Mutharika’s Lhomwe tribe and mentioned names of the public officers, accusing Mutharika of “implementing the Lomwelisation project in Malawi.”
The activists also said government has failed to achieve substantial progress in job creation, its few efforts in form of provision of youth loans are politicised and only serve to benefit those connected to the ruling party.
“The recent introduction of the government internship programme is not a lasting solution to the challenge of youth unemployment as internships are not full time jobs. We demand your government to come up with practical solutions that will keep the youths in gainful and permanent employment and in- come generating ventures – steps that are sustainable,” reads the petition.
In the petition, the CSOs said the DPP government has lost the legitimacy to govern and as such Malawians have the powers to decide whether to remove it from office or not.
They urged Malawians to ensure that “executive thieves are booted out of power.”
The HRDC said the 2019 Tripartite elections provide “an opportunity” to Malawians to restore their destiny by implementing the “Operation Chotsa Mbava approach in order to rid the nation of executive thieves.”
Concludes the petition; “Posterity will judge us harshly if we continue to elect thieves into political or public office. This is not the time to massage thieves!”
In Mzuzu, protesters refused to leave the High Court Roundabout asking why police and City Council allowed DPP in the City to clean markets on the day of the march.
Mzuzu CEO McLoud Kadammanja told CSOs that his office didn’t authorize DPP to have an activity in Mzuzu. Police then ordered the DPP members to leave the City’s streets and protesters agreed to proceed to the Civic offices to deliver a petition.
HRDC chair North Happy Mhango delivered the petition to Kadammanja.
Demonstrators in Blantyre delivered their petition to Blantyre City Council (BCC) through Director of administration Lytton Nkata who received the petition on behalf of the Cheif Executive Officer and he promised to deliver the petition to relevant authorities.
In Zomba protests were also held peacefully and a petition was delivered at the City civic offices.
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Munthuyu mukansiya chonchi atipha tonse a Malawi. 71% of Malawians are already languishing in poverty and to make things worse they don’t even know it.
It’s difficult for people to know that they are poor because the only environment they have lived in is surrounded by poverty. No wonder it’s difficult for us to believe that we can live better lives. DPP has let Malawians down.
Now we have seen that some people are Only Good at Talking.Ziko lonse linamva iyeyu atolonjeza kuti Akakhale Nao Ku Mseu.Ichi chakoma ichi cha koma Fisi Anagwa Chagada.Wekha ku boma wekhaso Ku Opposition.
This arrogance from APM is a clear indication that him and his DPP are going to rig again and win the polls hence he couldn’t care less about the citizens problems or about the outcry from people all over. And what have this second demonstration yielded? Absolutely nothing. Even if we do third or fourth…. it will make no difference to the executive thieves. Until we don’t bring this country to standstill nothing is going to work. Instead of going to streets we might as well boycott entire government system. Even the private and corporate sector will feel the pinch, and in turn put pressure on these thieves. In other countries one nationwide demos n protests is enough to bring governments on their knees but here it’s become a mere walk in town and nothing happens. One teargas cannister and we run like chickens and mice. Demos are done with determination and not with cowardness. Mobilize and Put 100 or 200 thousand people as vigils outide state house and capital hill, then see what happens. Imagine the leader of opposition has been on these demos twice n did jackshit. As opposition he’s supposed to mobilize his hundreds of thousands of supporters countrywide. The conditions set in the petition, not one has been addressed. It’s like an insult to people of Malawi. Wake up guys, or else forget giving fake hopes and expectations to Malawians with these useless demos.
Chilima is a hypocrite. He supported demos at a rally but never showed up. This Chilima is a coward who was hiding behind his Catholic Church. He has no heart for Malawians. He is not a leader at all.
Reading some comments here castigating Chakwera makes me feel that cadets have been deployed to write the useless comments and vote them up. Koma mufune or musafune nthawi ya mbava izi yatha!!!!
Ndipo ndinaziwa kale kuti mwano uli ndi bububu uyu, amene amangonyambita milomo ngati nanchidwe kaya titi chule; sangapite kukalandira petition. Ndeno mudzamuonere akamapanga address UNGA, madzi pambali uku akungonyambitira milomo. Zonena zake za ziiiii. Azungu ndikumatiseka kuti komanso dziko ili amati Malawi anthu ndi ogona kwabasi. Uyu nkukhala President?
Let me tell you blinded cadets. Our Moya is going to be the second to present a speech at UNGA that means theoretically he must be one of the heads of state to return home quickly, but alas practically he is going to be the last to reach poor Malawi; squeezing every Tambala from the taxpayers. Mudzayamba kumupanga hunt pa face book, just like last time; where is our President?
THIS IS WHAT WE ARE AGAINST YOU EMBICILE AND GULLIBLE CADETS.
Kikikikiki the judgement from court was/is not only laughable but “bullshit” no wonder it was not respected. Where in the constitution adalemba kuti a President azilandira ma petition a ma CSO/Demos? As far as am aware constitution imapereka mphamvu and freedom for people to demostrate koma koma sindinaveko kuti amati mapetition azilandira ndi a president. This sounds more like “toilet jokes” People anywhere do not respect laws or a court orders that they know to be defective. Even ma contracts, they become invalid if they (contract) contain serious errors. Inu a ma Judge, don’t bring shame to our justice system mwamva. Ndipotu Demo imakhala ndi mphamvu osati chifukwa cha olandira petition koma chifukwa cha kuchuluka kwa anthu amene akuchita participate. Mademo awawa anthu sazibwera chifukwa adatopa (1) people lost trust in these organizers (they look more like politically motivated) osati kufuna kuthandiza anthu ayi. (2) amachitika pafupipafupi kwambiri, tsono anthu sangamakhalire zimenezi, mmalo mokapanga ma business awo and get daily bread ayi. Zautsiru basi
As usual, oChakwera is lacking in political calculus: as much as Party leaders have individual rights, they resist in participating in demonstrations that are clearly political and against the opposite Party. This tactic will come back to haunt him, one day. No Leadership qualities here. Aaaah.
Chakwera is a Malawian nobody can block him from attending to any demo he uses his freedom.MCP bomaaaaaaa!!!!
Macadet mwatoyamba kumvekano mukulimba mtima chifukwa cha kubwera kwa UTM .Motoona ngati UTM izachepesa mavoti a Chakwera ndie mwaupondatu.Wamphwa mtima ndi Chakwera ndi Wa Cashgate.
Thanks Dr Chakwera for standing with the people of Malawi. You deserve 17 Million votes. May God Usher you to that No 1 job.
A Chakwera apatu ndiye nzeru zachepa zedi. Ngati mukudziwa kuti people will decide in May 2019, Ku msewuko ndiye mumakatani? Osapita bwanji Ku Bible study?
Your T-shirt is not complete. It must read “OPERATION CHOTSA MBAVA ZOBA MADZI KU LILONGWE WATER BOARD”.
Kodos to Lazaro for joining the demos. Twice now you have demonstrated that you are in solidarity with the people. The UTM boy tried to fool us that he supports the cause but just as he refused to receive the petition last time, he was nowhere to stand with the people. Pure opportunist!
Chakwera campaigning at the so called CSOs demos??….nooo come on guys pure n positive thinking these demos had no good for poor malawians like me…these were sponsored by n made for perennial losers like Chakwera to show up themselves….. waste of time demonstrators coz the organisers have diluted the course of the demonstrations by allowing Chakwera to campaign for the coming elections
these demos are politically motivated, the ruling of judge Mkandawire is politically motivated, the red colors of demonstrators are politically motivated, I KNOW through his wisdom APM can not burry his strong democratic principles to picking names and pictures of these big political figures to political podium. chidzaona ndi chipande poomola. Silence is one of the best responses in a political battlefield. APM woyeeee, DPP woyeee Malawi woyeee
LONG LIVE MALAWI, LONG LIVE APM, LONG LIVE DPP , LONG LIVE DEVELOPMENT, LONG LIVE DEMOCRACY
Mr chakwera had it been that you were a visioned leader, you should have realized that what you are sowing today, one day you will reap and ordinary Malawians are able to conclude that you are losing your position as a leader of opposition and you are to take a new role as a “RIGHT ACTIVIST'”
Achakwela Zimaphweka zako akamanyendetsa umawoneka ngati dolo koma the good party of it Zakhala zaka 5 kuti mu balance zaka zimene munalamulira
Malamulira 31years
Mwakhala kuwopozishoni 25years
Zakhala 5year ndi ndibanyira kuti musove 31year
One you complete the above mathematics Malawi Crocodile Party izawina no now
A Chakwera mukutani pa gulupo? This clearly showe how power hungry you are Mr. Lazaro. You are not a principled man. Are you the only leader of opposition party in Malawi? where is JB, Atupele, SKC who championed these demos? Where Cassim Chilumpha -KAKA from KK? You dont feel shame to be the only leader of a politcal party to be there? By the way do you have Advisors. Chakwantha Louis advise this mbusa wa Chalichi. As for the CSO indeed you do not represent the wishes of we local Malawians in the village who vote for Leaders. You expected the whole President to stop preparing for UNGA trip just to receive karatasi yanu? What for? Koma mulibe nzeru ndithu. Please wait for 2019 we are putting DPP in power again until 2024. Mukhalira zomwezo ife kuno kumudzi tikulima and tikupindula osati osati za chamba zanuzo. Too much nsanje a Malawi sakumva nayo bwino DPP . Mulira kuti ngweeeeeee. Masankho abwere msanga timpatse APM another mandate. Mwapindulanji nanga mmene mwayenda mu???? zautsiru basi
Useless Demo
Mavuto a dziko lino solution yake si imeneyi…no wonder ma demo akuluza value
Kofi anasankha bomali ndi mabungwe? Ndiye mwachita manyazi nanga anthu omweo basis?
As I have said it before Prof Mutharika doesn’t care about the civil society or the public at large that elected him into power. he has demonstrated this over and over again. It makes me wonder whether the CSOs are expecting a different result from demos. Its high time that CSOs should be smart enough to change their tact to get Mutharika to respond. If a servant/employee fails to respond to calls for a meeting to account to his employers, the consequence is very clear…..dismissal. In this case, I would advise the CSOs to mobilise the electorate ti “fire” the rogue “employee”. Our president has grown wings and therefore very arrogant. he is taking full advantage of an electorate that doesn’t know how to use its right to vote as a tool to get elected leaders to a account. I would also advise CSOs not to waste their time and resources planning and executing demos, but rather use the funds snd resources to mobilise the electorate to vote out arrogant and corrupt political leaders and to opt for visionary, selfless, ethical and moral leaders who know that they’re elected by the people and therefore are servants to the people. DPP, Peter Mutharika and his cronies don’t understand this simple equation.
Uthenga wapita kaya sachitapo kanthu koma mavoti awiri,atatu achokabe ku DPP Pongowerenga uthenga wakuba okhawu.
Chakwera is a disgrace to this country. Wasn’t he there in forefront at the last Demos when the issue mainly was about so called doggy 4 billion kwacha? And yet the bill in parliament passed and he got his cut, and yet again there he is today protesting about the same issue he had received a cut from. Now you gonna tell me he is the right person to lead this country? over my dead body. This whole mtambo and all the assholes involved is MCP and opposition parties doing.
It is indeed true that the Malawi president is the servant of Malawians. What is not true is to say that the president refused to meet his employers, which the CSOs claim to be. When and where were the CSOs elected to represent Malawians? Where do they get the authority to represent Malawians?
Until your eyes are open so that you can see and your deaf ears are open to hear then you shall know how people are suffering in Malawi.Besides all,we are the ones who employed him to the post where he is now including the CSOs who are representing the voice of the voiceless Malawians.Shame on you!
Nonsense
This is a great question Patrick. I for one and manyillion Malawians did not send them.
I for one never vote for Trapearse. I voted for the legitimate president of this country APM.
The joining of Chakwera and taking a lead in these Demonstrations shows how politically motivated and captured these CSOs are. Yes he has the right to join demonstrators but in his capacity as leader of opposition raises too much doubt about the genuine of these demos. It’s a clear sign that they are sent and sponsored by the opposition .
I am not backing the Mafia DPP and I don’t wish them well. But objective opinion the demos are losing credibility
do not forget that these CSOs are the ones that were sleeping outside the parliament to force MCP and John to Pass the Budget during Bingu time…sono asayipe lero….
Is Chakwera not a Malawian citizen?These demonstrations were not only for the CSOs or Opposition parties,but all goodwill Malawians that is including DPP supporters who wish a better Malawi for all.The demos are not losing credibility but its you people with bad mindset who are making the demos to lose its credibility.Hope you have taken note of what i have told you@TRUTH PAINS
Is Chakwera not a Malawi, did you see TAMBALA wakuda there? Umbuli ndi matenda.
From my understanding i thought Chakwera is a Malawian citizen and he has got rights to demonstrate regardless of which party or organisation he belongs as long as are issues concerning the welfare of his countrymen and women.The demos will always lose its credibility if we will have people with negative mindset like you.
Unfortunately, the elections next year do not offer much promise: all candidates are from the same ruling class. What is happening in Malawi is not democracy (in the sense that the people (demo-) decide on the policies (-cracy). What is happening is polyarchy, which means that the influence of the population is limited to voting in tightly orchestrated elections where the choice is limited to competing ruling class elites. Read “promoting polyarchy” by William I Robinson for the details. (free to download on b-ok.org)