Mutharika refuses media interviews  after presenting nomination papers

February 8, 2019 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 48 Comments

President Peter Mutharika snubbed  journalists who gathered at at Chichiri International Conference Centre in Blantyre, widely known as Comesa Hall, when he refused to take questions from them as has been the case with all other presidential candidates who presented their nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

Mutharika given nominaton certificate by Ansah
Mutharika picks Everton Chimulirenji as his running mate. Chimulirenji is the current Minister of Civic Education, Culture & Community Development, he is also the incumbent Ntcheu North East MP
President Peter Mutharika arrives at Comesa Hall to present his nomination papers to MEC

The journalists said they wanted to find out from Mutharika how he settled for Everton Chimulerenji as running mate amid reports that he is related to First Lady Gertrude Mutharika.

After the presentation of the nomination papers, journalists from all media houses gather at one place where the MEC chief executive officer Sam Alufandika brings the presidential candidate to the media.

However, after Alufandika escorted the president to the “media corner”, Mutharika just said “no interviews” and proceeded to board an open vehicle.

Some journalists also said they wanted to find out from the President that he preaches peace and in the Comesa hall, he had signed a code of conduct which denounces political violence yet in the same hall during the presentation of the papers, Democratic Progressive Party  (DPP) cadets manhandled a person in while t-shirt whom they accused to be UTM Party member.

All presidential candidates, including Lazarus Chakwera, Saulos Chilima, Atupele Muluzi and Joyce Banda granted interviews to the journalists.

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48 replies on “Mutharika refuses media interviews  after presenting nomination papers”

  1. APM has never given an interview to journalists; why should be start now? He doesn’t want to be faced with difficult questions that he can’t answer. Anyone who has ever watched the BBC in the UK will tell you that the Prime Minister and members of her cabinet are frequently interviewed by journalists and are asked probing questions. That is democracy in action. Those elected to government have a democratic obligation to answer to those who elected them. Not in Malawi. Even though the DPP controls MBC they do not like to be interviewed on either radio or television because they know they will be put on the spot and will have great difficulty answering questions.

  2. REFUSING TO SPEAK TO MEDIA THATS REFUSING TO SPEAK TO THE VOTERS. MEDIA ARE OUR MEDIATORS THEREFORE I DO NOT SEE THE REASON WHY MALAWIANS SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU IF YOU CANNOT SPEAK TO US.

    THIS ARROGANCE MALAWIANS SHOULD DEAL WITH IT.

    NO TO DPP.

  6. Hes getting stupider with age I guess!! See things for yourself advisers f—k sh-t up for u!! Be involved not just stealing from the public purse.

  7. Makwatirakwatirawa kukwatira azimai andale oti amafuna kukhala MP ku Balaka bvuto lake ndi limeneli awasankhira alamu awo a Chimulirenji, ena ndi aja amati mwana wao akhale runningmate wa Chilima usawi chichi?

  14. Adad zawavuta. What does he need another 5 years for? Getrude is ruining the old man, how can he pick a running mate related to first lady? Shame

  15. A big fuck up adadi. This clown you have picked will not bring you victory. It’s not too late to demote him and bring tupex as your VP. He will be more than willing to continue working with you and he can guarantee you an additional minimum of 1milloon votes . Even skc will out shine your VP bwana. Also just hope your current strong ministers don’t dump you.

  17. The beginning of the end of DPP as we know it …..who knew?…… Bingu Wa Mutharika must be rolling in his grave

  20. Koma ndiye panali gulu la anthu lero pa Comesa Hall! Eh!!! Chala m’mwamba.
    The declined interview is not mandatory, and obviously, it is at the discretion of the interviewee.
    Now, how does one verify Owen Khamula’s claim that there is widespread dissatisfaction within DPP over the choice of Chimulirenji? Widespread? I don’t know about that. But maybe surprise to those outside the inner circle of the Party.
    It’s well understood that APM did consult the important people in the Party, and the strategists so that it is highly misleading to even suggest the decision was his and his alone. That’s not how DPP run their affairs, abale inu.
    This decision by APM is probably pivotal for DPP in this race; unlike the situation with UTM bus company, and UDF who are third tier Parties. Once again, it’s going to be DPP v MCP.
    And, remember, when APM picked Chilima four years ago, he was a political nobody. I mean NOBODY. The fact that he had been selling ma units also surprised many.
    As usual, there is no straight line in politics, and to political victories or defeats. So, we await the real verdict in May; and meanwhile, let the real campaign begin … and in earnest.
    The takeaway: Don’t expect rosy reviews from most of the media that was snubbed by APM.

  21. komande tinaphikika ndi kutentha mafungo of all kinds.
    and someone with stinky mouth adding to thr smeels we ae were breathing in this uncompleted building no airconditione saying tipitliza kubweretsa zitukuko, where were u the past yeras.
    then were the faces the nakhumwas goodo msaka beni caponda talking nonsesne with the jounalist, the dausi kumangozungululila kutsogola ngati toddler, amafuna kulankhula nao when ben was on mic,aliyese manongmanongo. camethis mec after scruniny of the papres ,then no announcement kuti mwavomereza,the next thing we see him signing the codr of comduct, aa came nthawi ya ma foto, wantali kumbuyo and the body language said it all. in all;
    no meeting ndimajounalist, aliyese kulongolola.kuyendayenda. i think ana amu std 2 atha kukhala mogzinga.there was soo much stress khaya stressed faces, tired from it a mussa kungoonekelatu kukalamba nayo function., mpaka ce nakhumwa kuvala ka mid dress kuonekelatu there was so much khaya tension kaya titi ciani. ce caponda mpaka plesdent choice everton, nao bwana mec pangono akanatiuza za mnangagwa emerson. koma yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa zinaliko.penasokumati ndinangotaya nthawi. anthu talandila ma 2 pin kenakoso kutipakila mma bus aulelel koma opanda ma fanta.DPP KODI????????
    PEMPHERO LANGA NDILOTI TISADZAONE NGATI ZA DZANA ZOMWE MALEMU A MEC AJA ANACITA

    KOMAPOPEZA MULUNGU WATHU NDI WA COONADI AMALONGOSOLA NDIPO AMADZIWA ZOMWE ANTHU AKE TIMASOWA

    NO STARDARDS IN MALAWI, MUCH OF IT IS A WASTE OF TIME.
    ZKOMO

  24. Hahahahahahahaha i cant stop laughing.! Everton Chimulilenji? Honestly its first time i have heard of this man. Zoti we had a minister by this name i did not know. That in itself speak volumes about this Everton guy. If he was a performer, he would have been well known. And this talk of certain pple influencing this strange decision confirms the puppet rumours. To be honest the best candidate for APM was Atupele. We in the UTM are glad this did not materialise

  28. Did you see faces of DDP cadres low when they were leaving COMESA? A clear sign of disappointment. My assumption is that the running mate is not a true APM’s choice, but someone too close to him made it. The choice must have been made in the bedroom without consulting the DPP NEC – Mugabe style. Can you guess why? The woman professor is harbouring political ambitions and she wants Chimulirenji to hand over power to her when APM ends his second term if he wins that is. They it without realising how dangerous it is to the party.Now that APM has refused media interview, it is now your opportunity to speculate and publish burning stories – he will be forced to respond and tell Malawians the truth about his choice of a running. Musamusiye!!

  30. Prophet Wina ku Malawi komwe kuno analosera kale izi, Ambuye akutimenyera Nkhondo ndithu. MCP ! MCP ! pempherani mosalekeza.

  31. I learnt that APM never wanted a second term after all but others want the presidential environment still around them. Could this Choice be his exit strategy?

  35. You can clearly see the anger on DPP members including Uladi mussa.Anthuwa sizili bwino.Apa ndiye wapala

  39. Things have clearly fallen apart for the old man and the DPP. I think he is tired and doesn’t want to win. He regrets being ill advised about sidelining Chilima and he feels cheated by the team that has been around him. Thats why he just chose a nobody as a running mate, its a F**K you to the DPP NEC.

    1. You are very True Mr Man.Peter liked Chilima to be the President of this Nation and now he is trying to create for saulosi

    2. Yeah you are right BigMan. I think he has realised too late that he was hoodwinked into sidelining Chilima for nothing. Now its a payback to the DPP top brass.

    4. The problem is NOT age. What you guys do not know is that the moment you say the man is old, you have antagonised the voters over 60 because they feel insulted. They will support him. Talk above issue based facts.

      My unanswered question remains: ‘Who dresses the first lady?’ Some times she looks like a mental patient

    5. Yes, history repeating itself here. Just like Bakili did a F**K you to the UDF NEC in 2004 by choosing Bingu. A Dad abetsa! THANKS, DADDIE!

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