Mutharika rubbishes University of Malawi survey, says researchers dealt with ‘flies’

President Peter Mutharika on Saturday trashed a recent poll by Chancellor College which revealed that 40 percent of Malawians have trust in him and other leaders.

A survey conducted by the Department if Political and Administrative Studies at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College have shown that Malawians trust the clergy and traditional leaders more than they trust politicians at various levels , including the Head of State.

Titled ‘The Paradox of Traditional Leadership in Democratic Malawi’, the survey results show that the clergy are most trusted  with ratings of 83 percent followed by chiefs at 76 percent.

The survey was conducted by political science professor Boniface Dulani, head of political and administrative studies at Chancellor College Happy Kayuni, Micheal Chasukwa and Gift Sambo.

Norwegian Program for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research Development sponsored the survey.

But Mutharika punched holes on the credibility of the research.

“A certain professor from Chancellor College, whom I will not name, did a research which says only 40 percent of Malawians have trust in me. This is not true. This is a lie. May be he was asking flies in his research, not people,” the Malawi leader said.

He told people to disregard the poll.

The President  said contrary to the poll, he is the most popular leader in the country.

Mutharika said this when he officially opened Mangochi Technical College.

President Mutharika  said he is popular because of development projects his administration has delivered since assuming power in 2014.

Mutharika  said he was meeting the president of International Aviation Association on Saturday evening on possible funding for the construction of Mangochi Airport and Mzuzu Airport.

He said several development projects were on the cards.

According to the survey, 91 percent of the 1200 households that were approached nationwide were of the view that traditional leaders are in a better position to spearhead development in their localities as compared to elected leaders who are viewed to be “thieves and cashgaters”.