Mutharika shamed with poor rating in Africa Leadership Scorecard

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has been embarrassed after  being poorly rated  at “D” for autocratic  leadership style in the African Leadership Scorecard by the Kenya-based East African Magazine.

The reputable magazine ranking of the performance ratings of African Presidents fares on governance, democracy, press freedom, corruption and human development.

Mutharika has slipped one step backward from 2010 where he was rated at ‘C’ grade which was most generous.

The increasingly combative leader is facing international condemnation. The country’s economy has soured, though, so too has public opinion.

Mutharika: Poor rating

Successes of the year:

The report says Mutharika’s success is that took over the rotating leadership of the Comesa trade bloc.

Failures of the year:

He become increasingly unpopular due to his intolerance of criticism. Police attacked protestors on July 20 – violence that led to the death of  19. Activists in the country went into hiding fearing for their lives after receiving threats, and lobbyist offices were also set ablaze.

He ignored international objections and invited the indicted Sudanese leader for Comesa summit. US-based campaign group the Hunger Project embarrassingly withdrew an award to Bingu wa Mutharika for leadership in food security citing his poor humanrights record

Moment of the year:

Mutharika went “missing” for three weeks in late 2011. There was massive speculation over his whereabouts, and when he eventually resurfaced  he said he deserved a good holiday after working hard for two years.

Dictatorship

Mutharika first came to power in a 2004 election, and elections are due again in Malawi until 2014.

Some critics like human rights activist Undule Mwakasungula say they’ve seen a real change in his demeanor over his eight years in power.

“The performance of his first term was not genuine. It was a cosmetic one,” said Mwakasungula,. “He’s more of a dictator.”

Tensions have been growing over worsening shortages of fuel and foreign currency. High unemployment alongside a deteriorating economic situation also threaten to reverse development gains made in the early years of his presidency.

The state-run Malawi Human Rights Commission — backed by several international human rights bodies and the United Nations — has initiated investigations into how live bullets were used on unarmed protesters during July’s unrest.

Malawians also demand justice for a pro-democrcacy university student Robert Chasowa who was found dead and autoposy report said he was beaten to death.

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