Mutharika taunts CSOs on anti-govt protests: ‘Demos were a flop’
President Peter Mutharika has taunted the civil society organisations (CSOs) which organised nationwide anti-government protests on September 21 which he describe as a flop demonstration.
Mutharika said this on Monday on return from the United States of America where he had gone to attend the United Nations General Assembly last month.
He addresses reporters at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe where he said the demonstrated were counter-productive.
The President said he set up a dialogue committee to meet the CSO leaders on their concerns but wondered why they went to the streets on 21 September the day he left the country with what he called a low turnout of protestors.
“Let me take this advantage to say I sincerely missed the massive demonstrations of 90 people in Blantyre and 220 people in Zomba. This is a sign now that these misguided people should know that Malawi people want dialogue, not demonstrations or confrontation,” said Mutharika.
Mutharika said he is “very glad” that the September 21 demonstrations “flopped,” saying the CSOs have learnt a lesson to stop taking matters to the streets.
“This kind of attitude must stop, come to an end,” he said.
The Malawi leader called for unity, saying “let’s work together as one country instead of pulling each other apart.”
“What the country needs is dialogue and not demonstrations,” said Mutharika.
The CSOs have been giving Mutharika several ultimatums, asking him to step down or that he be impeached.
Some analysts have, however, told the CSOs to re-strategise in their actions and calls, saying some of their demands are not practical.
Human Rights Defenders’ Coalition (HRDC) –Gift Trapence, Timothy Mtambo, MacDonald Sembereka, Billy Mayaya and Beatrice Mateyo— who led the peaceful demonstration demanding an end to what they call “executive theft” and many social ills Malawians are facing, defended their demonstrations, saying it is a right not a priviledge and also enshrined in the Republican Constitution.
Sembereka said the demonstrations is not about numbers but the message.
He accused the President of intimidation but warned that they would return into the streets.
In their petition, the HRDC say they are worried with the worsening “DPP-led orchestrated executive thieving, corruption and impunity”.
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I have not heard of a head of state in a democratic country, as Malawi likes to be called, so scared of demonstrations, as our professor is, that he can spend sleepless nights worrying about CSO’s activities and bore us on the matter on his return from USA instead of talking about real issues concerning the wellbeing of his subjects. Elsewhere demonstrations are welcomed as it is a way of the head of state receiving feedback from the populace on how the country is progressing. Because he loathes and fears demonstrations, his subordinates apparently fear demos as well. The conclusion… Read more »
Every time he opens his mouth he just proves that he is indeed Maliseche a DPP
Welcome home Mr Maliseche, mwafika ndi kulalatatu, tikifinyani Maliseche posachedwa!
Shame Mr Maliseche to note that the whole of you, as a professor as well as a head of state, the story you have for Malawians is the issue of CSOs instead of telling us the Escom fuel scam, the Nandolagate, the police gate, etc. Can’t you see here why Malawians are not trusting you and your government anymore??. Even a primary school pupil is laughing at you,were you indeed a teacher or a cleaner?. Can you learn to address Malawians with issues that is at the ground please. We also want to hear from you about the Malisechegate…………is this… Read more »
Disgusting. Btw, what are the civil servants doing at the airport? I at least understand of those other dunderheads welcoming NTCHONA. It’s said seeing my country deteriorating at such a rate.
President Mutharika is a legitimate head of state democratically elected by 37% of the voting Malawi. I wouldn’t be surprised, given the disorganisation of the opposition, that Peter Mutharika wins again next year with probably 25% of the votes. The problem with Malawi is that we lack smart and pragmatic politicians but rather we have very greedy people masquerading as political leaders. The whole political system in Malawi needs to be revamped to clean out these greedy crop of people from entering the political arena. Currently Malawians are forced to elect amongst a very narrow crop of people whose interest… Read more »
Auze APM hihihihihi
I am sick and disgusted by hooligans called DPP cadets. The likes of these(youth leagues) are reasons why the president himself fled to America.
Mwaonatu a Malawi mantha anuwo munthuyi azingotumbwatubwa kuyerekedwa basi
Tamuwonani munthu uyu akusangalala kuwona ana atadzola paint chonsecho ana ako ngati uli nawo sanadzolepo paint chibadwile. Zokamba za mkhutu basi. Kulubwalubwa ngati galu wachiwewe, bola mukanangokhala konko ku US , pano mukutisokosela zedi mpaka ndatseka makutu.
No one forces anyone to paint him or herself in this country, one chooses to yo paint him or herself becoz of the love he or she has on a particular group. If u hate it talk to those who paint themselves that u r not confortable with them & not the group or the leaders of that group.