Mutharika tells UN Malawi polls were ‘credible’: Obama tips on democrcay

President Peter Mutharika has told global leaders meeting in New York, US  that he was elected Malawi’s fifth Head of State in May elections widely criticised as chaotic but he said they were “credible.”

In his maiden address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday as Malawi leader, Mutharika told the gathering that the southern African nation on May 20  2014 held its first ever tripartite elections, which enabled Malawians to choose their political leadership, through a democratic and peaceful process.

President Mutharika addresses the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Thursday - Pic by Govati Nyirenda
President Mutharika addresses the 69th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Thursday – Pic by Govati Nyirenda

“ The elections ushered me into office, as the fifth President of the Republic of Malawi,” he said.

Mutharika, however, said despite the  “few challenges”, generally the polls were “free, fair, transparent and credible.”

“  In this vein, let me seize this opportunity, to thank all electoral stakeholders, both local and international, for their dedication to ensuring successful elections in my country,” he said, adding: “ Malawi has come out of the election much stronger than before.”

However, the nation is currently facing growing divisions amidst calls for federal system of government  and others advocating for the North Malawi independence so that the region can be a standalone state like South Sudan.

In his address to the UN Assembly, US President Barack Obama noted that Malawi had “ peaceful transitions of power .”

But Obama pointed out in his speech that the path to democracy does not end with the casting of a ballot.

He told the Assembly that Nelson Mandela once said: “to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

According to Obama, true democracy demands that citizens cannot be thrown in jail because of what they believe, and businesses can be opened without paying a bribe. It depends on the freedom of citizens to speak their minds and assemble without fear; on the rule of law and due process that guarantees the rights of all people.

“In other words, true democracy – real freedom – is hard work. Those in power have to resist the temptation to crack down on dissent.

“In hard economic times, countries may be tempted to rally the people around perceived enemies, at home and abroad, rather than focusing on the painstaking work of reform.”

In his address, the Malawi leader told the UN Assembly that much as the country has made some strides in the diverse sectors of national development 50 years after independence, there is still more to be done, in order to uplift the living standards of the many Malawians, who continue to remain below the poverty line.

“They too dream of a better future that is only possible if we work with unity of purpose,” he said.

Mutharika said  “in a quest to take development to their micro level,” his government has embarked on a journey, to transform Malawi, for the delivery of satisfactory services to Malawians especially the poor and the marginalized.

The Malawi leader also  stressed the importance of this year’s session as it will oversee the development and adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda which is to set the path of global sustainable development for decades to come. 

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annoymous
annoymous
9 years ago

ayao angaluse ndiwe opanda mzeru, APM is our predident whether you like it or not am proud to be ruled by professionations lets focus on our problems that is in our hands our neighbours are progressive but we still in an ancient day please Malawi if we love our current presint we will prosper

Wanzeru Wakum'mawa
Wanzeru Wakum'mawa
9 years ago

pa chilomwe timati ‘oruwanawo muruwanege phaama’ (kutukwanako muzitukwana bwino)

UDF MOTOMOTO
UDF MOTOMOTO
9 years ago

f***k u APM

Dad DB
Dad DB
9 years ago

We are one people, one nation, but our comments are not fair enough to others.Let’s learn to contribute, to critisise where necessary.Palibe ufulu onyoza ena ngati ulipo ndiuzeni.

Lawrence Manda
9 years ago

Only God knows

Dausi
Dausi
9 years ago

I think Apm has become more uselessness man usandikumbuse za elections chifukwa ine Dausi ndinavutika kugwebana nawo onse bungwe okhuza zisankho. apo ndiye atapanga kapingizoli ndi zotsatira. siuja ine sindinatulawe tulo kwa masiku anai kuwabera komanso kukanitsitsa kuwerenganso mavoti apo otsutsa atawirima ndi mkwiyo titawonetsa luso powabera. lero peter watha mantha kuwauza azungu kuti tinawina mwabwinobwino? Ndiwe chitsiru kwambiri ukhoza kutiphesa

tony kanyenda
tony kanyenda
9 years ago

Rubbish,, Which election did Peter and DPP win, thieves and looters, you will reap what you sow

ayao wangalusa.
ayao wangalusa.
9 years ago

APM ndi mbuzi yamunthu,u are very useless to all malawians,why u take us for granted?fuck u mr.APM

Zeze
Zeze
9 years ago

Zinthu zina zili straight forward, kodi a president ayamba kusuta? Why deviating from real facts about the electoral process. Mukutiwawisa mitimatu. Go forward Mr president and not backwards! Kikikiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Chithekere
9 years ago

He is repeating everywhere that elections were fair and credible why? He knows it wasn’t. The North has never called for federal Govt so strong in the past if I remember. Some MPs from the Centre have also echoed same ideas of federal Govt. funny enough, the President hasn’t come to his senses that he is driving the country int a cliff. Leaders are supposed. To. unite not divide. His brother managed to bring Malawians together during his first term. Malawians were very close and never did we hear of Mtumbuka,Mlomwe thing. Now we know why the bro got astray.… Read more »

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