Mutharika urged to listen to ‘voice of dissent’: Malawi paper comments on President’s snub of CSOs
President Peter Mutharika has been advised to “tread carefully” on the ultimatum given by civil society organisations (CSOs) l who presented a petition to his office on September 21 after anti-government protest in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba cities.
A leading daily newspaper, The Nation, in an extended coverage of its front-page story on political commentators who have warned Mutharika to positively engage CSOs as they represent Malawians, carried an editorial comment urging the President to embrace all Malawians and “listening to voice of dissent”, including that of CSOs.
In their report, the paper reported the reaction of political commentators on President’s attack on the CSOs following their demonstrations.
And in an editorial comment, the daily pointed out that peaceful demonstrations are not about the numbers and said it has an impression that the Head of State is being “ill advised” if his disregard for CSOs is anything to go by.
“We expect the President to rise above petty partisan politics and play the father figure by accommodating views from all and sundry. After all, the President, a professor of international law, swore to defend and protect the Constitution. Freedom of association and rights to freely assemble are contained in the very Constitution,” reads the editorial comment in part.
The paper concurred with comments it quoted social and political commentator Humphrey Mvula that Mutharika’s negative attitude was giving his political rivals “fodder” for the election campaign which would complicate matters for the President in next year’s elections.
Mvula was quoted saying President Mutharika’s thinking is” very misplaced”, he needs to be held accountable and the CSOs are just simply doing their work.
The paper agrees and noted that President Mutharika risks being “bruised and wounded” towards the election.
“This does not augur well for a President who has face a turbulent four years in office and a break away party [UTM] from within his governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),” reads the editorial.
Among the political commentators it quoted were Rafiq Hajat, who said the President should appreciate that CSOs “play a complementary role and they should be considered as partners.”
On his part, University of Livingstonia political analyst George Phiri said Mutharika should objectively address the issues raised by the CSOs and that “his negative attitude cannot help the country.”
Meanwhile, the CSOs, which operate under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Forum (HRDF), have since written the President to follow up on their issues following the expiry of the period stated in their petition.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Munthu pakufa amayamba kugontha. Saamva. This goes for Mutharika. Elsewhere demos are one way of getting feedback. Too much aversion for demos means government is hiding something.
Statements like “kunali anthu 90 basi” can as well be interpreted that DPP wanted demos to be chaotic so that the police should kill people the way they mercilessly butchered 20 people in July 2011 in Mzuzu.
A Pedegu Boma lake liti lomwe limafuna dialogue a Bamusi ndi gulu lawo a china Mtaba anangokumana kamodzi kungochita set date ndi agenda sanalephera kukumana kachiwiri ndi PAC mpaka lero. Nanu Mjomba mukuti ma CSO’s sapereka nzeru koma kutsutsa basi, kodi akati ndalama zomwe anatenga APM ku Pioneer Investment abwenze chifukwa ndalamayo njakatangala a APM nkubwenza simalangizo amenewa?
Peter Mutharika and many a politicians need to take a leaf from our old credible village chiefs (I discount chiefs of today who practice partisan politics). They have well-intended advisors and are always servants to their subjects/people. It is sad that Mr President, you have chosen to be arrogant and dismiss the very people who elected you into office albeit only 37%. As a leader, you seriously need to be humble and accountable to the people. Listen to the voices of the people which are coming through via CSOs. More still, please account to the maker who would have been very happy if you at least looked after His people (it is why He gave you the position in the first place). It can’t be that the voices of millions of people is all stupid and you’re the clever one. Please reach out to the people and not just from your cronies who would say anything just to please your eyes in exchange for favours. Anthu akuvutika ku Malawi bwana.
Very biased reporting. A few weeks ago the CSOs snubbed government but no one condemned the opposition sponsored CSOs. What nonsense writing is this. Kagwereni!!!!
Peter ndi ndani out azitizunza ife. More over the majority didn’t want him to rule the country. If he didn’t steal the votes he was supposed to be an ordinary professor like others
CSO activists are like politicians – they enrich themselves by pretending to speak for the people. They justify their actions by claiming they speak and work for the voiceless. The last time I checked I found that all CSO activists are pocketing money from donors and instead of helping the poor and voiceless, they are building big mansions, buying luxury cars, sending their children to expensive schools etc.
I am also a bona fide Malawian who has never met Mutharika and I did not vote for him. My dreams and aspirations as a bona fide citizen are not being met by APM and his DPP administration. I believe to be in the same boat with millions of Malawians not being represented by Mutharika and his government. I recommend that when we speak he should listen rather that pushing as to the streets. Uphold the constitution!!
Mvula and che Munthali…..Agalu aa Tumbuka
Inu a nzeru a Chilomwe.
Who are you ? in the society to make such analysis.To hell with your masters Malawians believe in contact and dialogue than this Useless Demos
Let these so called CSOs take note that the HE is also a human being who should also enjoy his rights. I have never heard of any single idea coming out of their mouth that can help this nation apart from their fault finding mission. Much as it is the fact that there issues that need to be addressed, we should also learn to keep the bounds of respecting the office of the president whether one like the incumbent or not.
Mr Snub! Snubs Private media only answers to MBC pre-staged question! Only an idiot do that if your accountable to people you have to address their concerns even if it doesn’t please you to do so! Keep snubbing MR. Nothing lasts for ever! We had the late Bingu doing likewise for a short while too!!
My foot, political commentator? Mr Mvula is failure in politics
I am a bona fide Malawian and have never met Mtambo and Trapence. I have never asked them to represent m. In any case my view was not captured in their petition. I believe to be in the same boat as millions of other Malawians in not being represented by these two characters. I recommend contact and dialogue rather than carrying insulting billboards on the street. Respect.
Teach them incase they dont know, kuyankhula uku👍👍👍👍🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
Speak for yourself! There are poor people who can’t voice out they solely depend on these CSO that you disapprove of but others approve of them cause without them they feel it would have been worse . If the corruption, the blackouts, the 145 Million that could have save our fellow Malawians from dying due to poor health services don’t affect you its okay but me and others who went to demonstrate for a cause! Dialogue is always good but what do you do if the president does come out to talk nor address how he will solve some of the changes sit and ride to doom? or stand up and fight? Well thus a topic for another day.
Why do CSOs pocket money and enrich themselves in the name of serving poor people? Isn’t that hypocritical? Who are CSOs accountable to? CSO activists are like politicians – they are thieves and justify their work with the notion that they are speaking for the voiceless.
Very true! Malawi is a democracy and not an aristocracy. Democracy is not perfect but there is no better system. In a democracy, you take your issues to the people so you campaign, you advocate for your ideas etc so that in the end the people can make a decision that is favorable to your wishes and interests, or you accept defeat honorably if the majority of the people reject your ideas. Aristocrats are famous people (or sometimes conceited people) who believe they are more important or their views are more important than everybody else and usually these people seek to control the person in power so that he/she should dance to their tune.
Umbuli ndiooopsa!! Are you aware that APM was elected by 36%? Is it wrong for APM to assume that the 64% irrespective that they didn’t vote for him are under his presidency?In other words is it proper for those who didn’t vote for him to be saying he is not their president? If NO, why?
In majority rule irrespective of the dissenting views, majority has the right to rule! So if majority in Malawi asked Mtambo and Trapence to do whatever they did who are you on your own as an individual? Inunso nanu school ya kwacha yanuzo mwati mulankhuleko ku gulutu!! Osangokhala chete bwa?
There is no evidence that Mtambo and Trapence were asked by the majority of Malawians to do whatever they did. Kodi ukuganiza kuti ukanakhala wophunzira you would be murdering the Queen’s language as you have done? What is the meaning of “………who are you on your won as an individual? Wayalukatu apa ndi matama odzipopa nawo kuti wodziwa kuyankhula uku ukuyankhula mbwelera zosefukila…kkkkkkkkkk!
So which party of coalition of parties has the 64%? If you fail to answer ndekuti ukuyankhula zoduka mutu.