Mutharika’s cash handouts, more lavish ‘Mapwevupwevu’ irks Malawi MPs

Members of Parliament from the opposition block were furious with reports that President Peter Mutharika gave cash handouts of K500, 000 to MPs who attended a lavish cocktail party he hosted at Kamuzu Palace.

There were several interjections and jeers before parliament adjourned sine die on Friday as MPs expressed anger with wastefulness of public resource defeating the austerity spirit.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) MP for Blantyre City South East), Victor White Mbewe’s attempted to downplay the cash handouts of Mutharika but was ruled out by First Deputy Speaker Ester Mcheka-Chilenje.

“Madam First Deputy Speaker, I would like to bring to your attention that this morning there was a very serious allegation on Capital FM Radio that all Members including the Speakers received K500, 000 from the State President. It was on the radio, on the internet,” Mbewe said.

“This is a very serious allegation to the point of implicating the State President is a serious matter. It has to be looked at seriously,” he said as some backbenchers were overheard saying shouting that indeed there were bribe money for the MPs.

The First Deputy Speaker said the House could not debate “matters that are a rumour.”

But things worsened when Deputy Speaker Mcheka-Chilenje announced that Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe had organised a dinner for all chairpersons, their deputies and Spokespersons on financial matters from political parties represented in Parliament scheduled for 6pm at the Sunbird Capital Hotel.

Some MPs shouted labelling Mutharika administration as “Government of Mapwevupwevu” (Government of parties)

Other lawmakers were throwing insinuating chants at Gondwe and President Peter Mutharika describing them as “thieves.”

Chilenje explained that t he purpose of the dinner was to prepare for the high-level forum on development effectiveness which will take place on 8th July, 2015.

Earlier, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokeswoman Jessie Kabwila, who is also MP for Salima North west, also touched on the lavish parties by the Executive during question time.

“I was asking what our master plans in electrifying educational institutions are. I do understand that when people have been banqueting instead of understanding problems of Malawians you can behave this way. Some of us are here to work,” she said.

Kabwila’s remarks attracted reaction from Allan Ngumuya the DPP Member of Parliament for Blantyre City South who asked: “Is it in order to say that we were banqueting when it was a genuine invitation. It was a cocktail and not a banquet and then I would like also to know if it is important.”

MPs shouted that teachers are starving with delayed salary pay while the ruling party and the President were busy on boozing on hard earned tax payers’ money.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :