Pope must resign first if Mutharika is to step down due to old age says Makande at DPP rally: Rebuked
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said the party will not heed calls for President Peter Mutharika to step down due to old age unless the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis leads the way.
Speaking at a rally held at Bangwe in Blantyre on Sunday, a DPP operative Hophmally Makande dismissed calls for Mutharika to step down, saying at he is younger the Pope Francis.
Mutharika will be 80 years old during next year’s general elections slated for May 21, 2019.
Speaking to the crowd, Makande queried DPP spokesperson, Nicholous Duasi, a church-going Catholic regarding the Pope’s age:
“A Dausi muli pompano, anthu akuti a Mutharika atule pansi udindo chifukwa akula, Papa ali ndi aka 10? Papa ali ndi aka 10? Papa ndi wamkulu kuposa a Mutharika ndiye ayambe ndi Papayo kutula pansi udindo wake (Mr. Dausi, ir right here, people are saying Mutharika must step down due to old age, is the Pope 10 years old? Is the Pope 10 years old? Mutharika is younger than the Pope so he will not step down unless the Pope does).”
In his speech main speaker Nankhumwa made no attempt to dispute the Makande statement.
And, earlier on Monday, in his remarks before leaving for China, Mutharika was also mute on the remarks that have clearly offended a lot of Catholic faithful incuding those in the DPP.
Commenting on his Facebook wall, Leonarcd Chimbanga, one of DPP’s most vibrant, young politicians had no kind words for Makande:“As someone born Catholic whose family is still Catholic I find these remarks horrifying, stupid, uncalled for. I am surprised no one condemned him right there and then considering that there were Catholics in attendance at the same podium.
“Religion is a line you do not cross regardless of how desperate you want to seek to appease the appointing authority. We have had similar elements in Mai #Manjankhosi who tore her rosary in full view of the masses at a rally who suggested that Cathilic Bishops had too much cabbages to call for the Life President consider changing his approach in governing this country in the early 90’s.
“It is wrong to conclude that all people supporting Chilima are Catholics and to insinuate that it’s the Catholic Bishops behind his movement is utter Nonsense.
“If you want to resuscitate your career find other means but this one is a No-go zone.Classic example of a bootlicker.”
It is not clear whether the statement will instigate a diplomatic row with Vatican but the incident comes barely a few days after the DPP government caused a diplomatic tiff with the US after the former arrested a Malawian-born US Citizen, Manice Hale of politically-motivated charges.
Following the arrest, the US immediately activated its consular response that resulted in an official demand for the Malawi government to explain why they had arrested its citizen.
A week later, the Malawi government has backed out of the Hale case, officially discontinuing the case against her,.
Makande is a recent DPP new comer from the then ruling People’s Party (PP). He made his political fortunes as a UDF operative during that party’s reign before joining the now defunct National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which was formed by another current DPP new comer, Brown Mpinganjira.
Makande has Done nothing wrong the pope is just another human being
Kodi a katolika mukukana kuti papa sinkhalamba kapena mukuvomera kuti ngakhale Ali nkhalamba koma Ali ndi nzeru than Mutharika? What are refuting here inu akatolika? More fire Makande
Makande is entittled to his opinion and so are we. He should not be demonised for sharing his opinion.
Amalawi timakokomeza zinthu kwambiri…we fail to ignore little things! Emphasis ya a Makande ndiyakuti munthu akakula sindiyekuti alibe Nzeru kungoti chisanzo anagwiritsa ntchitocho chinali sensitive .
Tikamati mu dpp muli full of MBUZI, ndizimenezo.
I hope the church will also take some time to address the sex scandals within the Roman Catholic church about child molestation. People all over the world are calling on the pope to resign as well. This is what happens when the church becomes a political party, I am Catholic but I think we have lost our mission as a church now tangotsala dzina lokha.
MAKANDE NDI WOZEREZEKA . MAKANDE HAS SPOKEN LIKE A SUCIDE BOMBER KNOWING THAT THE DPP WILL LOSE POPULARITY WITH THESE WORDS. WALOLERA KUTI IYE NDI DPP YOMWE AFERE LIMODZI, SUCIDE BOMBER MAKANDE LUNATIC AND INSANE
If I were SECRETARY General I would have sacked makande from the the party with immediate effect. If i were Dausi i would have condemed makande and call for severe panishment. If I were Nankhumwa I would condem Makande,s speech, I would deassociate myself from his speech. Abscence of such corrective condemnation means Nankhumwa and Dausi used makande to speek on their behalf pomuona kuti makande ndi wozungulura mutu. therefore Nankhumwa , Dausi and SG Grezda Fefry should be condemed together with makande. Adamutuma /testing the waters/ . if you want to know the depth of a well you use… Read more »
The Holy Spirit, Who guides the Catholic Church will respond, as He responded to MCP Manjankhosi’s request to Ngwazi Dr. Kamuzu Banda that she and other Women’s League be allowed to go and pea on the heads of the Catholic Bishops. The seal of the Holy Spirit I’d still there. Those who have ears let them hear.
Makande be reasonable, dont behave like this! Is pope francise buying generators for this poor malawian country? Is he leading a political party or a religious group? It does not make any sense to me. That is the problem when you join a bunch of idiots your definately an idiot too! You think like them and you behave like them!