Stop mudslinging, transform Malawi: PP official tells Mutharika

Peoples Party (PP) official has advised Malawi President  Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to focus on developmental issues and matters that will rescue the nation from the current economic crisis rather than wasting time with mudslinging.

Humphrey Mhango who is Chairman for PP and Managing Director of Limbikani Group of Companies in the rainbow nation of South Africa said this in reaction to  arrests of three Malawi Congress Party (MCP) officials on allegations of plotting a coup through a chat on WhatsApp.

The three have been vocal in asking the government to address challenges Malawians are facing including accute shortage of food and drugs in government hospitals.

But speaking in an interview from South Africa on Wednesday morning, Mhango said the current actions by the government symbolizes that the nation has completely lost direction and that it has no leader.

“People want to see his (Mutharika’s) vision that will change Malawi for better and as far as it stands now, nothing conducive is felt or seen other than his mudslinging with political opponents” Mhango told Nyasa Times.

Mhango further advised Mutharika to take austerity measures like what other countries do by cutting expenditures on VIP’s and other necessary means of cost serving.

He also advised the President to aim at uniting the nation as well as borrowing a leaf from his late brother Bingu wa Mutharika who he said performed impressively in his first term of office.

“Peter must focus on building the nation thus uniting the nation not political witch-huntin. “Or he must follow the footsteps of his elder brother the way he governed Malawi in the first term before he became emotional,” explained Mhango.

The PP South African chapter chair  has also advised Mutharika to seriously consider rebuilding the relationship with the donor community for them to fully resume providing support to Malawi ailing economy.

He said the same channel was used by former President Dr. Joyce Banda immediately after she took over the leadership in 2012 following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika who had then bashed the donors.

“When Her Excellency Dr. Joyce Banda took over office, she managed to overturn the hardships within a short period of time because among other things, she convinced donors to come back with their funding and she gave them all the confidence that their funding or support will be used for intended purposes,” he said.

PP spokesperson Ken Msonda  also said Mutharika and his DPP government should work tirelessly to meet the 30 days deadline to have the maize crisis resolved , saying failure to do so will result in calls for President to be pushed out of power with mass protests.

He said the Mutharika government was doing everything to prevent from being forced out of power by hungry Malawians.

“The DPP administration should put their efforts and energy to address the food and economic crisis currently affecting our nation,” said Msonda.

Meanwhile, Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) Executive Director John Kapito has asked the the government to address economic issues urgently.

He has however trashed the government claims that the economic situation is globe saying most countries are able to tame interest rates for inflation thereby allowing their people to access basic needs which is not the case here in Malawi.