Uladi asks Malawi Muslims to draw a line between Islam and UDF
Outspoken official of the ruling People’s Party (PP) Uladi Mussa has asked people in lakeshore eastern region district of Mangochi, considered the political stronghold of United Democratic (UDF), not to associate the UDF with Islam, saying the party is not in any way connected to the religion.
Speaking at Lungwena Health Centre in Mangochi district where President Joyce Banda was laying a foundation stone for the construction of a guardian shelter, Mussa who is also Malawi’s Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, said it is pathetic that some Muslim leaders are telling people in Mangochi to vote for the party which is led by fellow Muslims.
“UDF is not Islam and Islam is not UDF,” said Uladi who is also a devout Moslem and a former madrasa teacher.
He said: “Islam teaches about five tenets which include, fasting, going to Haji and praying five times a day. Does UDF teach people about that?”
Mussa told the gathering that there will never be a government in Malawi predominantly run by Muslims.
“One should not cheat you to vote for fellow Muslims only,” he said.
“Malawi is a mixture state comprising Muslims and Christians with Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh (Peace be unto you and so may the mercy of Allah and His blessings)and Allelluya. Without accepting the existence of the two, you better stay outside the country,” he said.
Mussa said it is sad that some political party leaders are telling Muslims in the district to vote for fellow Muslims during the next year’s elections.
“Are they real Muslims themselves? One day we will conduct a test to find out who is a real Muslim. Some political leaders hide behind Islam while in fact they even fail to perform Islamic prayers,” he said.
“I am telling you as a fellow Muslim that all the holy books in Malawi both the Bible and the Quran there is no name of any political party. This is for earthly benefit. Osamangoti asilamufe asilamufe chiyani (don’t boast of being Muslims) there is no name of the political in these books.”
He also said the caliber of Muslims who are supporting the ruling People’s Party cannot be compared to those supporting UDF in terms of both stature and knowledge of Islam.
“If anything a party which has the most respected Sheikhs who can competitively perform Islamic prayers is PP. There is myself Mufti Uladi Mussa, Sheikh Ibrahim Matola, Sheikh Cassim Chilumpha, and Sheikh Sidik Mia. Who is there in other parties?”
He, therefore, asked people in Mangochi to vote for President Banda in 2014 elections without considering religious affiliation, saying Banda is a true daughter of Mangochi because she is fluent in Yao language unlike one opposition leader he didn’t mention whom he said claims to be a Yao but fail to speak the language.
The jibe on Yao language was aimed at UDF’s presidential hopeful Atupele Muluzi.
Atupele refused to comment, saying his brand of politics will try to avoid speaking on issues that would spark unnecessary clashes.
University of Malawi political scientist Dr Blessings Chinsinga condemned what he called petty politics of attacking the person instead of concentrating on ideas.
“Politicians all aim at creating better Malawi and they should just focus on that and not petty issues like whether Atupele speaks Yao or not,” he said.
The People’s Party has been at the forefront decampaigning Muluzi, who has been seen attracting mammoth crowds to his rallies recently.
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