UTM disowns Deguzman over ‘tribalist’ remarks
Remarks by Deguzman Kaminjolo, a UTM Party sympathiser, through a Facebook post in which he posted that the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is a “disgraceful party full of ancestral spirits’ dancers” has forced the party to disown him.
The remarks have invoked spirited debate on social media, and on Tuesday, the Chewa Heritage Foundation (CHEFO) held a presser in the capital Lilongwe demanding an apology from Kaminjolo.
Kaminjolo, a journalist turned PR specialist – posted: “It must be frustrating being MCP knowing the election might be stolen but not knowing how. Vuto la chipani kungozadza alimi ndi a dance ya mizimu.”
In a telephone interview with Nyasa Times, UTM Secretary General, Patricia Kaliati, and her deputy, Levi Luwemba, have both distanced themselves from Kaminjolo’s remarks saying they are demeaning to the Chewa culture.
Kaliati said Kaminjolo does not hold any political position in UTM; and, therefore, whatever he was saying must have been in his personal capacity.
And during the media briefing, CHEFO secretary general, Richard Mdyetseni, said the grouping was disappointed and disapproved with the remarks Kaminjolo uttered against the ‘gule wamkulu’ and the Chewa people.
“We are giving 48 hours for Kaminjolo to apologise or else we will not hestitate to take unspecified action,” said Mdyetseni.
Mdyetseni said the majority of Chewa people are farmers, and that by demeaning them was like demeaning all the Chewa people.
He said there was a possibility that would release the Gulewamkulu to hold peaceful demonstrations against Kaminjolo’s remarks.
Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, a social commentator who is also a Chewa, said though he keeps his hands off from commenting on politics described Kaminjolo’s post as “degrading.”
“As a proud Chewa and executive member of CHEFO I urge Kaminjolo and the UTM to apologize to us the Chewa people. If indeed nothing is taken into account because of this fiendish statement then UTM should not expect any vote from any reasonable Chewa people,” said Mtumodzi.
He added: “Kaminjolo should be mindful of the fact that Malawi is a rainbow nation and people coexist. In my case Iemploy three Yaos who share similar cultural norms like Kaminjolo but I have never said anything that would demean their cultural heritage and traditional norms.”
Apparenlty, Mtumodzi and Kaminjolo were very close friends sharing same house together with Thom Chiumia when they were all practising journalists some 17 years ago.
Meanwhile, Kaminjolo also returned to Facebook Tuesday saying “there is no merit to apologize.”
According to Kaminjolo, he has no issues against any tribe.
“There is no mention of any tribe in my post. Alimi is a word exclusive for any particular tribe…dance ya mizimu is also not exclusive to one particular tribe. Vimbuza is a spirit dance. Amongst we Yaos we have a spirit dance called mpungulo,” wrote Kaminjolo.
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You thought after giving him 4 mita ikubweeetserani ma vote mwanya ana anyau ife vote simuyiona ,You dnt buy power
Let truth be told all cultures in the world except for the western world and especially in Africa were and the illiterate majority are still primitive. Ngoni, Lomwe, Yao, Tumbuka, Tonga, etc, have some elements in their culture which are distasteful.
And talking about language I for one don’t speak Chewa. I speak Nyanja the language the chewas found in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique when some Chewas were running away from the Belgian Congo. If Chewas had their own language the remnants in Congo would have been speaking chewa up to now. Examples are Yaos, Lomwes, Senas, Zulus, etc, you can still find these languages in their originating countries.
All along in 1860s when the Europeans and Arabs came to Malawi they found this language being called Nyanja but Kamuzu changed it to Chichewa just to make his tribe supreme.
Please if DPP or UTM win rename this language to chiNyanja ife tisamatukwanike ngati timayankhula chichewa chanucho. Bakili tried to do that in 1994 but the then chewa led Chichewa Board tried its best to foil it.
Cant agree more. Majority of Malawians speak nyanja not chichewa
Achewa mukuzidabwa bwanji? Mumatamba musakane. Nanga kumanda mumakhala kuja mumataniko?
Very true! Nyau is from the devil and is practiced by uncivilized people. It is for this reason that the civilized likes of Malewezi, Chakwera, Tembo themselves had to quit the nyau religion and join Christianity. I come from centre, a member of Nkhoma Synod and Chilima is my vote, whether pastoral letter or not. No reason for apologizing
Personally, I do not see anything wrong with what Kaminjolo has written to attract the wrath of CHEFO. The main respondent on his (Kaminjolo) comment should be MCP and not CHEFO and the former has been specifically mentioned. Actually, the reaction by CHEFO would be interpreted to mean that they think MCP belongs to the Chewa tribe and it is, therefore theirs and it is their responsibility to act on the party’s behalf. Otherwise, MCP has membership and supporters from across the country, from different tribes and all these just like all Malawians about 90% are farmers and all these tribes have their own spiritual dances as explained by Kaminjolo in his response.
Actually, for any non-Chewa Malawian registered voter who can comprehensively read this article may decide not to vote for MCP since CHEFO’s reaction seems to tell Malawians that MCP is a party for their tribe and other non-Chewa members are wasting their time!
In summary, Kaminjolo’s comment was meant for MCP members and/or supporters across the whole country and not directed at Chewas as CHEFO would want to portray!
One hundred thousand votes gone for just insulting a tribe. You must learn to guard your tongue.
A UTM hired hand. Ngati ayamba pano, nanga akalowa mboma????
Come on. Eee ng’ona – sananasinthe awa. Who cares about your damn Nyau? Very insensitive. Asolowe mboma amenewa. They will fill up all prisons.
That’s what happens when people run out constructive issues. Can people like him assist in building a tolerant society?
Patricia kaliat yu better stop your nonsense, kodi mesa uli ku dpp ndiwe amene unaki mgulu lobweretsa mlakho wa alomwe kumayika alomwe patsogolo ngati ntundu waukulu, ndiwenso amene unakolezera quota system ndi malemu bingu
Let love lead
Nthuumodzi: speak only for yourself. I am a chewa and I will vote for CHILIMA – the distinct candidate . musaiwale kuti a MEC anatilembetsa ma vote aliyense payenkhapayenkha mwamva.
re do your analysis well. she said ” a reasonable chewa” are you reasonable yourself?
Literally a wise person can’t compare Chewas to Yaos? The latter is inferior and is equal to a cast class found in India. The truth is that tribes everywhere in the world are in social classes. In India there are casts, Lozigers in Maymar and Gypyies in Poland. So too in Africa and Malawi. Although the Constitution regards us as one we are socially not so. And the Chewa and Yao wont be equal. The Yao are least in Malawi’s social class. Look at their way of life. Go into the Yaoland how many Chewas do you find and vice versa go into Chewaland how many Yao do you find. Naturally tribes on higher social class scales attract those of lower class. One can identify tribal social classes by looking at settlements and employment. In cities where do you find Yao most. When a Yao marries a Chewa how does it feel to the rest of the Chewa family
It good that this Yao has started issue let us debate and analyse the two tribes. Can a Yao or any other tribe convince us why they think they are mightier than the Chewa?
What wrong has the CHEWA people done.?….We are proud of Our own culture ……proud of our own language …..
You may be Rich…but we are proud they way we are…
Read between lines, it is not MCP complaining but the Chewas which include Chief Lundu and Chief Lukwa the big DPP cadets (ana a Dad)
Lukwa and Lundu chiefs were DPP but not now
Ochewa kukoka nkhani za ziiiii! The post is not mentioning Chewa at all.
UTM UTM how many times have I called you? Wait and see what this so called alimi tribe will do to you on 21st.
UTM which side of a coin should we regard you…????..VERY BAD
You can speak ill of Chewa but ask yourself the local language which Saulos Chilima speaks. Ask APM the local language which he speaks even at Mlakho wa Lomwe. The Chewa are great and that is why you hate them. We have Tumbuka who have a language unlike most of you who claim to be Lomwes but can hardly speak it. We have Senas too and they have a language unlike Lomwes. The Chewa are people with good behaviour. They don’t fill prisons. They aren’t too much into pristitution. They are not mostly domestic workers. This
They speak nyanja!
This is because in 1968 your dictator Kamuzu outlawed all languages in the country and forcibly made chichewa a national language. And for your information majority Malawians including Chilima speak chinyanja not chichewa,
You don’t defend yourself by insulting others. No tribe is superior to others, we are all Malawians and we all contribute to this nation positively or negatively
Ancestral spirit dancers! Who are they in MCP and who are alimi in MCP? Whatever or whoever is being referred to,there is no respect and lack of co-exisistence spirit in Kaminjolo statement.
Why should UTM own him or apologize for him?
because they sent him to write it
Where is the proof? You people are peddling lies to suit your vendetta
Chipani cha UTM ndi cha extroverts.Noisy people. Just group akachasu
For UTM to apologise lacks Merit and this is purely day dreaming for u Mtuumodzi
Mtuumodzi why bringing UTM into this disrepute between your bed fellow and you tribe???
I think this likes merit for UTM to be one of defendant rather than Kaminjolo.
If U are for MCP then just vote for your mighty party rather than saying no vote for UTM from Chewa ? I think you are just dream.
U forgave that come May is UTM going to be in Government.
There is nothing to apologise for. Truth is painful but must be said. What has MCP to complain about when that’s what they practice. UTM has no reason to comment on this. Kaminjolo has the freedom of expression.
Exactly! i dont understand why a private citizen is taken to task for expressing his views that people decided to interpret anyhow