Zambia president urged to intervene in Malawi political impasse
Zambian opposition leader Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba has said he wants Zambia President Edgar Lungu, now Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) Chairperson on Security and Defense, to take a ‘leading role’ in resolving the political crises in Malawi that threatens peace.
The opposition are protesting that President Peter Mutharika won the May 21 election won by fraud and there have been series of demonsotrations which some have turned violent.
Mumba, who is president of Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), said in quotes reported by Lusaka Times said that the current Malawi political impasse that has arisen after an election dispute could have been avoided if all political players were part and parcel of the election process.
“Our brothers and sisters of Malawi like us are known to be peaceful and loving people. The images and videos coming from Malawi are extremely worrying. I would like to commend the opposition Parties in Malawi for taking their concerns over the disputed Presidential elections to the Constitutional Court. However, we would like to urge all Parties to restrain themselves and their supporters from taking the law into their own hands. We also urge security forces not to be heavy handed in dealing with their own citizens”, Mumba said.
“This impasse wouldn’t have happened if all the political players were part and parcel of the election process. We however commend the courts in Malawi for their land mark ruling last Friday on the ‘right to be heard’ case lodged by the opposition. This will afford the people of Malawi an opportunity to verify the authenticity of the disputed election. It is such actions that diffuse conflict in a nation”, he said.
Mumba said regional bodies like the AU and SADC should take advantage of early warnings to prevent catastrophes from happening on the continent.
He pointed out that any unrest in Malawi affects the security of Zambia too.
“The cessation of hostilities in Malawi therefore is in the interest of our country,” Mumba said.
Mumba has called upon Zambian President Lungu to urgently intervene in the impasse in his capacity as SADC Chairperson of Defense and Security.
“Malawi like Zambia is a member of both the Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) and the Africa Union (AU). We are fortunate that our Republican President Mr. Lungu is the Chairperson of the Security and Defense Wing of SADC. We call upon President Lungu to urgently call for a SADC defence and security meeting to discuss the Malawi Impasse and find peaceful means to resolve it before it escalates”, Mumba said.
ayerekeze kubwera kumazapanga zopusazo achoka wauyo uyo ife sitikubwerera mbuyo we are going to demostrate massively up to the last drop of our blood
Osapatsa ulemu mbava tsopano zilibe ulemu ndi chisono chomwe
What is the point for AU or SADC? They declared the Malawi election free & fair. Who needs them now? Look at their track records in mitigating and solving conflicts over the continent and our region? In Nigeria there is Boko and between it, Mali, Niger & Cameroon we have deadly Islamic insurgents. Ethiopia & Eritrea have been at each other’s throat ever since. Who sorted it out? How about South Sudan? It took the Pope to kneel before the warring leaders. How about Sudan itself? Isn’t it the masses that are the revolutionaries? You have the Central African Republic.… Read more »
So you expect this Zambian thief to resolve our political impasse or to learn the tippex way of rigging?
@ Mkaika …Mutowafuna a Church Lero Nthawi Ankatolimbikisa 50 + 1 IJA …Munatowanamiza …Kuwapusisa …A Church Amaona Patali Anaziwa kuti Nthawi ya Minority Governments ikutha Mmalawi muno…Koma Inu Dyera…Munthu Wina Anakatowina ndi 51% bwenzi Anthu ali okwiya ….Chonchi?
Eya nbalewanga. 50+1 ukunenayo ndiye itazaonjeze tribalism chifukwa we have only 3 regions and one region in our case the North will always be the tie breaker. The North has always has always never liked the South as it considers it a noughty bullying big brother. Ineyo what I feel sorry about this country is that we dont like to learn from our mistakes. For example vice presidents have misbehaved knowing that they are immune to dismissal but we are just watching in ewe! This regionalist pattern of voting could have been dealt with if we changed to proportional representation… Read more »
If people from Zambia can see that things in Malawi are not OK why are the Catholic archbishops not concerned to intervene? Mwana wanu ku St Pius anayankhulapo pankhaniyi koma inu mwangoti phwii.
I am not a catholic but I respect catholic bishop’s level headedness.
Major 1 Bushiri kuJoniko please come and help sortout this case.
AChakwera ndioswedwa mtima akufunika kuwapemperera mwapaderadera.
Abale mmakumbuka nkhani ya Esau kuti wina analandira mdalitso wamkulu wake mwachinyengo. Koma obeledwayo sanapse mtima kwambiri. Nde abusa a Chakwera mpaka mubutse dzikolino moto chifukwa chofuna uprezident? Chonde abusa mizimu yaanthu atafe chifukwa chaziwawazi izakuzunzani.
Tikonzepo nkhani yokuba madalitso. Esau anapsya mtima ndipo analonjeza kuti azamupha Yakobo. Yakobo anathawa kupita kwa Labani. Kuba sichinthu chabwino.
Remember to carry tippex to the SADC defence and security meeting. You will all need it.
Principles of natural justice ( right to be heard)
I think we can solve our problems better than getting influences from one of the Presidents known for rigging also. He is not a good example, and will not help us.