Maravi

(NYASATIMES) Mutharika being misled- Billy Kaunda

Mutharika being misled- Billy Kaunda
Marcus Zimtambira 17 February, 2009 04:05:00

Sacked Culture and Tourism deputy minister, Billy Kaunda, has hailed President Bingu wa Mutharika for according him the opportunity to serve in his cabinet, but has accused the President’s inner cycle of misleading him into making decisions that would be costly to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Kaunda, speaking for the first time about his sacking, both as cabinet minister and DPP member following his decision to contest against DPP deputy director of political affairs Harry Mkandawire in the parliamentary race, said Mutharika was a visionary leader who wished the best for Malawi.

He said, however, Mutharika was being increasingly misled, especially this time that Malawians are preparing to exercise their rights at the ballot, and vote into office people they will trust for the next five years till 2014.

“Here is a wonderful President who has surrounded himself with ‘Yes Bwana’ sort of people. These are misleading him, and I am sure he will live to regret the decision he made to fire us from the party and cabinet,” said the musician-cum-politician.

“We served him loyally and with all our hearts and might, and the ‘thank you’ we get is being disgraced. The DPP will live to regret this because we will make it to parliament come May 19, and the same people will be coming to us asking for support; I will think twice,” said Kaunda.

Kaunda said he had intensified campaigns in the run up to the elections, challenging Mkandawire that they will face each other at the ballot.

“I know Mr. Mkandawire is behind all this. The good thing is that we will meet on May 19, 2009, and he will lose to me. I did not just wake up one day and say ‘I want to contest’. People asked me and I couldn’t say no. Now the DPP is saying ‘no, don’t contest’, and who am I to say ‘yes’? I follow what the people say, and they want me to stand,” he said.

Kaunda said, if approached again after the May 19 elections’ to join DPP, he will think twice because of the continued refusal of the party to consider him as DPP, saying he did not participate in primaries because he had an appointment with the President the next day, so couldn’t make a fool of himself by going exhausted after the primaries.

Labels: BILLY KAUNDA, DPP, HARRY MKANADAWIRE

posted by MrK @ 9:11 PM