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(NYASATIMES) Malawi ‘Agenda for change’ summit in UK’s Nottingham

Malawi ‘Agenda for change’ summit in UK’s Nottingham
By Peter Makossah, Nyasa Times

Malawi Diaspora Forum (MDF) a consortium of diaspora Malawians in the United Kingdom currently hosting ‘Agenda for Change’ meetings across Great Britain aimed at strategising and charting a way forward for Malawi’s ailing economic crisis and the never-ending political catastrophes will on Saturday August 13th hold yet another conference in Nottingham City.

One of the organisers Edgar Chibaka, said the Nottingham meeting which will start at 2:30 pm will be held at Park Inn Hotel on 296 Mansfield Road just after the roundabout across Forest Grounds near Hyson Green (Post Code NG5 2BT) and is set to be the ‘mother of all meetings’ as it will draw closer Malawians from across the United Kingdom, various prominent diaspora African nationals in England, political and human rights activists and other dignified ‘Friends of Malawi’.

Park Inn Hotel, the venue for the Nottingham indaba is located just 10 minutes from Nottingham City Centre and over a mile from Nottingham train station. For those driving from all other destinations the hotel is aptly situated close to M1 Motorway junctions 25 and 26. Those travelling on a bus from City Centre can catch buses number 15, 16, 17, to 87 88 and 89 to the venue and the bus stop is just conspicuously opposite on the right.

MDF members: Calling for Bingu to step down

“We are inviting all Malawians across the UK particularly in England to come to this essential conference to put our heads together and advance further a strong ‘agenda for change’ for Malawi. Malawi is in dire straits needing urgent change otherwise the country will become a totally failed state under Bingu wa Mutharika. We can no longer wait for more bloodshed when we have the power and mandate to change things now,” states Chibaka.

According to Chibaka the Nottingham meeting which will run under a banner ‘Malawi Situation: Agenda for Change – Now or Never’ will discuss among other things possible means to maintain the impoverished southern African country’s peace and stability.

At its Manchester meeting last month MDF issued a 91 day ultimatum for President Mutharika to step down from office citing bad governance, shambolic economic situation, disrespect for the rule of law and political intolerance as examples that the Malawian leader has overstayed the warmth of the Malawian people.

“We maintain that Bingu wa Mutharika vacate the presidency for failing to manage the country within 91 days from the ‘July 20 Martyrs Day’ or he will be removed by all possible means,” said Chibaka.

Added Chibaka: “Our main objective as diaspora Malawians is to restore, strengthen democracy and good governance to ensure that our country is in the right direction while at the same time contributing positively towards matters of national concerns. Malawi is not a family business where Bingu can do as he pleases at the expenses of the poor people who put him in the highest position. For Bingu and his government enough is enough. He must go and he will go .”

MDF coordinator Thom Chiumia, a journalist, says the general consensus is that Malawian people are tired with Mutharika’s autocratic rule and cannot take no more.

“The best for Mutharika is to go gracefully before he rips the country into deep destitution because of his arrogance and heavy-handedness,” explains Chiumia.

George Mlanga, an MDF official said Malawi is fast drifting into back into dictatorship with millions of people living in incessant fear.

“We cannot afford to go back to the time when people used to suffer for simply having dissenting views. We fought and do away autocracy back in 1992 under the brutal leadership of Kamuzu Banda and I don’t think now we should be wasting our energies doing the same instead of channelling our strength to develop our country. We can no longer allow having tyrannical leaders at this age. Never,” he said.

Pastor Patrick Mtimbusya, an official in MDF sterling committee says the fight against Mutharika’s repressive regime will be spearheaded by God because Malawians are crying out to be delivered from Mutharika’s autocracy.

“Malawians must not fear, Bingu will go. This is not their fight God the creator will fight for them. God cannot allow his children to continue suffering because of one man,” says the man of God.

Malawi Diaspora Forum was formed on May 21 at a Conference which was held at Novotel Hotel in Leeds City, Yorkshire in England on Malawi Situation.

Since formation MDF has held talks with international human rights campaigners, organisations, governments and supports Malawi’s civil society and religious organisation in their efforts in bringing back freedom and democracy to the Malawian population.

Membership to the grouping is voluntary and invitation to the meeting is open to all Malawians and interested parties.

By Nyasa Times

Labels: MALAWI

posted by MrK @ 2:51 PM