Malawi leader Joyce Banda to address the nation
Malawi’s Vice President Joyce Banda who will be sworn-in as Head of State following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika is scheduled to address the nation.
Banda has been furnished with the reports that Mutharika is formally declared dead following a heart attack on Thursday.
Mutharika's sudden death and the government's silence have lead to confusion about who will take over as acting president.
Former president Bakili Muluzi told a news conference on Friday that Vice President is constitutionally mandated to take the job, adding that Banda's ascension is necessary to keep order.
There are reports of some people in the ruling party trying to force Parliament to convene and change the constitution not to allow the Vice President to assume office.
Lawyer Wapona Kita says “its automatic” that Her Excellency Banda takes over the presidency.
Kita said the constitution “clearly states that in the event of incapacitation or death of the president, the vice president takes over.”
He said: “The reality on the ground is that Joyce Banda takes over until the remainder of the term in 2014, unless someone wants to change the rules,” he said.
Most ordinary Malawians have yet to receive the news due to an official silence in the state media.
Banda formed her own People’s Party after being sacked from the ruling party. Mutharika then filed a case at the High Court seeking to force her from office, arguing that his running mate had become an opposition figure.
Meanwhile, the civil society activist have told a news conference at Riverside Hotel in Lilongwe that they are calling for a peaceful succession and constitutional order, allowing Banda to take over power.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, JOYCE BANDA
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Be patient with PF government - Muluzi
By Bright Mukwasa
Sun 01 Jan. 2012, 14:00 CAT
ZAMBIANS should be patient with the government of President Michael Sata and give it time to deliver, says former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi. In an interview in Lusaka on Thursday during his two-day visit, Muluzi said Zambia's peaceful election was a mark of democratic progress in the region and the continent.
"I think first of all I want to congratulate them Zambians for the peaceful elections and let's give the new government time," said Muluzi, who ruled Malawi from 1994 to 2004.
"There's no way a government can transform in 90 days, I mean it's not possible. They will have to do a lot of things so Zambians have to be very patient and also to make sure that there's peace and tranquility in the country."
Muluzi said he expected President Sata to deliver on most of his promises as he knew that he had a vision from the days of his opposition campaigns.
He urged President Sata and other African leaders to vigorously fight poverty, which had deprived most of the people a decent life on the continent.
He praised Zambia's election as a beacon of democratic success in the region.
"I think he President Sata has got a vision. I have been following his vision to transform Zambia, to create employment, put money in people's pockets. When I look at Africa and look at the poverty profile it's still very, very high 64 per cent of our people live below poverty line. That's not acceptable we have to do something about it otherwise our people are going to rise against us…because 40 years, 50 years of our independence we have to show something to the people," he said.
"I hear in DRC they have got two governments, that's not what we want to see. Democracy is the essence of justice, rule of law and things like that and I think we must encourage elections where people have spoken and once they have spoken, they have spoken as long as you have not rigged the elections. So these ones Zambian elections I followed them keenly."
Muluzi congratulated Rupiah Banda for conceding defeat and for the smooth transition.
Muluzi also laid wreaths at the graves of the late president Levy Mwanawasa and his predecessor Frederick Chiluba on Thursday and spoke highly of the duo saying he had fond memories of them.
"The wind of change came from Zambia before we started challenging the one party dictatorship in Malawi, as you know we went underground and we used to work closely with president Chiluba.I have very fond memories about him, the contribution he made. We worked very closely even when he became president, I visited Zambia, he visited Malawi. Levy Mwanawasa was my good friend. He also came to Malawi.
He visited me. These are the people I have very high respect for; these are the leaders in Africa who should never be forgotten," said Muluzi.
Muluzi has since returned home.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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Sata reconciles with Malawi after row
Saturday, 31 December 2011 00:00
LUSAKA - Zambian president Michael Sata said yesterday he had decided to reconcile with eastern neighbour Malawi after a diplomatic row over his 2007 deportation from that country when he was an opposition leader. Sata, who took over as president of Africa's biggest copper producer after a surprise September 20 election victory, made the announcement after meeting former Malawian president Bakili Muluzi.
Muluzi who was on a private visit to Zambia.
As a leader of the Zambian opposition in 2007, president Sata was denied entry into Malawi and deported upon arrival after being declared a prohibited immigrant. In October after becoming Zambian president, he refused to attend the Comesa summit in Malawi, saying he would only do so if Lilongwe apologised for his deportation.
Malawi's government has not apologised, but has said president Sata was free to visit the country. After meeting Muluzi, president Sata told reporters the former Malawian president had managed to persuade him to end the row with the government of current president Bingu wa Mutharika.
"We feel that Malawi and Zambia are bigger than Michael Sata and Bingu wa Mutharika," Sata said.
"I have agreed and I have given him a message to convey to president Bingu wa Mutharika that as far as I am concerned, let by-gones be by-gones."
Zambia has traditionally had good relations with Malawi. - Reuters.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI, MICHAEL SATA
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Mutharika will not apologise to Sata,lifts entry ban
By Wanga Gwede, Nyasa Times
September 29, 2011
Malawi government is adamant that President Bingu wa Mutharika will not offer public apology to Zambia’s newly-elected president Michael Sata for what happened in 2007 when Lilongwe declared him a prohibited immigrant.
Sata has demanded an apology for the humiliation he suffered when he was arrested at Chileka international Airport in Blantyre 15 March, 2007 on orders from President Mutharika when he flew into Malawi to hold talks with former president Bakili Muluzi.
According to his Malawian lawyer Ralph Kasambara, no reasons were given for his arrest but he was detained for several hours at Blantyre Police Station, where he was declared Persona Non Grata (PNG) or Prohibited Immigrant (PI) and then bundled in a police vehicle, driven 500 kilometres to be dumped at Chipata on the Malawi-Zambia border.
Sata: Demands apology
Sata sued Malawi government for defamation and wrongful detention.
But government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati said Lilongwe will not issue an apology because the status and circumstances in which Sata was expelled from Malawi and his current position of head of state are different.
“Sata is His Excellency the President now he was a private citizen in 2007. What happen then had nothing to do with Zambia,” said Kaliati.
She said Lilongwe will have talks with Lusaka on any diplomatic misunderstandings.
Kaliati also clarified that Sata is allowed to visit Malawi and will be treated as a VVIP and not as a prohibited immigrant in Malawi because of his current status as head of state and government.
Her comments were also underscored by presidential spokesperson Hetherwick Ntaba who explained that according to international protocol, a head of State cannot be a prohibited immigrant in a country.
“Therefore, any pre-existing status in Malawi-Zambia or anywhere that contradicts President Sata’s present status as Head of State automatically falls off de fact or otherwise,” said Ntaba in a statement.
“Under such circumstances, the fear of immigration embarrassment in Malawi for President Sata cannot arise in international diplomacy.”
Kasambara disclosed this week that President Sata would not be coming to Malawi to attend Comesa summit for Heads of State from October 14 because he of the deportation he faced in 2007 as his case is yet to be determined by Justice Healy Potani.
Malawi has never disclosed the reasons why it deported Sata.
Under Mutharika leadership, Malawi has strained ties with neighbouring Mozambique and downgrading dipolamtic relations with Zambia would be regrettable to the country which has enjoyed cordial relations with other states since independence 47 years ago.
Labels: ATUPELE MULUZI, BAKILI MULUZI, MICHAEL SATA, PATRICIA KALIATI
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Muluzi says doesn’t know what has gone wrong with Malawi economy
By Nyasa Times
Published: January 7, 2010
Former president Bakili Muluzi said he is wondering what has gone wrong with the country’s economy which was reported to be the fastest growing world economy after that of Qatar; but is now suddenly facing what commentators have said is Malawi’s “worst economic crisis ever”.
Muluzi, who has retired from politics, was featured on the in-depth interview program Straight Talk on Capital Radio aired on Thursday evening. Programme host Brian Banda asked Muluzi to comment on the shortage of forex, fuel and on problems with basic social amenities such as the supply of electricity and water.
“I am meant to believe that the economy is going very well. Now if the economy is going very well, naturally that goes with the availability of foreign exchange because import cover for the country, like during our time, was three to four months for foreign exchange availability. There wasn’t a problem. We now hear the import cover is about two weeks. That is very dangerous.”
Muluzi, however, pointed out that the government machinery is not likely to be idle on the issue.
“I am sure, that the government has not just sat down looking at this problem,” he said.
But he added: “I read in the paper today, however, that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry have indicated that the problem is worsening on foreign exchange availability.”
Muluzi, who ruled Malawi from 1994 to 2004, said he has no clue regarding what has gone wrong with the country’s reportedly growing economy.
“I don’t have the answers for it because I don’t know what has gone wrong,” he said.
He pointed out that during his reign, the country run from 2001 to 2004 without donor support but there were no problems of forex and fuel shortages.
“We cannot afford to have no electricity; we cannot afford to have no water, we cannot afford to have no fuel because that’s life for the people. That is economic life for our country,” said Muluzi.
Asked to give his views on the proposal by government to change the national flag, Muluzi said he would like people to be asked to decide.
Muluzi announced his retirement from active politics last year in December, stepping down as chairman of United Democratic Front (UDF).
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, ECONOMY, GREAT DEPRESSION II, MALAWI
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Malawi ex-leader’s camp sees hope in Zambia’s Chiluba’s acquittal
By Nyasa Times
Published: August 17, 2009
Monday’s Lusaka Magistrates Court’s landmark ruling clearing former Zambian president Frederick Chiluba of all corruption charges has given hope to neighbouring Malawi’s former president Bakili Muluzi who is standing trial on similar allegation.
In a ruling that analysts say may resonate across Africa, the court acquitted Chiluba of stealing about half a million dollars, part of the millions that he and his wife are accused of siphoning from state coffers during his decade as leader of the copper-rich nation.
Originally the verdict was expected last Friday but the presiding magistrate, Jones Chinyama, was not ready to give judgment. Chiluba did appear in court looking relaxed despite facing a possible jail term.
Chinyama, in his ruling, said the prosecution team had failed to prove the case against the former president, who ruled Zambia for a decade after ousting liberation hero Kenneth Kaunda in multiparty elections in 1991.
”I find that the accused is not guilty on all counts,” said the magistrate.
”This is a good pointer for us that Dr. Muluzi will be acquitted,” said Fahad Assani, one of the lawyers defending Muluzi on his fraud and corruption allegations. “The state simply has no evidence.”
Muluzi, who ruled the southern African country between 1994 and 2004, stands accused of diverting at least US $13m of donor money meant for various government development projects to his personal accounts.
He denies the charges, alleging political persecution by his successor Bingu wa Mutharika.
Assani said Monday’s ruling in Lusaka “should make African leaders to be extremely careful with bodies that that fight corruption because if they are politically abused they may cost tax-payers millions of dollars”.
He said because of the high offices ex-presidents held “damages may be huge if they decide to sue the state once they get acquitted”.
But Alexius Nampota, director for the state corruption-busting body – the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) – laughed off drawing similarities in the two cases.
”People are not acquitted because they are former presidents so that we draw pararells that because a former president has been acquitted then it follows that another former president will be acquitted as well,” he told AP in an interview.
“I don’t think Dr. Muluzi and Dr. Chiluba’s cases are similar. It’s up to the courts to decide: if they
see that the evidence in Dr. Muluzi’s case is not sufficient enough they will acquit him; if they feel it’s sufficient enough they will convict him. So let cross that bridge once we reach it.”
Socio-political analyst Rafiq Hajat, who heads a Blantyre-based think-tank Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI), agreed with Nampota, telling AP it is too early for the Muluzi camp to start
drawing pararells with the Chiluba case.
“I think the cases may be different; there might be differences in mechanisms and methodologies in the two cases; all cases are handled on a case b y case basis,” he said.
Hajat, however, said although Chiluba has been acquitted his long over-drawn trial should act as a warning to African leaders that no one is above the law.
“It is becoming a pattern that once out of power African leaders are taken to task for all crimes and misdemeneours that they may have committed while in power,” he said.
On the downside, nonetheless, Hajat observed that this fear is leading to some leaders “to tweak their Constitutions so that they stay on in power forever to avoid being taken to task”.
Muluzi tried to change the Constitution twice in order to elongate his stay in State House. Firstly, he tried to abolish term limits for presidents. His bid failed by a mere three votes to reach the
two-thirds majority needed for Parliament to change the Constitution.
He tried to get “just a third term” but the opposition to the bid was too huge that he freaked out before taking the issue back to Parliament.
Instead he anointed Mutharika to succeed him after he imposed him on his then ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) as its candidate for the 2004 elections. But just nine months into his presidency the economist-turned-politician quit the UDF, citing his former colleagues’ resistance to his tough anti-corruption drive as the reason of his unusual move.
He went on to found his own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Muluzi and several of his former top government officials are currently facing several fraud and corruption cases in courts.
The Mutharika administration claims that at least US $93m of government money was abused during the ten years of Muluzi administration.–AP
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, CHILUBA, COURTS
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Lomwe becomes buzz word for Malawi’s employment, business
By Nyasa Times
Published: August 3, 2009
Again history seems to be repeating itself where tribe has reigned supreme in the appointment of persons in key government positions in Malawi.
During dictator Ngwazi Kamuzu Banda’s 31 year regime, the Chewa’s enjoyed a bigger and better share of appointments in top government positions. This had the unfortunate consequence of other tribes mobilising to fight the common enemy who in their wisdom had decided to monopolise the country’s employment cake.
The man who took over from Kamuzu, Bakili Muluzi started on a very good note spreading appointments to every corner of the country and at some point there were more ministers from the north than from his own Eastern region.
But as usual, the vice of ethnicity and religious extraction took the better of him and he stopped at nothing in elevating his Yao tribe and the Muslim factor.
The country suddenly saw the construction of so many mosques even in areas where a mosque was not required and indeed the Muslim dress became more predominant.
However, Muluzi maintained a fine mix and resisted the temptation of bloating his empire with his relations preferring to take on board.
Fast forward, enter Bingu wa Mutharika. Everybody expected the best from the academic and professional President who had spent years of honourable service in international corridors of powers.
Most Malawians were convinced that Bingu was going to be different and indeed was going to mend the wounds of one party state and the economic malaise of Muluzi administration because he had been detached from the Malawi system by his overseas stay.
But in a sudden and unprecedented development the country’s national fabric has given sway to one tribe leadership; the minority Lomwe’s under the umbrella of Mulkaho wa Alomwe have now assumed all the power in practically all the three arms of government.
Just to give a synopsis of the small picture that has emerged beginning with the Executive all position holders are Lomwe:
President Bingu wa Mutharika,
Minister of Agriculture, Mutharika Lomwe
Justice Minister Prof. Peter Mutharika Lomwe
Minister of Education Dr. George Chaponda Lomwe
Minister of Tourism Anna Kachikho Lomwe
Gender and Women affairs Patricia Kaliati Lomwe
Trade and Industry Eunice Kazembe Lomwe
Minister of Irrigation Richie Muheya Lomwe
Deputy finance minister Nihorya Lomwe
Deputy Lands and Housing T. Gowelo Lomwe
Deputy disabilities minister Felton Mulli Lomwe
Deputy information Minister Kingsley Namakhwa Lomwe
Deputy education Minister V. Sajeni Lomwe
The analysis of Principal secretaries also reflect the pattern that has favoured the same Mulhakho belt.
Within the Executive big institutions have largely been assigned to the same Mulhakho belt and following sample might help to prove this point.
Admarc General Manager Dr. Charles Matabwa Lomwe
Admarc Finance Director Foster Mulumbe Lomwe
Admarc Head of Admin. George Bakuwa Lomwe
Auction Holdings CEO Evance .Matabwa Lomwe
Masaf boss Edward Sawelengera Lomwe
Immigration Chief Elvis Thodi Lomwe
Anti Corruption Bureau Director Alex Nampota Lomwe
Director of Intelligence Clement Kapalamula Lomwe
Inspector General of Police, Patrick Mukhito Lomwe
Chairperson Malawi Electoral Commission, Anastanzia Msosa Lomwe
Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo Lomwe
Clerk of Parliament Maltilda Katopola Lomwe
Attorney General Jane Ansah Lomwe
Secretary to Treasury Randson Madiwa Lomwe
General Manager Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) Mondiwa Lomwe
MBC- Director General Patrick Khoza Lomwe
Malawi Savings Bank-CEO Joseph Mwanamvekha Lomwe
This is just but a sample of the spread of portifolios that have been allocated to the Mulhakho sect particularly those from the Thyolo belt.
An analysis of the middle management down to the supervisory cadre has also shown an average growth of more persons from the same ethnic extraction.
Various commentators have expressed different sentiments. Talking to Jakison Mehera of Bvumbwe, he said: “It is our time to enjoy ourselves and have all the good things, others will also have their time when the leadership goes to their homes.”
Old man Nayeja from the same Bvumbwe area cautioned against this development warning that what is happening today will negatively affect Lomwe children in the years to come.
“The Lomwes may suffer when the President is out of power like what is happening to the Yaos and Chewas. The Yaos were all over and introduced several bad programs and were also taking all prominent jobs and today they are in trouble.
“Malawi is for everyone, good jobs must be given to every deserving citizens except small projects in the districts should be given to those that come from that district,” said Nayeja.
Caroline Nalikwekwe from Chonde in Mulanje was different claiming that she has seen very little development to the ordinary people of the Lomwe tribe saying: “There is nothing that has happened to the Lomwes we’re still struggling, we’ve no land, no jobs for our children, we have not seen new boreholes and we’re still waiting for the loans.”
Stanley Mopiha from Mulanje boma simply said that “the richest Lomwes have become richer while the poor have become poorer.”
Nyasa Times talked to Mathews Nyirenda of Mzuzu who complained that the northern region has been neglected in every government including the colonial rule.
“The same has happened even after declaring the North as the home of ruling DPP. At least Muluzi did something for us but this government has done nothing for the North and when we complain we’re described as trouble makers and proud people.
“The Karonga- Chitipa road is still 15 kilometres, the’re no new schools, hospitals and projects. Most of our brilliant sons were dismissed and are now just languishing,” said Nyirenda who now runs a small telephone bureau around the Mzuzu market.
Kansichi Banda of Chipara Kasungu was however full of praises for Bingu for uplifting the spirit of Kamuzu by appointing cabinet ministers from the districts especially the niece to dictator, Ken Kandodo who is the country’s new Finance Minister.
“The whole country had condemned Kamuzu but it is only Mutharika who has remembered him. After so many years we now have cabinet ministers. We caution Bingu to avoid mistakes of Kamuzu and those of Muluzi. Bingu must be careful with his advisors, he must be careful with the police, he must also be careful with his politicians who encourage him to hate or torture people,” summed up Kansichi Banda now at 81 years.
A Muslim Sheikh at Liwonde had no kind words for Bingu saying he has been cruel to the Yaos and he is trying to destroy Islam.
“The President is torturing us every day, he is arresting our chiefs, he is torturing Muluzi and he is chasing all our sons, only Allah will tell,” complained Sheikh Che Mboga.
Other respondents have decried the tendency of only looking at one tribe of the Lomwes as the only bona fide Malawians as this may result in permanent stigmatisation of the clan.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, TRIBALISM
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Seizure of Malawi ex-leader's assets sought in court
Written by Reuters
Thursday, July 02, 2009 4:30:29 PM
BLANTYRE (Reuters) - Malawi's anti-corruption bureau applied to the high court on Thursday to seize former president Bakili Muluzi's property and asked for a $11 million bond if he were allowed to leave for a medical check-up in London.
Muluzi has been under investigation for the last two years on suspicion of siphoning money from Taiwan, Morocco, Libya and other donors. He was arrested in February and charged with 87 counts of diverting money into his private account. He denies any wrongdoing.
The former president was due to travel to the United Kingdom for a medical check-up last week, but the Bureau, which has been investigating the case for two years, seized his passport and air tickets, effectively stopping him from any travel.
The order was on suspicion that he planned not to come back to Malawi. Muluzi denies any wrongdoing. Alex Nampota, director of the anti-graft body, told the court that Muluzi's vehicles, his residence and other businesses should be seized in accordance with the law. Nampota told the court the corrupt practices act allowed this.
Muluzi, who ruled the southern African nation for 10 years, stepped down in 2004 after unsuccessfully trying to change the constitution to allow him to stand again. His lawyers asked the court not to allow the seizure of property because their client was very sick.
"What we want is for our client to continue using his cars and enjoy his residence because he is still presumed innocent until the verdict is made on July 10," Jay Banda, Muluzi's lawyer, told Reuters outside the court.
"The bureau's demands that our client pays a bond of $11 million, an amount equivalent to what he is being accused of stealing, is not only against the law but absurd," Banda said.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI
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Muluzi trial exposes Thyolo-Lomwe tribalism
By Nyasa Times
Published: June 30, 2009
The on-going trial against former president and UDF national chairman Dr Bakili Muluzi has exposed a worrying pattern of ethnic-domination of the judiciary and justice system by President Bingu wa Mutharika.
In the case where Muluzi is accused of diverting MK1.7 billion of donor funds, Judges MacLean Kamwambe and Healey Potani on separate court proceedings, granted permission to Muluzi to travel to the United Kingdom for medical attention and scheduled the hearings to proceed by August 3.
On both occasions, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, plaintiff and prosecutor Alex Nampota were present and supported the application agreeing with the defense that trial should commence first week of August.
However, hours before Muluzi’s departure on June21, Nampota produced a restraining order, effectively barring him from leaving the country. In the same sleigh of the hand, he drew a list of properties for expropriation which included Keza Office Park in the name of Atupele Properties Limited where Muluzi is one of the directors and vehicles used by the UDF registered in his name.
The list of monetary beneficiaries submitted by the ACB to the court did not include so many individuals some in the DPP today and others in the UDF. President Mutharika is widely known to have cost Muluzi over MK500 million to spruce his image between 2002 and 2004 to become electable.
The properties listed down by ACB do not include the Lonrho house which was Muluzi’s property and has now been bought by President Mutharika’s Bineth trust.
Like a Nigerian movie, Nampota shopped for Judge Joseph Manyungwa, a willing judicial assassin, and Chief Immigration Officer Elvis Thodi, looking for an opportunity to pounce on Muluzi, set in motion the devious plot by his own admission claiming that he had received an anonymous phone call alerting him that Muluzi would not be coming back home, that in fact, he was fleeing into exile. What the three have in common is the fact that they are all Lomwes and from Mutharika’s home.
While Malawi has its fair share of dim-witted civil servants who take any order, even if it means killing ministers as in the case of the Mwanza Four where uniformed police officers bludgeoned to death Aaron Gadama, Dick Matenje, John Twaibu Sangala and David Chiwanga without knowing who actually was giving the order in May 1983, apparently well-read men and women have no qualm playing that role again.
But I thought the Chief Justice had learnt something from the death of the three cabinet ministers and the legislator; and also the vast experience from the International Criminal Tribunal of Sierra Leone where Simone Hinger Martin died mysterious.
The newly-appointed and ethnically-selected Inspector General of Police Peter Mukhito Phiri completes the devious ring which has shown already that the justice system is nothing more than a gate-keeper at best and a knuckle-duster to break the heads of Mutharika’s rivals of which target number one is Muluzi, the other is John Tembo and not forgetting several smaller fish that hang around these leaders.
The state president seems decided to take over and substitute Muluzi in every aspect. The Lonrho house was Muluzi’s property and one can guess for sure that the interest in BCA property which Muluzi bought in the late 80’s could have sinister intents.
Let’s ask ourselves the Keza property went through a court process up to the supreme court why should one unwind the process at a kangaroo court sitting at 10 pm ex-parte?
Denying Muluzi medical attention for an illness that developed from campaigning for presidency speaks volumes about how we as a society are so sick in our minds and very vengeful. What would happen if Muluzi died before he goes for medical attention in UK, will the callous trio (Nampota, Thodi and Manyungwa) accept responsibility?
The theory that Muluzi would run away is diabolical and indeed stupid because people like Muluzi, Tembo, Henry Phoya, Ralph Kasambara, and BJ do not to fly from Chileka airport to leave this country because Malawi has open borders and these individuals have huge connections where jets could come and fly them to wherever they want to go.
They don’t even need passports let alone permission from anyone but they will not run away because they are not cowards. It also wrong for Manyungwa, Thodi and Nampota to think that this category of individuals has no friends outside this country. Let us be reasonable and remember that no too long ago from today some of the rulers will be subject of the same treatment and will be nobody’s, out of power.
The other advice to the rulers of today is that what goes round comes round and there is an old adage which says ‘do onto others what you want them do onto you.’
The rulers of today are busy accumulating a lot of property and wealth; it would be very sad if future rulers would want to grab this wealth because some have decently worked for it. My advice without condoning corruption would be let us tread carefully so that tomorrow overzealous people do not take away several farms that we have now.
Some of us are also worried that by default there is a development of built an elaborate network of patronage based on ethnic extraction.
Today Malawi is controlled by a small section of the society. The President is from Thyolo so are Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo, Chief Immigration officer Elvis Thodi, Director of ACB Alex Nampota, Chair of Electoral Commission Anastasia Msosa, Inspector General of Police Mukhito, CEO Admarc Thyolo Charles Matabwa, CEO Escom Thyolo, Masaf Thyolo, Auction Holdings Thyolo, MBC Director Thyolo, Minister of Justice Thyolo, Attorney General Thyolo, and the list can go on and on.
Companies doing business with government especially large contracts have directors from the same ethnic extraction. Malawi is a very poor country and the only source of survival is dependent on government for employment, business and for provision of social services so if this government is dominated by one minority tribe we are setting a time bomb that may not explode now but will one day do so.
One needs to remind Malawians of what happened when our brothers from the north dominated the social-economic fabric particularly education. It reached a stage when the John Tembo of today and his colleagues went to town on them and since then they’ve never recovered from the trauma.
The same happened to Kamuzu’s passionate followers most of who have not recovered from the shock of multipartysm. The Muslim brothers who overcrowded the public works during Muluzi’s time are still licking their wounds. Let us not repeat the same mistakes and the mistake we’re growing now will be costly because it will focus on a very small group which today has taken it upon themselves to be embodiment of Malawi.
It is about time Malawi should grow out of politics of vengeance and flogging a dead horse.
Muluzi and all that served in his regime are no longer a threat to Mutharika’s government but they should be allowed to live a peaceful life because retirees of Mutharika’s regime will also need to live their own peaceful lives.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, MALAWI, TRIBALISM
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I've reconciled with Mutharika, claims Muluzi
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 1:43:26 AM
FORMER Malawian president Bakili Muluzi has said he has reconciled with his successor and re-elected President Bingu wa Mutharika.
And Muluzi said his United Democratic Front (UDF) party's electoral alliance with losing opposition presidential candidate John Tembo's Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ended the day electoral results were announced.
In a telephone interview from Blantyre in Malawi, Muluzi said he had reconciled with President Wa Mutharika and forgot the past to enable the country move forward.
"Whether it's the Bible, it's the Quran, it teaches about reconciliation, isn't it? As a nation, people must reconcile. You can't keep on quarrelling, particularly we the elder ones we need to show a sign of reconciliation so that the younger ones can learn from us," said Muluzi, who is a Muslim. "For people to say that President Mutharika was my bitterest enemy I think it is wrong. The only difference is that he belonged to another party and I belonged to another party but to say he was my bitterest enemy it's not correct."
He said he had always been talking to President Wa Mutharika contrary to the public's misconception.
"We talked even at the time when he was in his own party, I was in my own party. I am in my own party and he is in his own party but to have different political parties should not be a source of division or hatred; I don't believe in that and therefore we should not have multiparty, let us have one party because we will always differ anyway in terms of policies, all kind of things and somebody who believes in democracy myself I think that we have to create an atmosphere of tolerance. I think the word tolerance is very important," Muluzi said.
"Talking about his re-election, immediately after we knew that he was winning, as the former president of this country I thought I should lead the way by conveying my congratulation to him personally and we spoke on the phone, I wished him well and yesterday [Friday] I did attend his inauguration. I thought that we should be moving forward, not looking back. We need to look forward."
He said, as somebody who fought for introduction of multipartism in Malawi in 1994, he believed in democracy.
"Democracy means one wins and one loses. So that is my comment about the re-election of President Mutharika. As for the elections themselves, I don't know. I just heard just the way you have heard about the results," Muluzi said.
On his alliance partner, Tembo whom he vigorously campaigned for but after losing last Tuesday's elections he plans to petition against the electoral results, Muluzi said he was not party to Tembo's plans to challenge the results in court.
"First of all I don't want to be speaking on his behalf because he has got his own political party that is Malawi Congress Party, I have my own political party. What we had was what we call an electoral alliance, an electoral alliance ends the day the results are announced and so I don't know, I made up my mind that we would want to move on as a country," Muluzi said.
"A loss is painful but when you lose you have to go on because elections come and go. So I don't want to speak on behalf of honourable Tembo."
Muluzi said Tembo was free to petition against the results.
"He [Tembo] wants to challenge the results and I think that is his right to do so but as for me I thought that maybe let us forget the past and let us move forward," Muluzi said.
On the arrest and the court's denial of bail to his top aide - Humphrey Mvula, Muluzi confirmed that Mvula was in custody at Chichiri Prison though he did not have full details of the offence the spokesperson of the UDF and its alliance partners was alleged to have committed.
"Yes it's true. I was also told. In fact I was just speaking to his son just 20 minutes ago. What I have been informed is that it is in connection with elections; I don't know what it is, honestly. I have not met him yet. I spoke to his wife two days ago, she was saying that his house was searched and the police picked him up, he has been held at Chichiri Prison," said Muluzi.
"I thought that after the elections we should be forgetting the past. These arrests sometimes are not good for the country."
Muluzi, who served as president of Malawi between 1994 and 2004, handpicked President Wa Mutharika to succeed him after his third term bid collapsed in 2004.
However, shortly after Wa Mutharika ascended to power he differed with Muluzi after the new President's anti corruption crusade led to the arrest of the former president on alleged corruption charges.
Due to continued political pressure exerted on him by Muluzi's supporters over his arrest of the former president, President Wa Mutharika left the UDF in February 2005 at the brink of expulsion from the party and formed Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Muluzi's bid to contest the presidency in the May 19, 2009 elections failed after the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) disqualified him, a decision which was backed by Malawi's Constitutional Court, on grounds that he had already served the maximum two five-year terms of office in line with the Constitution.
Thereafter, Muluzi formed an eleventh-hour electoral alliance with Tembo aimed at dislodging President Wa Mutharika from power.
On April 12, in an interview with The Post, Muluzi declared: "Mutharika must go!"
"We feel that a combination of two big political parties in this country will bring in the results which will see President Mutharika not winning the elections," Muluzi had said.
On May 14, Muluzi told The Post that the combination between him and Tembo was a big threat to President Wa Mutharika and the DPP in the elections hence the governing party supporters were trying to block him from holding campaign rallies.
During his presidency, Muluzi's government prosecuted Tembo over the alleged murder of four politicians during the tyrannical regime of the late president Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
Muluzi and Tembo were never close allies until when they formed a 'marriage of convenience' electoral alliance in late March, just a month before the May 19 general elections.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, ELECTIONS, MALAWI
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Malawi opposition candidate confident of beating Wa Mutharika
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
MALAWI Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate John Tembo has said former president Bakili Muluzi’s endorsement of his candidature has increased his chances of winning next month’s presidential elections.
In a telephone interview from Malawi on Monday following Muluzi’s withdrawal from the presidential race and subsequent endorsement of his candidacy over the weekend, Tembo said the alliance between Muluzi’s United Democratic Front (UDF) and MCP was a formidable combination that would ensure that he wins the elections and become Malawi’s next president. “This is good because he is endorsing on behalf of the UDF party,” Tembo said.
Asked if Muluzi’s endorsement had increased his chances of winning the elections, Tembo responded: “I had higher chances already, this adds to it. It’s a formidable combination now.”
Tembo dismissed assertions that the coalition was a “marriage of convenience”.
On President Bingu Wa Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s statement that the formation of a coalition between the two opposition political parties was not a threat to the governing party, Tembo said he did not expect the DPP to speak good about him and his party.
“The DPP is my opponent; how can my opponent comment favourably about me? No! They are not expected to say anything good about me,” said 77-year-old Tembo.
After the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) last month disqualified Muluzi from contesting the presidential election, he opted to form an electoral alliance with Tembo who will be the presidential candidate for the alliance in the May 19, 2009 presidential elections.
Tembo was the top advisor to the late first president of Malawi Dr Hastings Kazumu Banda and served in several ministerial portifolios since independence in 1964 to 1994.
During the 2004 elections, Tembo who was the presidential candidate for the late Banda’s MCP party came second from President Bingu Wa Mutharika who had contested the presidency on the then Republican president Muluzi’s governing UDF party ticket.
President Wa Mutharika differed with Muluzi over the head of state’s anti corruption crusade because the latter was arrested on corruption charges.
Since then, Muluzi and President Wa Mutharika have been bitter rivals, as a result Wa Mutharika resigned from Muluzi’s UDF and formed his own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Muluzi is still appearing in court on corruption charges.
As presidential candidate for the MCP/UDF presidential candidate, Tembo is expected to be the main opponent of President Wa Mutharika in the May 19 presidential election which is also being contested for by five other candidates including a woman.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, JOHN TEMBO, MCP
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Mutharika isn’t a puppet president for Muluzi, says Malawian minister
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 3:26:10 AM
MUTHARIKA is not a puppet president for Muluzi, Malawi's transport minister and governing DPP secretary general Chimunthu Banda has charged. Reacting to former president of Malawi Bakili Muluzi's statement that he felt betrayed by his successor Bingu wa Mutharika and that the latter must be voted out during next month's presidential elections, Banda said the former president had mistaken himself before Wa Mutharika became President thinking that he would be his puppet because he campaigned for him.
"Suffice to mention that in any country once a head of state is elected he assumes the role of any other head of state and he performs as is befitting any head of state," said Banda in a telephone interview from Lilongwe in Malawi on Monday. "He [President Mutharika] is not a puppet of any person at whatever level their relationship was and I think it will be unfair for Dr Bakili Muluzi to think Dr Bingu wa Mutharika would be a puppet president just because he campaigned for him to become head of state."
He said Muluzi's statement was out of bitterness.
"Certainly it is sour grapes because you are looking at a person [Muluzi] who wanted to rule Malawi beyond the constitutional two-term, you are also looking at a person who thought that by bringing in Dr Mutharika, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika would be a puppet president and therefore one would certainly say this is more of sour grapes than rational thinking on the part of Dr Muluzi," said Banda, who is also leader of the Malawian Parliament. "If you were to come to Malawi, you would see how the country has changed within the five years Dr Mutharika has been in office."
He claimed that everybody appreciates what President Mutharika had done to Malawi and where he had put Malawi within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and in Africa.
"Therefore, one would not be looking at Bingu as a failure who needs to be removed. Bingu needs to do his two constitutional terms and put Malawi where everybody else would expect the country to be at," Banda said.
He said Muluzi's quest to return to the presidency was historical in Malawi.
"You will recall that towards the end of Dr Bakili Muluzi's term of office, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika was not there he was at the Reserve Bank of Malawi, Dr Muluzi tried to run again. Initially by tabling an Open-ended term of Office bill, which got defeated in Parliament and some of the people who worked so hard to have the bill not passed were people from UDF side itself," Banda explained. "After he failed, Dr Muluzi brought in a Third Term bill because he thought that the first one was rejected because it was thought to bring back life-presidency. So he said let's have a bill for three terms only. When it was on the verge of being defeated in Parliament and when there was uproar throughout the country that bill was also smartly withdrawn from Parliament."
He said now people were still using the same reasons that they used to reject Muluzi's open-ended term of office and Third Term bills in Parliament to oppose his attempts to re-contest the elections for the presidency.
"People have gone back to the [Muluzi's opposition United Democratic Front] UDF Constitution and manifesto; the manifesto of 1993 is very clear, it says: 'the president of UDF shall run for two terms only and he shall not run for the third term of office.' That is not Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, it is a document prepared by the UDF itself," Banda explained. "Therefore, it is very unfair for the former president to attach whatever is happening now to his candidature to Dr Bingu Wa Mutharika. It will be very unfair."
He said President Wa Mutharika had not influenced the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in any way to bar Muluzi from standing in the May 19 presidential elections.
"The electoral commission which is an independent body has made its pronouncements," said Banda. "All in all election campaigns are going on very well and all political parties have been given a go-ahead by the Malawi Electoral Commission to start their campaigns and campaigners are going all over the country."
On Sunday, Muluzi told The Post that President Wa Mutharika must go.
"He [Mutharika] is the man who was voted in by the UDF, United Democratic Front; he leaves the party in a very abnormal manner. You don't leave a party that ushered you into power. To me there is no personal difference with Mutharika. It's just because of his personal conduct that is why I am very disgusted with whatever happened; come the next election he must go," Muluzi said. "Of course we feel betrayed. Yes, I feel very much betrayed."
The MEC disqualified Muluzi on March 20, 2009 from contesting the elections on the basis that he already served his limit two five-year-term from 1994 to 2004 and is ineligible to stand for the presidency.
However, Muluzi, who was widely expected to be President Wa Mutharika's main opponent in the election, is challenging the MEC's decision in court arguing that after serving for two consecutive terms he had a break therefore he is eligible to stand as a presidential candidate.
Muluzi's UDF party is negotiating with John Tembo's opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to form an electoral coalition aimed at defeating President Mutharika, who is re-contesting his position under his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Six male and one female candidate are contesting the May 19, 2009 presidential elections in Malawi.
Among the contenders are President Wa Mutharika [DPP], Tembo [MCP], James Nyondo [independent], Loveness Gondwe [National Rainbow Coalition], Stanley Masauli [Republican Party], Dindi Gowa Nyasulu [Alliance for Democracy] and Kamuzu Chibambo [PETRA].
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA
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Mutharika must go – Muluzi
Written by Chibaula Silwamba
Monday, April 13, 2009 4:04:51 AM
FORMER president of Malawi Bakili Muluzi yesterday said he feels betrayed by his successor Bingu Wa Mutharika and vowed that “Mutharika must go” after next month's elections.
In a telephone interview from Lilongwe in Malawi, Muluzi, whose presidential candidature for the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) is shrouded in uncertainty after the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) disqualified him, said his party was working with other opposition political parties to ensure that President Mutharika was voted out of power.
“He [Mutharika] is the man who was voted in by the UDF, United Democratic Front; he leaves the party in a very abnormal manner. You don't leave a party that ushered you into power. To me there is no personal difference with Mutharika. It's just because of his personal conduct that is why I am very disgusted with whatever happened; come the next election he must go,” Muluzi said. “I am saying we in the opposition are so determined that come the next elections he must go as President of this country.”
Asked if he felt betrayed by Mutharika's opposition to his candidature, Muluzi responded: “Of course we feel betrayed. I mean how would you feel yourself? I mean here is the man who came into power through our party, and that you create a party through a window. I mean it is never done anywhere. So, not only me, but I am talking about the supporters of UDF. Yes, I feel very much betrayed. You don't conduct yourself in that manner.”
Muluzi said his lawyers had filed a fresh application in court to challenge the MEC's decision to disqualify him.
“You might have read or heard that the Malawi Electoral Commission did indeed say that they have disallowed me. My legal team has refused that because it's not true,” Muluzi said. “So that has been argued; it is not correct and it is the duty of the Malawi Electoral Commission to run elections and not to interpret the Constitution. So we have challenged that decision because we think it is not correct. I have filed a fresh application.”
Asked whether his party's decision to start negotiations with John Tembo's opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for a possible formation of an electoral alliance is an indication that he will withdraw his candidature and support Tembo, Muluzi said that was not the aim.
“It doesn't mean that. But we must be talking as political parties. We are talking and see how we can work together. There is a technical team we have appointed from both parties and that technical team is meeting to discuss how this thing is going to work,” Muluzi said. “We feel that a combination of two big political parties in this country will bring in the results which will see President Mutharika not winning the elections. There is no way the UDF and MCP can have a working relationship and lose the election. It's not possible. This is a very formidable alliance between the two political parties.”
But Muluzi's top aide Humphrey Mvula disclosed that he was likely to withdraw from the race and support Tembo considering the short time remaining before elections.
“Obviously given the time frame which we have the possibility and the most likely situation is John Tembo to be presidential candidate in the elections. John Tembo would be a presidential candidate,” said Mvula, who is UDF's national director of research, in a telephone interview from Lilongwe. “Yes, the gist of the discussions is about working out an electoral coalition where the two parties can work together in the election from a common premise or common stand, to field one candidate.”
He said if the court ruled that Muluzi could not stand then Tembo would be the candidate for the electoral coalition.
“This coalition is the biggest,” said Mvula. “We have a lot of members of UDF and cannot boycott the elections.”
Presidential candidates for Malawi's May 19, 2009 elections include the only female Loveness Gondwe (New Rainbow Coalition), Mutharika (DPP), Tembo (MCP), James Nyondo (independent), Stanley Masauli (Republican Party), Dindi Gowa Nyasulu (Alliance for Democracy) and Kamuzu Chibambo ( PETRA).
Muluzi, who was the main opponent of President Mutharika in the elections, was disqualified on March 20, 2009 by the MEC because he has already served as president of Malawi for two consecutive terms.
However, Muluzi is challenging the MEC's decision in court arguing that after serving for two consecutive terms he could re-contest the presidency because he had a break.
Malawi will also hold parliamentary elections on the same day.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA
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Female candidates and the politics of regionalism
Steve Shara
17 March, 2009 12:36:00
With two months to go before Malawians vote in presidential and parliamentary elections on May 19th, 2009, the soup du jour has evolved around two developments, the recent arrest and release on bail, on embezzlement charges, of former president Dr. Bakili Muluzi, and the visits of an African Union delegation of two former African presidents. These developments have overshadowed a major breakthrough that has changed the political landscape for women candidates in Malawi politics.
In the first development, Dr. Muluzi already served two terms from 1994 to 2004, but he claims the constitution allows him to run again, a claim that has received mixed reactions in the country.
In the second, former presidents of Ghana and Mozambique, John Kuffour and Joachim Chissano, are attempting, unjustifiably, according to the blog Chingweshole, to prevent what they fear might be a potential violent conflict in the run up to the elections and possibly in the aftermath.
However, eclipsed behind all this drama are two breakthroughs that in early February everyone was talking about as two Malawian firsts: a woman running mate on a major presidential ticket, and another woman as a presidential candidate in her own right. The two women are Hon. Joyce Hilda Banda, currently serving as Malawi's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hon. Loveness Gondwe, a member of parliament and president of the newly formed, break-away New Rainbow Coalition Party.
While Hon. Loveness Gondwe's candidacy had been speculated about and expected, it was the choice of Hon. Joyce Banda that shook the country when the incumbent president Dr Bingu wa Mutharika presented his nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission on February 6th, and it became known that the Hon. Joyce Hilda Banda would be Dr. Mutharika's running mate.
This was after names of running mates for the main contenders had become a much-discussed guessing game in which it appeared each of the candidates was unsure who to choose, waiting to see who the other would pick first. It was a “stage-managed” and “secretive” process, according to blogger Boniface Dulani.
Much of the speculation on who was going to be Dr. wa Mutharika's running mate centered around Malawi's Minister of Finance, Hon. Goodall Gondwe, a highly respected economist and former International Monetary Fund (IMF) official widely regarded as the brains behind Malawi's economic and agricultural turn-around since 2004, alongside Dr. wa Mutharika himself.
Hon. Goodall Gondwe was recently awarded a prize as the best performing finance minister in Africa in 2008. Adding to the anticipation was the fact that Hon. Goodall Gondwe comes from the northern region of Malawi, seen as historically marginalized given its relatively smaller population compared to Malawi's two other regions, the center and the south.
Malawi's first president, Dr. Hasting Kamuzu Banda, came from the central region, where political power was concentrated throughout his 30 year rule.
From 1994 to 2004 the center for power shifted to the southern region, where erstwhile president Dr. Bakili Muluzi, hails from. Current president Bingu wa Mutharika, who comes from the southern region, is seen as having given the northern region a much-denied political boost, with Goodall Gondwe's finance portfolio being seen as one such example. It was therefore a point of much debated anticipation as to whether Mutharika was going to select a northerner as his running mate.
Reactions to the news created a heated debate especially on Internet forums, where it was quickly observed that Dr. wa Mutharika's choice of Hon. Joyce Banda was a departure from the norm in which the vice president since 2004 has always been from a region other than the president's. Some also saw it as a betrayal of the northern region, a loyal constituency.
Blogger-Journalist Bright Sonani observed: “Its no longer a secret. The Livingstonia Synod of the CCAP has finally come out in the open expressing disappointment over President Bingu wa Mutharika’s choice of Joyce Banda as his running mate instead of Finance Minister Goodall Gondwe, whose name was at the centre of debate as the likely person to pair up with the DPP leader.”
Some claimed the president had played a “regionalistic card”, while others suggested that the president was being pragmatic as well as promoting gender equality, noting that in fact Hon. Joyce Banda's husband, former Chief Justice Richard Banda, is himself a northerner.
Other reactions focused on her achievements and rise to influence, observing that she was the 1997 recipient, together with then Mozambican president Joachim Chissano, of the Africa Leadership Prize, awarded by the New York-based Hunger Project.
The blog Malawi Politics went on to add that: “This appointment follows service as a Member of Parliament and Minister for Gender, Children's Affairs and Community Services where she fought for Malawi's recently enacted Domestic Violence Bill, which had failed for seven years previously. In addition, she designed the National Platform for Action on Orphans and Vulnerable Children and the Zero Tolerance Campaign against Child Abuse.”
The Honorable Joyce Banda has advanced legislation and generated educational opportunities to assure the economic well-being of countless women and girls and forever changed Malawi.
But for blogger Isaac Ziba, a self-identifying northerner himself, it did not matter that Hon. Joyce Banda came from the south. Ziba saw the move as part of a much needed “exorcism” the country needs to undergo to get rid of the “regionalism” mentality:
“I, for one, am happy with the pick of Joyce Banda as running mate of and to President Dr Bingu wa Muntharika in the forthcoming general elections. This is because I totally believe that Malawi can and should be one and Malawi can be treated as one country – with only one fragment – Malawi.
“There are those that think Malawi can only be represented if Malawi has three fragments – the North, the Centre and the South. We have tried this platform for ages on end – it is not working for our people – and we do need - not just a paradigm shift but a paradigm change in the way we do not only our politics but our national endeavours as well – including on the development front.”
Mzati Nkolokosa, another blogger-journalist, identifies himself as not coming from the north by listing his friends who are from the north, in a post titled “My Friends from the North.”
He says his generation, aged between 25 and 35, is ushering in a new Malawi which looks at ideas rather than region. He points out that sports in Malawi is currently dominated by administrators from the north, but Malawians of his generation have no problem with that, as long as they are delivering the goods:
“My generation does not care that Mutharika and Banda are from the South just as we don’t mind that Sports Minister Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Fam president Walter Nyamirandu, Fam CEO Charles Nyirenda, Fam administrative officer Sugzo Nyirenda and Flames coach Kinnah Phiri are from the North.
“Whether they hold their meetings in Tumbuka or Tonga, my generation does not care. All we care is that they have delivered and continue to do so. They have turned the Flames from perpetual losers to winners. They are in their positions on merit, not based on place.—Global Voices
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, REGIONALISM
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Malawi govt counter Muluzi on Gaza
Praise Liomba 13 January, 2009 01:49:00
Air raids and clashes were reported across the Gaza Strip killing over 800 people
Malawi government has said by not commenting against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, it does not mean that it was not paying attention to the suffering Palestines.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Henry Mumba said government would comment about the situation at an appropriate time. Mumba’s comment follows former president Bakili Muluzi who called on President Bingu wa Mutharika and the government of Malawi to condemn the killings of over 800 people.
Muluzi told a public meeting in Mulanje district on Sunday that Malawi and any country that values human rights, must condemn the killings.
But deputy minister of foreign affairs said the issues about foreign policies are sensitive.
"As former Head of State, Dr. Muluzi is aware of how government operates. Issues about foreign policies are quite sensitive. We cannot just speak out on issues for the sake of it," said Mumba.
State House Press Officer Chikumbutso Mtumodzi also said Muluzi’s call was misplaced and motivated by his Islamic faith.
Many people around the world have protested and accused the Israeli Government of unleashing terror in Gaza and killing hundreds of people since the attacks began on December 27, 2008.
Muluzi expressed sadness that since the raids started, the government of Malawi has not spoken out, a move he said is denting the country's record on human rights.
"Am very much moved by the situation in Gaza. Deaths of young children and defenseless women in that area are very shocking. What crime has these people committed?
“And while the rest of Africa countries are renting their voices and weight behind the suffering Palestines, Malawi government is quiet. This silence is very disturbing and is costing a lot," said Muluzi.
Meanwhile, AP reports that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is embarking on a Mideast tour to press for Israel and Hamas to immediately stop fighting and allow humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian territory.
Ban said he plans to step up diplomatic efforts to get both sides to adhere to a U.N. cease-fire resolution calling for an end to Israel's air and ground offensive in Gaza and Hamas' rocketing of southern Israel.
"To both sides, I say: Just stop, now," the U.N. chief told a news conference. "Too many people have died. There has been too much civilian suffering. Too many people, Israelis and Palestinians, live in daily fear of their lives."
The secretary-general leaves New York Tuesday and will meet senior officials in Egypt and Jordan Wednesday, then head to Israel, the Palestinian-controlled West Bank, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria and Kuwait where he said an Arab League summit may add an extra session to tackle the Gaza conflict.
His itinerary does not include a stop in Gaza because of the ongoing conflict.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, HENRY MUMBA, ISRAEL
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Muluzi pledges rescue operation for Malawi
11 January, 2009 09:13:00
Muluzi:Costs of goods and services are much higher and not affordable because prices have gone way up despite the claim that the economy is doing well.
Presidential hopeful, Dr Bakili Muluzi has assured Malawians that when the new UDF government comes into being after May 19 polls it will improve education with introduction of free-phased secondary education.
Muluzi told thousands of supporters in Mulanje South constituency on Sunday that the UDF manifesto would focus on education, job creation, health, food security and rural development.
Muluzi said free primary education will continue with emphasis on quality education and that his government will introduce free-phased secondary education.
“The UDF-led government introduced Free Primary Education in 1994 and enrolment increased from 1.9 million to about 3.2 million. Primary schools increased in number from 3,216 in 1994 to 4,915 in 2003.
“The UDF-led government ensured that there were secondary schools in every district and the number of secondary schools increased from 104 secondary schools in 1994 to 840 secondary schools in 2003,” he pointed out.
He also pledged that free fertiliser will be given to vulnerable.
“UDF has a history of performance. We promised starter pack, we delivered. The UDF constructed and rehabilitated many roads and brought about new information and communication technologies such as cellular phones, television and private FM radio stations,” he said.
“The UDF-led government renewed Girls Attainment in Basic Literacy Education (GABLE) Project in 1995. We increased female enrolment in the university from 268 in 1994 to 1,116 in 2003.
“The Medical College opened its doors to training our own doctors; and the Nursing College started training graduate nurses.“ Mzuzu University, Livingstonia University, Share World Open University, African Bible College, Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ) were established. TEVETA was established to enhance skills and vocational training, whilst continuing to run seven well equipped technical colleges,” Muluzi said and noted that Mutharika promised two universities but none has opened.
Muluzi, who is idolized by the poor, told the rally that costs of goods and services are much higher and not affordable because prices have gone way up despite the claim that the economy is doing well.
The economy has been under serious political interference as President Mutharika has been completely immersed himself in staying in power by falsifying the truth about the economy.
He said it will be imperative for the new UDF government to look for ways of making “people-friendly economic growth to be accompanied by faster job creation" as unemployment continued to cripple the country.
Muluzi told the cheering crowd dressed in yellow T-shirts bearing pictures of his smiling face that the gap between the rich and the poor continue to widen and he said he is determined for a “rescue operation”.
An inspired Muluzi told the cheering crowd that he was confident of victory in the May 19 polls and that his new administration will strive to improve trade policies that that should enrich the poor.
He also said fighting crime will also be a priority to his government and said there will be more recruitment of police officials and better treatment to their welfare.
Muluzi pointed out that during his period, the government completed projects of Chilomoni Secondary School, Bangwe Secondary, Ndirande Hill View Secondary School, and Lirangwe Secondary School, and among others but the DPP government has deliberately chosen not to inaugurate with a view to claim ownership and in order to down play his achievements.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, DEVELOPMENT
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Call to help avert Malawi food crisis
Josh Ashaz
29 December, 2008 02:09:00
Malawi former president Bakili Muluzi has appealed to the international aid organizations to assist the nation as it is gripped with hunger following reports of shortage of grain and people dying of starvation.
The former head of state made the appeal during a public meeting he held in Zomba City, about 60 kms away from the commercial capital, Blantyre.
"I would like to make a special appeal to international community to assist Malawi as soon as possible," said Muluzi, who was speaking to a soaked crowd at Mponda freedom park who spent over two hours in rains.
The former president accused President Bingu wa Mutharika saying he is not prepared to admit that the country is in food crisis.
He said in his inaugural speech, Mutharika promised to turn Malawi into a paradise within a short period of time but has failed to do so.
"Today he tells us we have maize to feed ourselves for five years when some people are dying isn't this a mockery?" wondered Muluzi.
“People are struggling to live. Maize is not available,” he said.
UDF alliance torchbearer told the crowd that in his time they were honest enough to come out right on food situation to save the people's lives.
He said if government is not willing to swallow its pride and save people, the opposition could take the task and ask for food donations from well wishers abroad.
Muluzi also bashed government for using coupon system for the fertilizer subsidy programme.
He said coupons which are purchased on national budget through tax payers money are distributed discriminatory to only members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
Muluzi pledged to halt the system when he forms government in May and replace it with what he said universal fertilizer subsidy.
Hinting on his electoral pledge, Muluzi said if elected into power in May, he will revert to the old policy of pension calculations for civil servants.
“I will ensure that we improve pension scheme as our first priority in May so that pensioners should live a decent post-retirement life,” said Muluzi.
He also said the new UDF administration would enhance academic education where more teachers will be employed and well remunerated, open more schools and provide proper learning facilities.
Muluzi. who introduced free primary education when he assumed power in 1994, said the programme will not be compromised as his government will ensure quality education.
He bemoaned President Mutharika’s conduct of denigrating University lectures saying they form the most important component of learning and should be properly looked after.
Muluzi also talked about establishing small business development fund and also creation of additional jobs through agro-procession.
The UDF presidential candidate maintained his call for government to reduce fuel prices in line with global trends.
This was the first rally by Muluzi since his return from a private visit in Britain.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, FOOD, HUNGER, MALAWI
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'There's nothing laughable about Muluzi's arrest'
By Maluba Jere
Saturday May 31, 2008 [04:00]
MALAWIAN information minister Patricia Kaliati has said that country's former president Bakili Muluzi's comment over his arrest is rubbish. Commenting on Muluzi's recent statement that his arrest on allegations that he connived with security chiefs to overthrow President Bingu Wa Mutharika early this month was rubbish and alaughable matter, Kaliati said there was nothing political and laughable about his arrest.
"He was president for 10 years and during that time people were arrested. What was political about those arrests? Now because he is arrested it becomes political," she said.
Kaliati said during his 10-year rule, Muluzi had an opportunity to address problems faced by Malawians but he failed.
"During his 10-year rule the MCP Malawi Congress Party gave him time but he failed. He should know that he's not the only person who went to school," she said.
"So why should he think he's the only one who can rule Malawi? And so, him saying that his arrest is a laughable matter is rubbish."
Kaliati advised Muluzi to learn from other retired presidents such as South Africa's Nelson Mandela, and not cling to power.
Asked to comment on Muluzi's claims that he was arrested because President Wa Mutharika was scared of meeting him in the next elections, Kaliati said there was no need for the President to be afraid of Muluzi because he was not a contender as far as the Malawian Constitution was concerned.
"Why should he even talk about standing? He had his own 10 years to improve the lives of the people," she said.
"We are not scared of him. He failed to address the real issues affecting the people and so he should just let Dr Wa Mutharika rule. We don't want lifelong presidents. He ruled for 10 years and that's it."
But when asked why a warrant was not issued at the time of Muluzi's arrest, Kaliati asked: "Was he not coming from abroad? So what warrant is he talking about?"
Muluzi, upon arrival from the UK last Sunday, was placed under house arrest on allegations that he connived with security chiefs to overthrow President Wa Mutharika early this month.
Malawian Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Ernest Malenga said state security was investigating Muluzi on the alleged coup plot but he was yet to be formally charged.
But Muluzi last Wednesday described his arrest as rubbish and a laughable matter.
He denied having plotted a coup to overthrow President Wa Mutharika, whom he described as a scared man.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI
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Muluzi explains coup allegations to The Post
By Abigail Chaponda
Wednesday May 28, 2008 [04:00]
FORMER Malawian president Bakili Muluzi yesterday described his arrest as rubbish.
In a telephone interview from Malawi, Muluzi said his arrest was a laughable matter and that he was not scared of President Bingu Wa Mutharika. "Dr Wa Mutharika is a scared man. It is a segment of imagination coming from a scared President who is afraid of the next elections. He is afraid of me because he knows that he can't stand with me in the election. That is why he ordered that I should be arrested. Let him do what he wants, I'm not scared," Muluzi said.
He denied allegations that he plotted a coup against President Wa Mutharika, saying issues that were non-existent were being brought up to intimidate him.
"I am not going to be intimidated by whatever Dr Wa Mutarika is going to do or say. He can't stand with me and I can assure you that he is a scared man," Muluzi said, adding that he was not a person who could easily be intimidated by anyone.
He said he was a man of vision who would not lose focus regardless of what President Wa Mutharika did. Muluzi argued that there was no way a person could be arrested without a warrant. He said the officers that approached him at the time of his arrest at the airport in Lilongwe did not issue him with a warrant.
"How can you arrest someone without a warrant, tell me? I don't buy what they are doing because they are afraid of me, and can you imagine that they have told me that I'm under house arrest without giving me an order? How can this be possible?" Muluzi asked.
However, Muluzi said he would meet President Wa Mutarika at the next elections.
Muluzi, upon arrival from holiday in the UK on Sunday, was placed under house arrest on allegations that he connived with security chiefs to overthrow President Bingu Wa Mutharika early this month. He was flown in a military aircraft from Lilongwe to Blantyre for detention at his residence.
And according to Malawi's Daily Times, police in Blantyre on Monday interrogated Muluzi in connection with the alleged plot to overthrow President Wa Mutharika.
Head of Criminal Investigations Unit (CID) David Nyondo led a team of four police officers who went to Muluzi's home at his BCA Hill residence where he is under house arrest.
One of Muluzi's lawyers Jai Banda said in an interview that the four officers faced Muluzi around 15:00 hours together with his team of four lawyers who included himself, Ralph Kasambara, Fahad Assani and David Kanyenda.
"They based their interrogation on the same document, which was dismissed by the court during the bail application for the other treason suspects," said Banda.
He confirmed that Muluzi denied all the allegations against him in connection to the coup plot, including knowledge on the document that was presented to him.
Banda added that the four officers also linked one of Muluzi's lawyers, Kasambara, to the treason case, and promised that they would come for him at an appropriate time.
The Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday confirmed that Muluzi was effectively under house arrest and that his BCA residence had been sealed off.
Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Ernest Malenga said state security was investigating Muluzi on the alleged coup plot but he was yet to be formally charged.
"Muluzi's arrest is a continuation of arrests in connection to the coup plot. However, let me clearly indicate here that nobody has been formerly charged with treason. There is a misconception that all those that have been arrested have been charged with treason, but that is not true. Yes, I can confirm that Muluzi is under house arrest in connection with the same case but he is yet to be interrogated and enter plea," said Malenga.
There was heavy presence of police at BCA Hill on Monday and nobody was allowed to enter or come near the house.
Those barred from Muluzi's home included his son Atupele who had to take lunch outside the gates of his father's house in view of security officers who are guarding the road leading to the home.
With him was Friday Muluzi, the former president's brother who was told that he needed clearance from the Inspector General of Police to enter Muluzi's residence.
Muluzi's security guards had been disarmed and asked not to come near the former president's residence but instead report at the Police Mobile Service (PMF) B company in Limbe or Southern Region Police headquarters in Blantyre.
According to Banda, police had asked Muluzi to provide a list of close relatives and lawyers who would be allowed to visit him at his residence but that he had not yet done so.
Banda said currently only the lawyers were allowed to visit him.
Two weeks ago, police arrested Muluzi's United Democratic Front (UDF) secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala, former Blantyre City mayor John Chikakwiya, former army commander general Joseph Chimbayo, retired Inspector General of police Joseph Airon, retired commissioner of police Matthews Masoapyola, former boss of the now defunct National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) Chitsulo Gama, serving army brigadiers Marcel Chirwa, Cosgrove Mituka and Juvenalis Mtende in relation to the coup plot
All of the suspects, except Gama, were released last week Tuesday on bail by the High Court in Lilongwe.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, BINGU WA MUTHARIKA, MALAWI
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Bakili Muluzi faces arrest
By Maganizo Fly Mazeze in Lilongwe
Former Malawi president Bakili Muluzi faces arrest for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Muluzi is currently in Britain on a private visit, but police this week arrested top members of his United Democratic Front and serving and retired military officers, accusing them of conspiring with Muluzi.
Those arrested in a pre-dawn raid on Tuesday include former army commander Retired General Joseph Chimbayo, former Inspector General of Police Joseph Aironi, and three top serving army officers, Brigadiers Marcel Chirwa, Cosgrove Mituka and Jack Mtende.
Others are former Mayor of the City of Blantyre John Chikakwiya and the UDF's secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala. On Wednesday evening, heavily armed police officers searched Muluzi's home and demanded guns from his private guards. However, the guards refused to surrender the guns without official instruction from the Inspector General of Police.
Government sources said Muluzi was likely to be arrested when he returns from his private visit towards the end of this month. However, no warrant of arrest has
been issued for Muluzi, who is chairman of the UDF, which recently elected him to stand for re-election as Malawi in polls slated for next year despite having served the maximum two five-year terms as provided for under the country's constitution
The crackdown came hardly two days after President Mutharika, at a church ceremony in the northern part of the country, accused Muluzi of planning a coup using the controversial Section 65 of the constitution that deals with crossing of the floor by parliamentarians.
Mutharika alleged that the former president had taken a hard-line stance on the implementation of Section 65, which could see his minority government losing over 70 legislators who crossed the floor, therefore making it possible for the opposition to impeach him. The president further alleged that Muluzi would then return to take over as Head of State.
The political tension created by the arrests as well as public utterances by Mutharika demonising the opposition have thrown first-ever discussions between government and the opposition on resolving a parliamentary impasse into disarray.
Government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati said in an interview that the truth about the coup plot will be known in court. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Ernest Malenga and the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Henry Phoya both confirmed the arrests but refused to give details.
Malawi army spokesperson Colonel Clement Namalenga said they received communication from the police that some of their officers were wanted for questioning on matters of national security. He refused to be drawn into further discussions. Police spokesperson Willie Mwaluka insisted he had no information about the arrests.
The political tension here was exacerbated after Muluzi was last month elected UDF's presidential candidate for the 2009 general election, even in the face of protests from various commentators that he served his two maximum terms from 1994-2004 as provided for by the Malawi constitution.
The tension further grew when parliament reconvened after an eight-month controversial recess.
The opposition boycotted Parliament for one week but returned two weeks ago and brought the House into total chaos, with no business transacted, hoping that the Speaker of Parliament would be forced to declare vacant seats of the 70 MPs. The section stops an MP from joining another party represented in Parliament if he/she was supported by another during elections.
President Mutharika, after observing there was no progress in the National Assembly, initiated a meeting between the parties, which he chaired. After several days of discussions without breaking the deadlock, Mutharika went on the offensive, accusing the opposition of sticking to their guns that government MPs be fired from the House.
Mutharika, at two public meetings in the past week, said that he had implored upon the opposition to discuss the government business as well as the budget first before asking the Speaker to implement Section 65, to which he said the opposition vehemently refused.
He then threatened to call for a referendum to ask Malawians whether they want Section 65 or the budget, comments that have been dismissed by commentators here as only aimed at fuelling the already fragile political impasse. The parliament stalemate remains as the House continues to be adjourned every day after sitting for less than one hour for the past two weeks.
This is not the first time that Mutharika has accused the opposition and others of treason. In 2004, about five top UDF and government officials were arrested for treason when he accused them of plotting to assassinate him. He later pardoned them.
The president also charged his vice, Cassim Chilumpha in 2005 with treason, alleging that he had hired South African assassins to kill him. Chilumpha is currently under arrest but his case is yet to start. In 2006, two other UDF officials were also arrested for allegedly conspiring to overthrow his government. The courts, however, acquitted them for lack of evidence.
Mutharika's actions over the past few weeks have attracted condemnation from analysts and opposition politicians.
John Tembo, leader of opposition in Parliament who is also president for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), described the demonisation of the opposition by Mutharika as regrettable.
"Malawians will now know who is failing the discussions. Instead of giving chance to the discussions, the president has gone to the public demonising the opposition. The president has always been the problem to resolving many problems rocking the country," Tembo told journalists outside parliament on Monday.
Chairperson of the Council for NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA), an umbrella body for over 300 civic institutions, Reverend MacDonald Sembereka, said it was unfortunate that government and the opposition were failing to reach a compromise on their differences.
"It is now clear that both parties did not go into the discussions with open minds. The problem is that these differences have cost the country a lot in political and economic development. We need to find a solution now," Rev Sembereka said.
The controversial Section 65 states that any MP elected into the House on a party ticket will not join another also represented in the National Assembly. Mutahrika was elected on a UDF ticket but dumped it and formed his own Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Most government ministers defected from other parties, especially the UDF, to join the DPP.
It is these political parties which petitioned the Speaker three years ago to dismiss these MPs. However, the case has moved back and forth in the courts, until last June when the Supreme Court ruled that Section 65 was valid. Speaker Louis Chimango, however, ruled last week that he cannot invoke his powers on Section 65 because some legislators obtained court injunctions restraining him from declaring their seats vacant.
Malawi goes to the polls next year in a presidential and parliamentary election and many commentators fear that should there be no solution to the current stand-off, the road to the election might be a rough one.
Labels: BAKILI MULUZI, MALAWI
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