The Maravi Post

BLANTYRE—Interim president of Democratic Progressive Party Peter Mutharika says Pres Joyce Banda should “accept the responsibility” and stop blaming the current state of economy on late president Bingu wa Mutharika.

Speaking in an interview monitored on ZBS’s Tiuzeni Zowona programme, Mutharika said when his brother was in office, things were better, claiming that in the nine months Pres Banda and her ruling People’s Party (PP) have been in government life has become unbearable.

“President Banda should just accept the responsibility. She is in government. Her administration should stop blaming Bingu for the current state of the economy. She must workout strategies that would help her achieve those colorful promises of hope, economic breakthroughs and prosperity,” he said.

For instance, he said during the time of his brother a litre of petrol was around K300, but today motorist are buying the same litre at K700.

Mutharika also claimed that he is conducting “extensive consultations” for the party to come up with better policies that improve the economy.

He denied allegations that he went to the US and UK to fundraise for the party. Mutharika said he went to the Unites States to see his children and three grandchildren. His visit to the UK was private, he said.

“I went to U.S. to see my three children. They are lawyers and they fail to come home because of the scope of their work. You see, America is different from Malawi; judicial calendar there runs from October to June,’ said Mutharika.

He also observed that DPP is still a strong party and will not join forces or form an alliance with any political party. Mutharika maintained that any member of the party including Henry Chimunthu Banda is free to challenge him at the forthcoming national convention slated for April 19 this year.

When asked if he would pick Chimunthu Banda as his running mate, Mutharika said, “I have never thought of it. It’s too early to start talking about a running mate. Let’s wait for the convention first, in fact the person who will be endorsed as presidential candidate will have, after extensive consultations with senior party officials across the country, mandate to select a running.”

Mutharika denied the allegation that he has an American passport. “I am a Malawian with a Malawian passport. Those are just fabricated stories aimed at destroying my political aspirations,” he said.

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(c) the Maravi Post 2013

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