By: Lloyd M’bwana
The country’s religious and media bodies, Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) and Malawi Chapter of Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA-Malawi) respectively have vehemently slammed President Peter Mutharika over slur remarks made against the Nigerian Prophet T.B Joshua of Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) and Malawi media saying such remarks were not accepted in the this multiparty dispensation era.
President Mutharika on Saturday, March 12, during the ground breaking ceremony of Dae Yang Teaching University hospital in the capital Lilongwe went to town accusing Prophet TB Joshua for always prophesizing the death of President arguing that the man of God was “crooked” and uses “false prophecy to raise money.
Prophet T.B Joshua is reportedly prophesized the death of a certain Southern Africa leader would not finish their term in office and die before April 30, 2016 which some people interpreted that the prophecy was meant for Malawi President Mutharika or Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.
“Let me tell you, TB Joshua and your sister with your evil deeds will fail not what you did in 2012 (for prophesizing the death of his brother-Bingu Wa Mutharika) this time around will not happen.
“If you are a real Prophet of your own class, why did you fail to prophesize the fall of your hotel that killed 90 people? Let me dare you that I’m not dying. I am here as a president up to 2024. And in 2029-the time my term expires, I will campaign for a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate”, dares the 76-year old President Mutharika franked by his deputy Saulos Chilima and Minister of Health Peter Kumpalume.
Mutharika went further accusing the Malawi media for irresponsible reporting saying it was full of “garbage” and that he stopped reading the local press since February this year like what his predecessor Joyce Banda said on the same in 2013.
“For once, let me agree with Joyce Banda when she said was no longer reading Malawian newspapers. I too stopped reading the local newspapers since February 1 this year because it’s full of garbage’s, particularly The Sunday Times’ columns. I watch MBC TV and other international media houses including CNN and Aljazeera”, fumed the angry Mutharika.
The Malawi leader did not spare opposition parties by accusing them of pressuring him to step down that they take the reins of power through the backdoor hinting that he was not resigning till 2019 where he will even beat them through elections.
“Some people want to chase me away. They want me to resign so that they can take over the government through the backdoor because they know they won’t defeat me at a ballot box in 2019. Let me tell you that am not going anywhere. I’m not resigning.
“Although you are coming up with bills in Parliament to trim the president powers, don’t waste your time because I will veto it. Let’s tackle the challenges the nation was facing without pointing fingers at each other”, challenges Mutharika.
The slur remarks on the Nigerian Prophet T.B Joshua have not gone well with EAM through its Secretary General, Reverend Francis Mkandawire urging politicians deceased from commenting on spiritual matters which he said were not in their domain.
“Whilst issues of prophecy might be delicate and sensitive, it’s not right for politicians to comment. Leave them to religious leaders decide and communicate to them. We are worried as a church that the President has stepped over his line and it’s not right to communicate wrong message. He was supposed to leave this matter to his religious advisors to respond who seat together with their counterpart on how best to they could guide the forward not the president making such comments”, worried Mkandawire.
While on the other hand Thom, Khanje Misa Malawi Chairperson described Mutharika’s slur remarks on the media as unfortunate and uncalled for arguing that the media acts a linkage between ordinary people and those in authority for constructive dialogue.
“That’s very unfortunate statement coming from the president as the media speaks for the people such that what’s in the media are voices from the general public and calling such a channel as garbage and would stop reading newspapers. It’s the same saying that the president will stop listening to what his people are saying.
“It’s very unfortunate, regrettable and very bad for him since the nature of his job is surrounded by people he appoints himself whose aim currently is to keep their job not helping the president. They don’t tell the president the truth but rather tell what Mutharika wants to hear. Therefore the media tells the truth on what is happening on the ground with an independent view than advisors.
“What it means now is that the president has closed the way in which people can speak to him indirectly on their concerns, views, problems as the media plays the linkage between President and ordinary Malawians. The public’s concerns including maize shortage, insufficient drugs in public hospitals, teachers low salaries won’t be held by the President who was entrusted with power as the media acts as the mode of communication hence Malawians will continue to suffer”, observed Khanje.
Pressure is daily mounting on President Peter Mutharika to fix the social-economic ills currently Malawians encountering which include maize crisis, insufficient of medical and drugs in public hospitals, high inflation and falling of the Malawi Kwacha which has resulted into skyrocketing prices of goods and services.
End of Life Prophesies – Click Here!
