Category Archives: Politics

Malawi has a multi-party system with over 40 registered political parties.The political process in Malawi is such that parties are voted into power. Parties participate in an electoral process. The parties with the most representation in the National Assembly are the People’s Party (PP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF), and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

President of Malawi

Under the country’s 1966, 1994 and 1995 constitutions, the President is executive head of state. The first President was elected by the National Assembly, but later presidents were elected in direct popular elections for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Vice-President becomes President.

Denotes Vice-President acting as President

?	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Tenure			Elected	Political affiliation (at time of appointment)
?	President (Birth–Death)	Portrait	Took office	Left office	Time in Office	Elected	Political affiliation (at time of appointment)
1	Hastings Banda (1899–1997) ^[1]		6 July 1966	24 May 1994	27 years,319 days			Malawi Congress Party
2	Bakili Muluzi (1942–)		24 May 1994	24 May 2004	10 years,3 days	1994 1999		United Democratic Front
3	Bingu wa Mutharika (1934–2012)		24 May 2004	5 April 2012 (died in office.)	7 years,316 days	2004		United Democratic Front
3	Bingu wa Mutharika (1934–2012)		24 May 2004	5 April 2012 (died in office.)	7 years,316 days	2009		Democratic Progressive Party ^[2]
4	Joyce Banda (1949–)		7 April 2012	31 May 2014	2 years,54 days	–		People’s Party
5	Peter Mutharika (1939–)		31 May 2014	Incumbent	4 years,103 days	2014		Democratic Progressive Party

Standards

Politics, Regional, Top News

US President Trump’s first-year report card: Voters say he’s no genius

2018-01-16 Maravi Post Reporter

WASHINGTON-(MaraviPost)-More voters give Trump a failing grade for his first year as president than think he deserves an “A” or “B,” according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll conducted earlier this month. Trump’s best marks come on the economy, jobs and fighting terrorism. But he gets poor marks for his handling of health care, the national debt and foreign relations.

Overall, 35 percent who would give him an “F” — slightly more than the 34 percent of voters who would give Trump an “A” or “B” grade for his first year. The remaining voters give him a “C” (14 percent) or a barely-passing “D” (11 percent), and 5 percent have no opinion.

The gender gap that marked his election remains wide. Men are more positive toward Trump’s performance thus far: 38 percent give him an “A” or “B,” while 42 percent give him a “D” or “F.” Among female voters, fewer than a third, 31 percent, give Trump an “A” or “B,” while half, 50 percent, think he should get a “D” or “F.”

Perceptions of Trump’s performance also break sharply along partisan lines. More than seven-in-10 Republicans, 72 percent, would give Trump an “A” or “B,” while just 10 percent of Republicans would give Trump a “D” or “F.”

Democrats have a much harsher assessment: 79 percent grade him a “D” or “F,” compared to just 8 percent who give him an “A” or “B.”

Independent voters are also unimpressed. Just 27 percent would give Trump high marks — an “A” or “B” — while roughly twice as many, 45 percent, would give him a “D” or “F.”

Trump’s overall marks were higher the last time the POLITICO/Morning Consult poll asked voters to fill out his report card — as he approached the 100-day mark in April of last year. At that point in his presidency, 39 percent of voters gave him an “A” or “B,” while only 37 percent gave him a “D” or “F.”

But while his overall grades have declined markedly between day-100 and day-365, Republican voters are happier with his performance now, the poll shows.

“Despite a tumultuous first year in office, our polling shows an uptick in Republican voters who think Trump is doing an excellent job as President,” said Morning Consult co-founder and Chief Research Officer Kyle Dropp. “In mid-April, 33 percent of Republicans said they would grade Trump’s presidency an ‘A,’ compared to 43 percent of Republicans who said they would give him the same grade today.”

Trump’s best subject, per his report card, are the economy, jobs and fighting terrorism. With a healthy economy and the Dow Jones industrial average at an all-time high, 42 percent of voters give Trump an “A” or “B” on the economy and jobs. But a considerable number don’t credit him at all — 36 percent give him a “D” or “F.”

On fighting terrorism, his grades are a wash — 39 percent give him an “A” or “B,” the same percentage that gives him a “D” or “F.”

On all other subjects, more voters give Trump low marks than high ones. His worst subject is climate change, the poll shows — hardly a surprise given Trump’s past statements questioning scientists’ conclusions about global warming. Roughly half of voters (49 percent) give him a “D” or “F,” while only a quarter (24 percent) give Trump an “A” or “B.”

In what might be a warning sign, Trump earns low marks on some core Republican issues. After a year in which he and the GOP made modest progress in rolling back the Democratic-passed Affordable Care Act, only 27 percent give Trump an “A” or “B” on health care.

Law and order, Politics, Regional

Magufuli dismisses proposal to extend presidential term in Tanzania

2018-01-16 Maravi Post Reporter

Tanzanian President John Magufuli will not seek to extend presidential terms in the country, his party said Saturday, moving to quash calls from some members of the ruling party to prolong his rule.

Magufuli “informed party members and other Tanzanians that the ongoing debate about increasing the presidential term from five to seven years displeases him,” his ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) said in a statement.

Instead, Magufuli has urged Tanzanians to focus on building the country’s economy.

The debate on extending the term limit is useless. Tanzanians should concentrate on building their economy.

“The debate on extending the term limit is useless. Tanzanians should concentrate on building their economy,” the president said.

Such an amendment was against the party’s rules and the constitution of Tanzania, the statement said, adding that Magufuli does not plan to make the change “at any time during his presidency”.

The announcement came after some members of his party called for Magufuli to extend the presidential term from 5 years to two seven-year terms, so he could potentially remain in power for 14 years.

This is the second time the president is dismissing proposals by members of his party to extend the presidential term.

The issue of altering constitutions to extend the rule of leaders is contentious in Africa, where numerous heads of state are suspected of wanting to use such techniques to hold onto power for decades.

Law and order, Politics, Regional

Zimbabwe Aide: I feared Robert Mugabe lynching

2018-01-16 Maravi Post Reporter

HARARE-(MaraviPost)-An aide to Zimbabwe’s former President, Robert Mugabe, has said he feared civilians could “drag out and lynch” the leader in a “Libyan scenario”.

During Mr Mugabe’s last week in office, he was under house arrest as the military staged a takeover which would eventually oust him.

“I started visualising an image of Muammar Gaddafi,” Mr Mugabe’s former spokesman George Charamba said.

He was speaking to Zimbabwe’s privately owned Daily News site.

Recalling the last days of Mr Mugabe’s 37-year rule, Mr Charamba said the 93-year-old wanted “to go on his own terms” and had to be warned of the dangers following the military’s intervention and the outbreak of protests.

While Mr Mugabe was held at his lavish Blue Roof mansion, negotiations over his future were being thrashed out between military generals, Catholic priests, political aides and South African envoys.

Mr Charamba says military officials informed the group that tens of thousands of protesters calling for the president’s resignation could target Mr Mugabe personally.

“It was possible because the soldiers said ‘we cannot turn our guns on civilians who are marching against the president and spill blood,'” the Daily News reports Mr Charamba as saying.

Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi was captured then killed in 2011 following an uprising against his four-decade rule.

Malawi, Politics, Top News

President Mutharika chides critics for politicizing corruption

2018-01-15 Lloyd M’bwana

CHIRADZULU-(MaraviPost)-President Peter Mutharika on Monday took task his critics for politicizing corruption in the country.

While President Mutharika acknowledged that widespread corruption he however denied reports that corruption is growing in the country.

Mutharika, speaking during the commemoration prayers organized in remembrance of the freedom fighter John Chilembwe in Chiradzulu, said corruption exists in the private sector, judiciary, faith community and in the media.

“The trouble in this country is that we are politicizing corruption. They say corruption is growing. I don’t this so. It is not true that corruption is growing in this country. What has been growing is the perception of corruption,” he said.

He called on Malawians to join hands and fight corruption which he said cannot be fought by one person.
Mutharika branded as a lie and fabrication the rumour that there are seven cabinet ministers involved in the MK236 billion Cashgate scandal.

“This is a total lie; a fabrication of a certain malicious, vicious and irresponsible editor. The anti-corruption bureau announced last week that there are no ministers in the said case. This paper is misinforming the country,” Mutharika said without mentioning the name of the editor and the newspaper.

Mutharika also expressed his displeasure at the local media and how it “trashes the country”.

He said the media and many Malawians think that by trashing the country they are trashing Mutharika and asked that the tendency has to stop and that Malawians should be proud of their country just like Chilembwe loved his country.

“John Chilembwe was a humble, hardworking & patriotic man. He wanted to see this country transform. We will strive to work towards transforming this country just like the Chilembwe wanted.

He however, again took a swipe at his critics who he said are constantly undermining him and the dreams he has for Malawi.

“Transformation begins with the change of the mindset. Change is not easy that is why Chilembwe faced a lot of resistance. I have also faced resistance.

Some said I cannot become president, but I did become the president. Some said I am economically clueless, but I took a battered economy and transformed it. I want a country where we have a network of tarmac roads everywhere. This is possible,” Mutharika said.

Mutharika hailed Chilembwe as a selfless, hardworking and visionary man. The president announced that government will build a community technical college at PIM and will be named Aida Chilembwe technical college, in honour of Chilembwe’s wife.

The event was also attended by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, Lazarus Chakwera who also laid a wreath at Chilembwe’s memorial pillar at PIM.

Below is the full President Mutharika Speech on 2018 Chilembwe Day;

JOHN CHILEMBWE, MINDSET AND TRANSFORMATION

We have met to celebrate the life of John Chilembwe. Today, we celebrate Chilembwe in the spirit of embracing God for national transformation. And I am delighted to be with you today.

Let me thank you the Providence Industrial Mission for inviting me. In particular, let me thank you for calling upon the nation to think about the transformation of our country.

Transformation begins with the renewal of our minds. This is what The Holy Bible tells us in Romans 12 verse 2. The change of the mindset is the beginning of national transformation.

National transformation is a collective process. We all have to change the way we think and do things for this country to change.

But it takes courage to change a country. Change is never always welcome. That is why Chilembwe faced resistance and got killed.

That is why Moses faced a lot of resistance when he led the children of Israel to the Promised Land.

Jesus Christ himself was denied and killed by the same people he came to save. And, do you remember how people opposed Bingu?

They conspired and he died. When he died, the same people turned round and said he was a visionary. Amalawi timakonda kuyamikira munthu akapita. Tisinthe! Tisiye khalidwe limenelo!
Today, I am facing every kind of resistance while I am leading this country to transformation.

They said Peter Mutharika cannot be a President. He must go back to the University where he belongs. I became the President.

They said Peter Mutharika is economically clueless. I took the badly damaged economy and now the economy has recovered. Inflation is at its lowest point in our history; interest rates are going down and the economy is growing. Our foreign currency reserves are at the highest in history.

Now Malawi is a highly rated destination for investors because we have restored economic confidence.

Malawi is a preferred destination for tourists. According to Forbes Magazine and Cosmopolitan Travel Guide, Malawi is among the 18 top countries to be most visited in 2018.

Worldwide, Malawi is rated number 3 and in Africa as number 1 as a country to visit in 2018. You will not find that in our local media because they are busy trashing this country. By doing that, they think they are hurting me. They are making a mistake. What they do not know is that they are destroying their own country. This kind of behaviour must change. We need to transform our mindset.

We started the National Registration program so that Malawi must be a well-organized society. They said this cannot happen. Sizitheka zimenezo! This sizitheka mentality is bringing this country down.

Now every Malawian above the age of 16 is going to have a National ID.

They said there is nothing my Government is doing. Today, we can see new roads, community colleges, and rural electricity coming to the villages. And I will not stop at anything until this country totally transforms.

I want Malawi to be a country with a network of tarmac roads everywhere; a country with no dusty roads in our cities; a country with electricity in our villages; a country where there shall be no more grass-thatched houses. That is transformation.

I want this country to have more jobs for the youth. That is why we are expanding the private sector by inviting foreign direct investors. We must create new jobs. That is why we are building community technical colleges to equip our youth with skills.

I want Malawi to join the digital revolution. For us to be in the digital age, we need fast and reliable internet which every Malawian can afford. That is why we launched the National Fibre Optic Backbone project. This is the beginning of a digital revolution in Malawi.

For us to transform this country, let us draw our lessons from the life of John Chilembwe. Chilembwe is a symbol of patriotism, integrity and hard work.
Chilembwe was a man of high integrity. With integrity, there will be no corruption.

Corruption is an evil and I want this evil to stop! But slowly, we are taming this evil. We have strengthened the Anti-Corruption Bureau, National Audit and all graft busting institutions. We have given them more resources. But that is not enough.

There is corruption in the private sector, in the judiciary, in the media and the faith community. However, one man cannot fight corruption alone. We need to fight it together. If you see corruption, report to the authorities.

The trouble in this country is that we are politicizing corruption. They say corruption is growing. I don’t think so. It is not true that corruption is growing in this country. What has been growing is the perception of corruption.
I will give you an example. There has been mention of seven cabinet ministers. This is a total lie; a fabrication of a certain malicious, vicious, and an irresponsible editor.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau just announced last week that there are no cabinet ministers in the said case. Instead of informing the public, this paper is misinforming the country. We must love our country.

Chilembwe loved his country. That is why he fought for it; and shed his blood for this country. Let us be patriotic.

Chilembwe was a hard worker. He founded this Industrial Mission because he believed that Africans must be industrious in order to be self-dependent. Let us be industrious.
Chilembwe is a man who dedicated his life to the service of God. In serving others, we serve God. And we serve God by serving others.

In serving others, Chilembwe was a progressive thinker who fought for transformation of this society. He fought to change the life of his people.

In this part of Africa, Chilembwe was the first African to build schools for Africans. He knew the power of education in transforming lives.

Chilembwe was the first African to fight for the rights of women and children. Chilembwe believed in empowering women as the foundation of society. That is why his wife Ida, had a vocational school for training women in skills.

In honour of this spirit, I decided that we must construct a technical college. The construction has started and it is at window level. This college will be called the Ida Chilembwe Technical College.

This college is part of technical community colleges we are building all over the country. Chilembwe saw the vision of community colleges 100 years ago. He wanted a technical college, and now his vision has been fulfilled.

As we reflect on the lessons we draw from the life of John Chilembwe, let us learn to change the way we think in order to change our nation.

God grant us the courage to decide to change; the wisdom to choose what is right; and the faith to follow the path of the righteous.

Thank you!
God bless Malawi!
And bless us all!

Politics, SADC

MCP faction led by Msowoya pens party president Chakwera accusing him of abjuration from December agreement

2018-01-14 Maravi Post Reporter

The Malawi Congress Party group that was for most of the last two years at loggerheads with the party leadership led by Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, on January 12, 2018 penned their president accusing him of retracting from agreements made at the famous December 2, 2017 meeting.

During the famous meeting party president Lazarus Chakwera and the MCP faction made up of Vice President and Speaker of Parliament Msowoya, Secretary General Kaliwo and publicity secretary Dr Jessie Kabwila, were welcomed back into the party as president Dr Chakwera extended an olive branch to the group. Continue reading MCP faction led by Msowoya pens party president Chakwera accusing him of abjuration from December agreement →

Malawi, Opinion, Politics

New DPP manifesto if President Mutharika is to win second term; Failing which is to be voted out

2018-01-14 MaraviPost 1 Comment

By Saunders Jumah the Utopian

Correct the mistakes of the late President Bingu Wa Mutharika. Arrest all the ministers that stole tax money from 2004. Return the money and confiscate all properties and assets to state.

Probe with speed the wealth of Bingu Wa Mutharika and return MK92 billion back to state.

Release the 13 files and prosecute the offenders without delay.

George Chaponda must serve sentence in Malawi jail and all the confiscated money returned into state.

Probe BEAM of first lady Getrude Mutharika and all the money injected into the company.

Probe who torched offices of Minister of Agriculture and bring to book all suspects and George Chaponda must be banished from any political activities for 20 years he has destroyed the prospects of a better nation.

All the ministers who have become millionaires overnight such as Kondwani Nakhumwa must be probed by an independent “Corruption and Constitutional court” to be established as a matter of urgency.

Peter Mutharika as a president must declare his interests before he joined and declare how much he has amassed as minister in his brothers government up to the time he became the president of the Republic of Malawi.

All the monies that state companies have been giving the ruling party must be returned into state.

The giving of money by state companies to any ruling party must be criminalized.

Presidential powers must be reduced.

President must win elections with 50+1 percentage.

All Lhomwes that have been appointed because of tribe not qualifications and on merit must be replaced.

All relatives of ministers, president and spouse that have been appointed in state institutions due to favouritism must be recalled and dismissed.

All the people that burned the warehouse where ballot boxes of 2014 elections were stored be known and brought to book.

All the money stolen at U.N. meant for Malawi Defence Force must be returned and the minister of foreign affairs then who is George Chaponda must be arrested to serve sentence with hard labour.

All embassy staff that have been involved with scandals of theft and corruption must be dismissed and arrested.

Cash Gate suspects and thieves must be apprehended without looking at political affiliation.

All Indian businesses involved in helping Malawi politicians to swindle taxes of citizens must be deported or serve jail sentences.

All the billions that got lost in ministries, departments, agencies and other state companies must be returned and all principal secretaries and heads of departments must be arrested or dismissed without litigation.

If DPP and president Peter Mutharika can do this in 10 months, Malawians are likely to vote him back into power.

Failing to bring Malawi to this level Peter Mutharika is and must be a “one term” president and DPP is losing elections next year.

By copy of this letter any political party that will win elections in 2019 must insert these points in the preamble of its Manifesto.

Citizens of Malawi are tired, exhausted and fed up with the type of politics multiparty dispensation has brought in the country the past 24 years. There must be full stop to nonsense at State house and the way of running government in Malawi.

It’s time there must be “responsible sense in the brains” of politicians otherwise poor citizens are ready to take up bows, arrows, knobkerries and clubs to fight all greedy politicians for the sake of Sanity in our nation.

To president Peter Mutharika this is the “love and care” the Utopian dictum can offer. If you will see your presidency beyond 2019 get this free advice. It’s a free advice but constructive and worthwhile.

To Lazarus Chakwera and MCP you can borrow the leaf. You can become a best leader in Malawi by heeding to this call.

To the “New Liberation Project” which is cooking you can add this as your greeting message to Malawians on your preface.

2019 is the year of “Transformation and Total Liberation” of the history of our nation.

Saunders Jumah the Utopian
MALAWI ENGAGEMENT GROUP [MAENGA]
rules of engagement for a new Malawi from 2019 and beyond.

Human Rights, Politics

Botswana demands clarification on Trump’s ‘shithole’ remarks; Summon US ambassador

2018-01-13 Maravi Post Reporter

Botswana demands answers from Trump — Africa Angry at Racists comments from Trump

GABORONE-(MaraviPost)-The government of Botswana has become a first African country to react and shoot down United States (US) President, Donald Trump’s ‘shithole’ remarks to Haiti and African countries.

Maravi Post established that the US President made the controversial remarks on Thursday when he questioned why the US would accept any more immigrants from Haiti and “shithole countries” in Africa rather than from Norway.

This came after two senators presented details of a bipartisan immigration deal which Trump rejected. Continue reading Botswana demands clarification on Trump’s ‘shithole’ remarks; Summon US ambassador →

Politics, Regional

US Ambassador to Panama resigns; Says cannot serve Donald Trump

2018-01-13 Maravi Post Reporter

WASHINGTON-(MaraviPost)-US Ambassador to Panama John Feeley, a career diplomat and former Marine Corps helicopter pilot, has resigned, telling the State Department he no longer feels able to serve President Donald Trump.

“As a junior foreign service officer, I signed an oath to serve faithfully the president and his administration in an apolitical fashion, even when I might not agree with certain policies,” Feeley said, according to an excerpt of his resignation letter read to Reuters on Friday.

“My instructors made clear that if I believed I could not do that, I would be honor bound to resign. That time has come.”

A State Department spokeswoman confirmed Feeley’s departure, saying that he “has informed the White House, the Department of State, and the Government of Panama of his decision to retire for personal reasons, as of March 9 of this year.”

Under Secretary of State Steve Goldstein said Feeley’s departure was not a response to Trump’s alleged use of the word “shithole” to describe Haiti and African countries at a meeting on Thursday. Trump denies using the term.

Speaking to reporters, Goldstein said that he was aware of Feeley’s planned departure 24 in advance, before Trump’s alleged use of the term, and said his understanding was that the ambassador had resigned for “personal reasons.”

“Everyone has a line that they will not cross,” “Goldstein told reporters at the State Department. “If the ambassador feels that he can no longer serve … then he has made the right decision for himself and we respect that.”

Malawi, Politics

Road to 2019 elections: Malume Bokosi to contest for Machinga Central Constituency

2018-01-13 Special Absalom

MACHINGA-(MaraviPost)-Musician, Malume Bokosi has disclosed his interest to contest for Machinga Central Constituency seat in next year’s elections for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

According to Bokosi, he was asked by Chiefs in his area to contest in 2019 elections after seeing ranging problems striking the constituency.

“I was approached by chiefs and some constituents who asked me to stand in the forthcoming elections. I have made thorough consultations and decided to contest.”

“Among the major problems that people face here include lack of potable water and a poor road network. I have all along stayed here in the village and I know the problems of the people. It’s my wish to help develop the area,” he said.

The singer of ‘Alimi Tidalakwanji’ also disclosed that he is going to stand as member of Parliament [MP] for Machinga Central Constituency on a DPP ticket.

Bokosi will compete against the incumbent MP Shaibu Kaliati of United Democratic Front (UDF), the Reverend Rex Chitekwe and a Mrs Khembo (both independent) who have so far shown interest to contest.

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