Tag Archives: CFT

Politics

Malawi’s CFT dispels social media ranting against Mtambo on use of siren vehicles: “a product of smear campaign and propaganda”

Maneno Chimulala
Negracious Justin: Communications and Public Relations Strategist

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Citizens For Transformation, a political movement which is a product of political struggle in the country, has dispelled allegations that Minister of Civic Education and National Unity Timothy Mtambo, who is also the founder and Commander-in-Chief of the grouping, used siren vehicles when he stormed the Northern region over the weekend.

Mtambo, together with Homeland Security Minister, Richard Chimwendo Banda, were in Karonga to woo support for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Leonard Mwalwanda ahead of the November 10 by-election.

However, social media on Monday was abuzz with allegations that the two ministers used siren vehicles, a privilege only accorded to the State President and his vice according to the law.

Reacting, CFT Communications and Public Relations Strategist, Negracious Justin, has described the allegations  as a product of smear campaign and propaganda aimed at tarnishing the image of the CFT leader who has proved to be one of the crowd puller in the country.

“We would like to place it on record that the aforesaid allegations are not true and are nothing but a product of a systematic smear campaign and propaganda, perpetrated by CFT’s rival groups and the UTM party agents who are clearly on a mission to tarnish the image of the CFT and its leadership. The said allegations are also part of the rivals’ overall stratagem to sow seeds of division in the Tonse Alliance, led by his Excellency, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera,” reads the statement in part.

In the statement, Justin further contends that there are some UTM top officials who are sponsoring some members of the media to spread fake news in order to score political points and dent the image of Mtambo and CFT.

“The CFT has been following all the various other acts of insults (through paid social media PR agents) from some overzealous UTM supporters and leaders which are all designed at denting the image of the CIC and the movement. In the spirit of peaceful co-existence, the CFT has often chosen not to respond to these allegations.

“Honourable Mtambo is a charismatic, Civilised and a peace loving politician who always pulls big crowds in the Constituency, purely on account of his issue based campaign messages, a phenomenon that does not sit well with some rival political groupis that are also going for the same parliamentary seat,” the statement reads further.

According to Justin, this is not the first time UTM officials have published “Cheap propaganda” as every time which Mtambo visits the constituency to drum support for MCP candidate Mwalwanda, the counterparts create fake news to divert people’s attention from strong campaign messages made by the MCP entourage.

While recognizing freedom of the press, CFT has implored on the media to verify the stories before the same can be published for public consumption to avoid misleading the public on important issues.

The parliamentary seat in Karonga Central Constituency fell vacant following the death of Cornelius Mwalwanda  who won on MCP ticket in 2019 parliamentary elections.

Malawi

Mtambo fires warning shot to new Malawi president: “don’t forgive plunders and looters!”

Maneno Chimulala
Mtambo fires warning shot to new Malawi president: “don’t forgive plunders and looters!”

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi’s renowned political activist, Timothy Mtambo, who is also the leader of a people power movement—Citizens for Transformation (CFT)—has warned the newly elected president Lazarus Chakwera against dilly-dallying on corruption fight.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lilongwe today Wednesday, Mtambo has asked the Malawi leader to quickly establish governance framework to recover all the resources that were stolen by the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials.

“CFT would like to appeal to the leadership and the Tonse Alliance partners represented in Government and the administration to quickly get to work. Malawians have already wasted more than 12 months with the struggle to establish a legitimate government. We do not have any more time to waste.

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“Among several areas of priority is the establishment of governance framework that would enhance the rule of law and the preservation of human rights for the people of Malawi. Implementation of justice MUST be among the top priorities whereby Malawi should recover what she had lost to looters and plunders.
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“In that regard, CFT would like to see the new administration quickly enabling the instruments of law enforcement to investigate and prosecute those who have plundered and hurt this country in so many ways,” said Mtambo.
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He added: “We would like to remind the Government that there is a purpose why justice was created without eyes and feelings. It is meant to run indiscriminately and feel no mercy towards anyone. The Government should, therefore, not attempt to forgive those who have plundered this country.”

Mtambo, who played a pivotal role in ousting DPP from government, says all ill-gotten wealth that was looted from public vault must be restored back to the people of Malawi.

For speedy recovery, the renowned activist has recommended that there should be an Asset Recovery Taskforce headed by competent and patriotic Malawians to recoup any money stolen from the public sector including parastatals which were being used as finance transfer pumps for politicians.

According to Mtambo, the recovery of the lost resources is the only way to quicken the healing process of the nation.

Having successfully ousted the DPP from the government, Mtambo has assured Malawians that he will still continue to fight for Malawians saying DPP’s loss is just the beginning of the struggle for better Malawi.

“The removal of the DPP from State power is not the end of the struggle, but the beginning of another chapter in the history of our continuous struggle for the liberation of Malawi and the creation of a better nation for all.
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Our focus now shifts to the long-term objective of creating an active and resilient population as well as a mindful Government at any given time. As a result, I, the Commander-In-Chief of the people power movement would like to assure all people of Malawi that CFT will continue to stand and fight for the common good. CFT is a movement that is owned by the people of Malawi and as long as there are people of Malawi, CFT will be there,” he said.
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“The leadership of the CFT, would like to assure all the people of Malawi that CFT will never take a break because there is no break for people’s welfare and accountability. We will continue to demand for accountability from all political and public office bearers regardless of their positions and status of power,” he added.

Before he entered politics in April 2020, Timothy Mtambo was the chairperson of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), a Malawi organisation that works to defend human rights. He was also the executive director of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) as well as the vice chairperson of Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network.

 He organised peaceful demonstrations across Malawi advocating for the preservation of civil and political rights in Malawi and called for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Jane Ansah over alleged mismanagement of national elections held on 21 May 2019.