Tag Archives: Joint Civil Society Platform on Governance (JCSPG)

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No to undermining delivery of justice to disrupt credibility of Malawi’s May 21 polls-JCSPG

Maravi Post Reporter

Joint Civil Society Platform on Governance (JCSPG)

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-One of the country’s civil society under the banner  Joint Civil Society Platform on Governance (JCSPG) is calling stakeholder to desist from undermining delivery of justice that will likely to disrupt credibility of May 21 polls.

The call comes amid political mudslinging among political parties, religious groups and some CSOs ahead of the polls in the next three weeks.

JCSPG therefore called all  political players must exercise caution on how to campaign and deliver promises so as not to undermine the electoral processes. As CSOs, we have trust in the electoral system.

Addressing the news conference on Friday in the capital Lilongwe, the grouping urged Malawians not be misled by actions and utterances of people who aims at disrupting the elections in order to create anarchy and voter apathy.

“The elections will be delivered free, fair and in a credible manner and the outcome will be the wishes of Malawians.

“The religious leaders should play a peace building role and unifying factor than a partisan role which would instigate violence,” reads the statement.

Below is the full JCSPG statement;

 

 NO TO UNDERMINING THE DELIVERY OF JUSTICE IN ORDER TO DISRUPT THE CREDIBILITY OF THE ELECTION PROCESS

 

by JOINT CIVIL SOCIETY PLATFORM ON GOVERNANCE

 

 

Introduction

 

We, the Civil Society Leaders have noted with concerns that there are issues emerging in the country which is undermining the delivery of justice, rule of law with the views to disrupt the delivery of a credible elections in 2019. There are actions and utterances that have happened in just recent past that raises concerns over the credibility of the May 2019 elections which needs to stop and dealt with decisively. In this regard therefore, we will address two critical issues that have occurred, which have a strong bearing on the future of this country. One is to do with the actions on the persons with albinism (PWA) and the other on the allegations of election process. All these are interrelated.

 

Conspiracy to implicate the President

We are shocked with the audio recording that has gone viral on the social media purportedly to be the voice of Chairperson of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), Mr. Timothy Mtambo. Within the audio, there are indicators that Mr. Mtambo has interfered with the work of the Commission of Inquiry on the abductions, and killings of people with albinism with support from the country’s vice President, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima.

 

What is shocking, is the fact that this audio comes on the background, that a grouping of persons with albinism based in Blantyre made a very damning calls to have Mr. Mtambo and HRDC be investigated and held accountable for their actions on the issue. As CSOs we conducted a follow up and established several facts that are pointing to a process which aims at implicating the President, the Government of Malawi in order to facilitate regime change which has a bearing on the electoral process.

 

We are in possession of evidence and eye witness account of the conspiracy between the Vice President and HRDC Chairperson on the issues to do with persons with albinism. This is very disturbing because it questions the greater role that the two and their accomplices have played in the abduction, and killings of people with albinism. What is coming out clear, is the element that the issues of PWA is considered to be an election issue and planned as political game changer which unfortunately has not worked as planned.

 

To this effect, the HRDC Chairperson hijacked and took over the planned vigils from the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) upon being supported by Chilima a thing that a source from within the UTM and HRDC have collaborated. For the purpose of the public, we have a recording from within the HRDC which alludes to the fact that Chilima provided K5million for the vigils, and also UTM member Mrs. Kondwani Kulemeka who provided K2milion and Mrs. Callista Mutharika who also provided K2million according to the source.

 

When the outcome of the vigils were not as envisaged, a plan was put in motion which aimed at implicating the President in order to disrupt the elections as people would be angry with the Government. This started with bribing of family members of the arrested suspects on the killing of Masambuka in Machinga. The plan started by coaxing the suspects to create audios and written evidence against the Government as they were promised that before May 21, the Government would fall and will be pardoned and given clemency.

 

We have established for a fact that the issues raised by Poor and Concerned Persons with Albinism (PACPWA) in their statement on what HRDC Chairperson did in Zomba and Machinga to be true and factual and we challenge anything to the contrary. Evidence and recordings have emerged on how monetary gains were used to coax the suspects and their family members in order for them to implicate the President.

 

We challenge Mr. Mtambo in the audio where he claims HRDC met the wife of Chileka at Domasi Prison as false. The evidence we have indicates that they went to the residence of Mrs. Chileka and not only once but several occasions. We have also noted that Mr. Mtambo talks with authority on the work of the Commission of Inquiry which is very shocking. First the work of the Commission is private and confidential, therefore for him to know what documents, evidence the commission has is not only an indicator that he has someone inside giving information, but also questions the credibility of the Commission.

 

Sources from within the HRDC have indicated and it’s put on record in the audio which is available to us, that within the commission, there are one or two individuals who are confiding to Mr. Mtambo all evidence and submissions that are being made to the commission. Such submissions led to him, turning down the invitation to appear before the Commission because he was forewarned that he might be compromised based on the evidence that was before the Commission.

 

To this extent, as alluded in the audio, Mr. Mtambo has hatched a plan to create propaganda against the Commission. The propaganda seeks to stress as a preemptive measure that the Commission has been influenced to implicate him, Mr. Gift Trapence, Chilima and Bishop Msusa. It is sad that this is trying to defeat the delivery of justice and already his utterances and actions put the Commission into discredit.

 

Undermining the Elections Process

 

We further note that Vice President Chilima continues to undermine the delivery of the electoral process in Malawi. This is also further consolidated by the claims from HRDC that insinuate any victory for the ruling party will be as a result of rigging. In his attempt to discredit the ruling party, it is evident through his political utterances that the electoral results of the 2014 were rigged. This is sad, because we believe that elections are full proof, free and fair.

 

What the leader of the UTM who happens to be the Vice President is doing, is sowing seeds for anarchy and is creating fear among Malawians. Further this is promoting mistrust in the electoral process and MEC ability to deliver free, fair and credible elections. This if not checked will lead to voter apathy as we have already noted sentiments from various sectors of the society on no need to vote as elections are already rigged. At worst, the sentiments will lead to violence and civil strife before and after the elections.

 

On Chilima’s claims about the torched MEC warehouse in 2014 sounds more of a raving of a mad person who just want to sound relevant. If indeed what Chilima said is true, then he is not fit to run the highest Office of Malawi, let alone run for the presidency. It only means that for the last 5 years, Chilima has defeated the delivery of justice and he is criminally culpable in this offence. If he wants us to take him seriously, let him first apologise for being part and parcel and the prime beneficiary of his alleged 2014 rigged elections, second he must immediately RESIGN as the Vice President because holding on to the position which he claims to have acquired fraudulently, undermines his integrity.

 

Prayers for Peaceful Elections

 

We are aware that on 4th May 2019, there is an interfaith prayers for peaceful elections in Malawi by Public Affairs Committee (PAC). This is a commendable and positive way in terms of consolidating a peaceful elections in the country. However, we would like to raise reservations on whether the prayers would achieve the intended purposes.

First, some of the religious leaders to be involved in the prayers have already taken a partisan stand for or against a certain political grouping and candidates which puts to question already their neutrality in the elections. Furthermore some of the religious leaders are in support and condone leaders whose utterances can lead this country into violence. Therefore these prayers would be deemed futile with the current state of partisan infiltration within the faith community. We would not be surprised if other political and opinion leaders shun away from these prayers as they are viewed to be done as a formality.

 

Our Calls;

 

Based on the a foregoing, we make the following calls;

  • HRDC and Chilima must stop undermining the delivery of justice and electoral processes in Malawi. May we advise HRDC, that if they want regime change, the 21st May provides an opportunity for them to campaign for their preferred candidate legally, than employ and adopt means which boarders on criminality.
  • Chilima and HRDC must fight President Peter Mutharika, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and others fair and square. Creating propaganda, information with malicious intent, conspiracy to defeat justice will not in any way usher them to power but rather expose them negatively. Truth and honest should be the backbone of this election process.
  • The Commission of Inquiry on issues of Persons with Albinism, must clean its house as the audio by Mtambo shows that it’s infiltrated and some of the commissioners are sharing evidence to outsiders which put the whole commission and its findings into question.
  • All political players must exercise caution on how to campaign and deliver promises so as not to undermine the electoral processes. As CSOs, we have trust in the electoral system.
  • Malawians must not be misled by actions and utterances of people who aims at disrupting the elections in order to create anarchy and voter apathy. The elections will be delivered free, fair and in a credible manner and the outcome will be the wishes of Malawians.
  • The religious leaders should play a peace building role and unifying factor than a partisan role which would instigate violence.

 

May the best candidates WIN!

 

Signed by

 

 

CHAIRPERSON – JCSPG

Human Rights, Malawi, Top News

Malawi’s CSOs demand swift operationalization of national action plan on albino killings, abduction

Maravi Post Reporter

Joint Civil Society Platform on Governance (JCSPG)

 

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some of the country’s civil society organisations under the banner Joint Civil Society Platform on Governance (JCSPG) on Sunday called upon the leadership to swiftly operationalize of national plan of action aimed at containing killings and abduction of people living with albinism.

This comes amid general outcry that the vice has gone out of hand despite the country having adapted action plan in June 2018 worthy MK3 billion.

The civil society therefore are also demand depoliticization of the albino killings among political parties ahead of May 21 general elections.

The grouping argues that the vice needs immediate action than political rhetoric.

 

Below is the full statement signed by Signed by PETER MUMBA CHAIRPERSON – JCSPG calling the nation for joint effort to address the vice;

MALAWI NEEDS CONTINUOUS JOINT EFFORT IN FIGHTING THE ABDUCTION AND KILLINGS OF PEOPLE WITH ALBINISM

We, the Civil Society Leaders, are traumatized and confounded by the latest acts of uncultivated viciousness of abductions and killings of people with albinism.

The conduct is a shameful tint on our nation. It has become a curse to a Malawian of albinism, a relation or a close neighbor for each and every day is greeted with sadness and sorrow as a result of either abduction or killing of people with albinism.

We are therefore obligated to express our dismay on the same not just as Civil Society Leaders, but as Malawians who are very much troubled with this callous, brutal and chauvinistic perpetration of abducting and killing of people with albinism.

Our hearts are broken, our minds confused and we need drastic solutions to end this ferocious and unacceptable act of killing each other in the name of misconstrued beliefs and traditions.

May the Souls of our fellow brothers and sisters continue resting in eternal peace Suffice to say that, we will not do justice to ourselves if we don’t commend all them.

However, we are baffled by recent remarks from the President of Malawi Congress Party Rev. Lazarus Chakwera who unkindly has chosen to politicize this matter. In his statement released on the 14th of February, 2019, Chakwera said; “Once I am sworn as President this May, with the Malawi Defense Force, the Police and the National Intelligence Bureau at my command, I will end these crimes within one month”.

We find these remarks demeaning to the dignity of our fellow brothers and sisters who have become victims of unfounded beliefs.

We find these sentiments not worthy coming from a leader with aspirations of attaining the highest office of the land. If indeed Chakwera is sincere with his message why should as a country we continue to experience the killings three more months when he can equally advise the Government on the how this can be stopped.

It is the highest order of pettiness, recklessness, insensitiveness and abrogated mind to confide solutions to oneself at a time the entire country is searching for solutions and people with albinism continue to be abducted and killed mercilessly.

Should we assume by stating that if voted into power he will act, the present status is favorable to him and that the abductions and killings of people with albinism continue? Is this an issue where one ought to gain political mileage on?

This is heartless, hypocrite, myopic and unacceptable from someone like him aspiring for the highest office in Malawi.

Further, Chakwera talked with authority of the existence of a ‘syndicate’ and we quote; “You need to know that whoever is in the syndicate that is buying the body parts of people with albinism is deemed so powerful that the police feel retrained from arresting them, the buyers are so powerful that the murderers feel motivated to continue killing for them….”

The above caption, signifies how well informed Rev. Chakwera is as to who are the people that are abducting and killing our brothers and sisters with albinism. We therefore call upon him to come forward and tell this nation who these people are and break the so called ‘syndicate’ before we lose anyone else.

We are also worried with the current trend, that instead of finding solutions to the problem and identify the root cause to the abductions and killings of the people with albinism, there is more of political grandstanding on the matter.

We also note that politicians are easily blamed which makes it difficult for the communities to take up responsibility of becoming brother’s keepers. What saddens us is that there are revelations of killings of people with albinism as early as 1970s and beyond, yet we have not found the way to contain the situation.

There is a need to change the perception which most Malawians have grown up indifferent towards people with albinism. Most Malawians don’t flinch an eye on these matters as we have grown up believing that people with albinism amangosowa (just disappear).

This is what has also contributed to escalation of the abductions and killings as the cases would not have been reported for so many decades until recently with the advent of the social media.

Lastly, we are appalled and asking questions as to why the abductions and killings of people with albinism have increased in 2019 with very unprecedented speed as compared to subsequent years. Just within the space of two months and very few days to elections, more than 5 cases have already been reported.

Are these atrocious acts part of the political game either to discredit someone or either gain power? This is very unwelcome development. ‘

Let us join hands to fight this epidemic, let us all stand against this brutality, let all politicians work with one spirit in protecting our fellow Malawians.

This matter should never be politicized at any level.

Signed by PETER MUMBA CHAIRPERSON – JCSPG

Malawi, Politics, Top News

Malawi CSOs insist on Chilima’s resignation over insubordination admission to BBC Hard Talk

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some of the country’s Civil Society Organisation under the banner Joint Civil Society Platform on Governance (JCSPG) once again on Saturday insisted on calls for Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima over insubordination, double standards.

The fresh calls comes a day after Chilima, who is in the United Kingdom (UK) on private tour, says he will not resign from his post as the country’s second-in command.

The UTM leader rubbished the joint Civil Society Platform on Governance, which on Thursday October 18 called for the resignation of Chilima, accusing him of drawing a salary and benefits from government without doing work.
Chilima said on Thursday evening that he will not bow down to calls from some sectors of the society for him to quit his position as elected vice president.

But the grouping has argued again that Chilima could not keep on drawing benefits from the same government which he says is corrupt.

The platform alleges that the VP is giving the wrong impression of principles of good governance in the country.

The grouping has therefore vowed spearheading campaign of making sure that he quit from government.

Below is the JCSPG full statement signed by its leader Peter Mumba;

BY HIS OWN ADMISSION, VICE PRESIDENT DR. SAULOS KLAUS CHILIMA MUST INDEED RESIGN

Having been vindicated by Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima’s own admission during the interviews he had with BBC Hard Talk, we are more than convinced that indeed he must resign from the office. From the interview that the Vice President Chilima has justified our claims and the reasons why he must resign from office.

Chilima made admission in line with ten reasons we indicated as to why he must resign. Chilima admitted that since June he has not been reporting nor meeting the President and Government officials but continues to draw salary. This is unacceptable and robbing Malawians of their hard earned taxes. By virtue that Chilima continues to draw salary and benefits from the Government is in itself corruption.

The indifference that Chilima had towards corruption and corrupt people confirms that his interest is not to fight corruption but to support and protect friends and colleagues who are corrupt. That is why he had no reason to worry when he can tell the entire world that working with a convict is not a problem as the person still has their brains.

Further, by his own admission, Chilima has no right answer why he is sticking around with the very same Government that he accuses to be corrupt. Chilima uses the mandate that was given to him with President Mutharika as a blank Cheque and not to be questioned. Simply put, by his own admission and the BBC questioning, it vindicates our earlier stances that Chilima lack both principles and moral justification to hold on the office of the Vice President when he voluntarily resigned from the ruling party. His continued stay smacks of lack of integrity.

By his own admission, we are vindicated that Chilima abuses state resources for his own benefits as instead of working for the Government, he is busy promoting personal political ambitions.
Our Conviction.

We are more than convinced and beyond reasonable doubt that holding on to the Office of the Vice President by Chilima is not a matter of principle nor a matter of constitution but rather for personal gratification. We strongly believe that Chilima is well aware that his Political ambitions plus the way forward of the United Transformation Movement (UTM) is at stake and cannot be realized if he quits being the Vice President.

We are more than convinced that the other reason that Chilima doesn’t want to leave the Office of the Vice President are the benefits that comes with the office and not anything to help Malawians. Chilima cannot forgo the benefits of the office, the free accommodation, free utilities, free security, free health bills, free entertainment. All the reasons are personal and nothing to do with Malawians and citizens.
Issues of the Constitution.

Vice President Chilima want to convince the world that his clinging on to the office is a matter of the constitution. We would like to remind him, that the constitution is supposed the serve the people of Malawi and by him resigning is not breaking any laws of Malawi but rather enforcing his integrity.

In the same spirit, what Chilima is not telling the world is that our constitution recognizes a political Government. The spirit of the Constitution was that at any given time, the President and the Vice would come from the same political party. That is the more reason why the position of the Second Vice President was deliberately left to another political party but not the same that the President and the Vice come from. To this effect, he continues to exploit the loopholes in the constitution but we believe just as was the case with bouncing back to power case after resting, we might need to have the judicial review to determine the spirit of the constitution as regards the political structure of the President, the Vice and the Second Vice President.

Our Continued Calls.

We still demand the resignation of the Vice President of the Republic of Malawi for his own admission and the 10 reasons that we highlighted. Chilima as a person who tout himself to be transformative, needs to rise above average politicians and act with principle, integrity and sound moral judgement. By Chilima clinging on to the office that he is well aware is not working, is tantamount to theft, and giving Malawians a raw deal.

We will continuously remind Chilima on the need for his resignation and we will use any means necessary within the framework of the law to force the resignation. The so called ‘garbage’ that Chilima referred to our calls will continue spilling out and the voices will only grow louder. However, should he resigns, Chilima will demonstrate the highest level of integrity and indeed earn the respect of the world than the case where some quarters have started referring to him as a ‘CHARLATAN’.

10 Reasons Why Chilima Must Resign

As a reminder these are the ten reasons why he must resign:
1. Drawing Salary and benefits from Government without doing any work – This is tantamount to theft
2. By his own admission, he is not fighting corruption but supporting it – Chilima went on record on ZBS TV that the UTM is getting funding from the people within DPP whom he accuses to be corrupt.
3. Abusing the courts to justify illegalities – Chilima uses over 50 police officers against 6 authorized by law but cannot accept to follow what is prescribed in the law but chooses to abuse the court through orders to maintain the illegal officers at his residences and offices.
4. No respect for the laws of Malawi – By involving himself in electioneering with a group that is illegal in Malawi, Chilima has expressed disregard of the laws of Malawi
5. Acting with Impunity – Chilima continues to hold meetings both local and abroad which undermines a democratically elected Government, which is tantamount to anarchy and lawlessness
6. Lacks Integrity and moral justification – By continuing to be the country’s vice President against all the issues that Chilima talks bad about the same government, he is demonstrating highest level of lack of integrity and moral justification
7. Brave Leaders with integrity do not hide behind the ambiguity of the law – Chilima continued use of the loopholes in the law that he cannot be fired and holding on to the office of the vice President continue to portray him as a greedy politician who wants to hoodwink the country to believe he is a different caliber of politician
8. Abusing state resources for personal gains – since breaking ranks with the DPP and launching the UTM, Chilima has been crisscrossing the country on tax payers money for personal gain not in the interest of Malawians
9. Chilima needs to be held accountable – the remarks that Chilima has made as regards to elections rigging and eavesdropping machine by the Government are very dangerous coming from the Vice President of the country. That Chilima doesn’t want to provide evidence on the same puts to question his character as a leader and hence the need for him to resign
10. More tax payers money will be wasted – This country needs a functioning Vice President. With Chilima’s self-imposed absence from the Government, President Mutharika might be forced to appoint a second vice President. This is a drain on the resources and tax payers as they have to pay for two vice presidents with one not functioning.

 

If indeed Chilima stands on reforms was that people must be paid for their work and performance, he can do this country good by resigning and concentrate on his political ambitions
Signed by PETER MUMBA,  CHAIRPERSON – JCSPG

Malawi, Top News

Malawi CSOs demand VP Chilima’s resignation over insubordination, double standards

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some of the country’s Civil Society Organisation under the banner Joint Civil Society Platform on Governance (JCSPG) on Thursday demanded resignation of Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima on insubordination, double standards.

The grouping has argued that Chilima could not keep on drawing benefits from the same government which he says is corrupt.

The platform alleges that the VP is giving the wrong impression of principles of good governance in the country.

The grouping has therefore vowed spearheading campaign of making sure that he quit from government.

Addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe, the grouping says Chilima must demonstrate statesmanship by not associating with the corrupt leadership.

The call is happening when Chilima is in the United Kingdom for private trip which has also sparked debate as to whose mandate is he in that country.

Below is the JCSPG full statement signed by its leader Peter Mumba;

 

A CALL TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALAWI TO RESIGN FROM OFFICE

We, the representative of Civil Society Organizations across the country, would like to echo the continued voices of reasoning that is calling for the resignation of the Vice President Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima for his actions since he decided to leave the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and formed the United Transformation Movement (UTM).

We see the actions of Chilima as undermining the democratic governance, the Constitution of the republic of Malawi and even the Presidency of Malawi whom he is part of and sworn to protect and therefore calls for instantaneous resignation as the Vice President.

In June this year, Vice President Chilima decided to quit the party that sponsored and ushered him to the same position citing issues of corruption and nepotism in Government. Since that time, Chilima continues to draw salaries, benefits for not working which is morally wrong for a person of his caliber and smacks of a person lacking integrity.

In any other civilized democracy, if Chilima was indeed sincere, he would have resigned from the position of the Vice President of Malawi. In Countries like the UK, USA, South Africa or otherwise, when a cabinet Minister disagrees with the President or the Prime Minister, they tender their resignations even though the laws protect them from being fired. They do this to demonstrate highest level of leadership and maturity and tell the entire world that they will stand on principle.

Its only people like Chilima who have no principles and moral justification that would cling on the same Government they accuse of being corrupt, draw salaries without work, and goes about town with people that are either corrupt or answering corrupt cases in court, boost about receiving donations from people within the very same party that you accuse to be corrupt.

We know of the resignation of the British International Development Secretary Priti Patel in November 2017 after holding unauthorized meetings with Israel officials – including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Similarly, Chilima has been holding meetings with people in an effort to undermine the Government of Malawi both locally and now abroad, but decides to cling on to the position of the Vice Presidency.

May we also bring to light that even the meetings that Chilima is holding in the UK are illegal and a sign of insubordination and undermines the democratically elected Government, especially coming from a Vice President of a country. We could all agree that from the notices as captured by the Chatham House, his trip is totally illegal in nature. In the history of the world, no any country, allows its officials to speak at International platforms about policy issues without authorization. The meeting that Chilima had with UK MPs including Lord Jack McConnel is ground enough for a cabinet minister in Her Majesty’s Government to resign as was the case with Priti Patel.

Similarly, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned over Britain’s proposed plan for leaving the EU, which they didn’t agree with in principle. Ironically, Malawi’s Vice President while chooses to public disagree with his own Government continues to hold to the office without any compassion nor remorse.

We know that Chilima is taking advantage of the loopholes in the laws by clinging on to the position of the Vice Presidency of the republic of Malawi, and that the President has no powers to fire his own vice. We however, know very well that any person of integrity and for someone who claims higher moral authority, resigning from the office of the Vice President is ideal, if indeed he doesn’t agree with what is happening within the Government.

Chilima told the country that the ruling DPP is corrupt yet the same person was quoted and admitted on a live national TV Programmes to be getting funding for his political movement from people from the same DPP. This is not only condoning the very same corruption that Chilima was saying to be against but being complicit of the same.

Chilima has since formed a political movement United Transformation Movement (UTM) which has printed well over 500,000 T-shirts which is equivalent to MK2.5billion. The movement has managed to buy a huge fleet of cars, and spent lot of millions on its meetings. Chilima and his movement boost to have money beyond any political grouping in Malawi yet he denies to disclose the source of funding for UTM. Without disclosing the source of funding for UTM is condoning political corruption, the very same thing that Chilima said he was against when leaving the DPP.

What is also mind baffling when it comes to issues of corruption, Chilima has put together a bunch of questionable characters under UTM which include people with corruption cases in court, pending corrupt investigations, murder suspects and the politburo is full of people with criminal. Surprisingly while he is quick to point fingers at corruption of other people in other political parties, Chilima publicly backs his own corrupt crop saying that they are not yet tried in a court of law.

What we see in the actions of Chilima is a person who is trying to undermine a democratically elected Government and take over power through unconventional means. Currently he is sponsoring motions for impeachment of the President of which he will be the sore benefactor if that becomes a reality. Chilima time and again undermines the creditability of the elections system in Malawi by making unsubstantiated claims about rigging. Ironically, he is the very same person who is alleged to have been a mastermind of the voter rigging claims of the past elections, and he has said nothing to exonerate himself.

Further, there is information that Chilima has bought frequency jamming machine from South Africa in order to manipulate communication during the elections, and that the UK trip is a ploy to meet a private Israel firm to help him destabilize the elections system in Malawi. Ironically, Chilima challenges that he cannot be defeated when it comes to issues of rigging.

We see the choruses that Chilima sings about corruption as deliberate ploy to distract people from focusing on his own record and indeed those of the people surrounding him. To date there are still questions of his links to suspects of the infamous cashgate and the UTM politburo is full of people suspected to have committed corrupt cases.

It is our considered opinion that any persons, or institutions that support and entertains Chilima is against the principles of democracy. Any person that believes in the rule of law, with integrity and principles must not propagate chaos by undermining a democratically elected Government. The actions of Chilima in the last four months is a characteristic of a person who is a symbol of lawlessness. Chilima and his movement UTM hiding under court order continue to violate other people’s rights by electioneering with an institution that is illegal in Malawi.

REASONS WHY CHILIMA MUST RESIGN

1. Drawing Salary and benefits from Government without doing any work – This is tantamount to theft
2. By his own admission, he is not fighting corruption but supporting it – Chilima went on record on ZBS TV that the UTM is getting funding from the people within DPP whom he accuses to be corrupt.
3. Abusing the courts to justify illegalities – Chilima uses over 50 police officers against 6 authorized by law but cannot accept to follow what is prescribed in the law but chooses to abuse the court through orders to maintain the illegal officers at his residences and offices.
4. No respect for the laws of Malawi – By involving himself in electioneering with a group that is illegal in Malawi, Chilima has expressed disregard of the laws of Malawi
5. Acting with Impunity – Chilima continues to hold meetings both local and abroad which undermines a democratically elected Government, which is tantamount to anarchy and lawlessness
6. Lacks Integrity and moral justification – By continuing to be the country’s vice President against all the issues that Chilima talks bad about the same government, he is demonstrating highest level of lack of integrity and moral justification
7. Brave Leaders with integrity do not hide behind the ambiguity of the law – Chilima continued use of the loopholes in the law that he cannot be fired and holding on to the office of the vice President continue to portray him as a greedy politician who wants to hoodwink the country to believe he is a different caliber of politician
8. Abusing state resources for personal gains – since breaking ranks with the DPP and launching the UTM, Chilima has been crisscrossing the country on tax payers money for personal gain not in the interest of Malawians
9. Chilima needs to be held accountable – the remarks that Chilima has made as regards to elections rigging and eavesdropping machine by the Government are very dangerous coming from the Vice President of the country. That Chilima doesn’t want to provide evidence on the same puts to question his character as a leader and hence the need for him to resign
10. More tax payers money will be wasted – This country needs a functioning Vice President. With Chilima’s self-imposed absence from the Government, President Mutharika might be forced to appoint a second vice President.

This is a drain on the resources and tax payers as they have to pay for two vice presidents with one not functioning. If indeed Chilima stands on reforms was that people must be paid for their work and performance, he can do this country good by resigning and concentrate on his political ambitions.

Signed by PETER MUMBA, CHAIRPERSON – JCSPG