Tag Archives: Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera

Human Rights, Malawi

MCP President Chakwera calls for peaceful MK4billion payout demo

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President, Lazarus Chakwera, has asked for peaceful protests this coming Friday and appealed for calm from all willing demonstrators.
The demonstrations have been planned by rights activists to protest against the K4 billion payout and other social issues affecting Malawians.

Chakwera, who said he fully subscribes to the 10-point demand that the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have formulated for the demonstrations, said the right to demonstrate is an expression of people’s views towards those in power.

He said the issues that the CSOs are demanding are the same issues that legislators have been raising in Parliament.

“My appeal would be, let them be done peacefully. Let them be done in a way that truly expresses the grievances that Malawians feel at this particular time,” he said.

“But you can also see that it has been a build up because these issues have not just come out of the blues. It is a combination of impunity, insensitivity and the kind of carefree attitude the present administration has demonstrated over the last four years,” Chakwera said.

On the accusations that the opposition is equally compromised and does not have moral grounds to speak on the K4 billion payout issue, the Leader of Opposition said looking at the role of Parliament in the mess, such people could be right.

He, however, said the government narrative before and after Parliament’s approval is vindicating the suspicions that parliamentarians were duped into thinking that the payout was good for Malawians, when in actual sense, it was not done in good faith and Parliament needs to cleanse itself.

“I said Parliament needs to do something in its own right. Because what has happened is almost legitimisation of something that is not right and yet going through the right process and that is not correct,” he said.

Chakwera said he is backing the demonstrations and Malawians have reached the point of saying enough is enough.

However, the Vice-President Saulos Chilima on Monday followed the footsteps of President Peter Mutharika in rebuffing a request from civil society organisations (CSOs) during the planned April 27 demonstrations to personally receive a petition.

Malawi, Politics, Top News

Chakwera pens Msowoya, Kaliwo for dialogue over MCP legal fights

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera is reportedly penned his deputy and Secretary General (SG) Richard Msowoya and Gustav Kaliwo respectively inviting them to a peace and dialogue talk, it has been learnt.

This comes barely a few days after MCP SG Kaliwo and four others obtained a fresh injunction restraining the party leadership from suspending them.

The court injunction dated March 12, 2018 also stops the party from holding a convention early next month.

But in a letter made available to The Maravi Post, Chakwera said it’s high time that MCP should be settled its difference amicably as a family and put out their differences aside to prepare well for the 2019 tripartite elections.

The letter has however not indicated the dates for the meeting.

“We cannot keep on fighting and make healings in the media and losing out support from our people, it’s our duty as elected leaders to put our house in order in readiness for next year’s elections,” reads the letter in part.

Msowoya and Kaliwo are yet to respond to Chakwera’s letter saying they need time to consults before they give their response.

However, MCP deputy spokes person Ezekiel Ching’oma doubted the authenticity of the letter arguing its all fake.

Ching’oma added that nothing of that sort has been written to the said suspended MCP senior members; “Are they credible sources? Its all fake”.

In January this year, the party’s executive committee held a meeting in which they resolved to suspend and fire some of the members who have sought the injunction.

According to the civil case number 070 of March 12, 2018 is between claimants; Secretary General (SG) Gustavo Kaliwo, Vice President Richard Msowoya, deputy secretary general James Kaunda, treasurer general Tony Kandiero and Publicity Secretary Jessie Kabwira, and defendants; MCP President Lazarus Chakwera, Ezekiel Ching’oma and NEC members.

The court has ordered the MCP NEC not to summon any claimants to the disciplinary inquires and from suspending them until trial of action or until further order of the court.

Malawi, Politics

Chakwera welcomes Muluzi, Matenje, Chiwanga’s sons into MCP camp

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The amin opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera over the weekend welcomed into the party children of slain Cabinet minister Dick Matenje and member of Parliament (MP) David Chiwanga.

Don Matenje and Francis Chiwanga were welcomed into the MCP fold alongside Francis Muluzi, son to former president Bakili Muluzi and Chiyembekezo Bwanali, son to former Cabinet minister, the late Edward Bwanali.

The four were unveiled by aspiring MCP vice-president Sidik Mia at Lunzu Trading Centre in Blantyre during an impromptu rally held to welcome Chakwera in Blantyre where he is expected to perform a number of engagements.

Matenje and Chiwanga were among four MCP politicians killed in cold blood in Mwanza in 1983 before their bodies were allegedly stuffed in one vehicle and pushed down a cliff along Thambani Road to make it look like their car plunged down an embankment in an accident.

The four new members, who were each given time to address the gathering, individually pledged to work for MCP and ensure that it gets into government next year.

Chiwanga’s son said it was depressing that some parties were using their fathers’ tragedy to de-campaign the MCP ahead of next year’s polls.

“The people in the other camp are busy citing our parents’ names as examples of the alleged atrocities committed by MCP during its previous regime. But we have decided to work with the MCP because we know those killings were not committed by the current regime,” he told the gathering.

On his part, Muluzi said since he decided to join MCP, detractors have created numerous stories but “your [Chakwera’s] coming in the Southern Region has given me strength and be assured we will do the job to ensure that you get into government next year”.

Others given the platform to speak included Mia, retired Livingstonia CCAP Synod deputy general secretary Reverend Maurice Munthali and former deputy speaker of Parliament, Loveness Gondwe, who was president of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc).

The MCP leader Chakwera therefore said those who waste their time using the names of Chiwanga and Matenje, and others, to demonise the MCP do not deserve a comment from him.

“We have a vision for Malawians. We know Malawians deserve the best. God has given us sufficient resources that if managed well, with a clear vision, we can truly transform this nation within a very short time.

“But the obvious challenge right now is failure by the current regime to decisively deal with issues of corruption, theft and mismanagement,” said Chakwera.

The MCP president, who is also leader of opposition in the country, said he expected a democratic convention where every MCP member will have the opportunity to contest on any position of his or her choice.

Health, Malawi, Top News

Area 18 households were supplied water mixed with sewage- Malawi’s Presidential inquiry

Maravi Post Reporter

A six-member task-force appointed by President Peter Mutharika to investigate the water contamination incident that occurred in Area 18 in Lilongwe in July last year when some residents had sewage-filled water flowing from their taps, has completed its work and presented a report which confirms the inhumane and degrading water contamination in the capital city’s township.

The report was submitted on Monday to Government’s Chief Secretary Lloyd Muhara.

Presenting the report of the findings, Chief Director in the Office of President and Cabinet, Rexie Chiluzi, who was Chairperson of the taskforce, said having analysed all the information collected the committee found that that some areas in the capital city’s Area 18A residential estate were supplied tap water that had been mixed with sewage on 18 July, 2017.

Chiluzi said a blocked sewerline that resulted in an over flowing manhole caused the contamianation for a Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) supply pipeline.

He said one of the supply pipes burst underground near a broken sewer system, a development that sipped the sewerage into the LWB supply pipeline.

“The sewer had been flowing in a road side drain along Salima Street passing where the board
water pipe burst which was 100 meters away from the overflowing manhole,” he said.

The taskforce has recommended Lilongwe Water Board should continue conducting water quality tests in all parts of the city on regular basis to ensure that quality of water conforms to standards.

The report has recommended that Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) to have a well trained staff who should be dealing with sewer systems on daily basis.

The taskforce has further recommended to the Lilongwe City Council (LCC) to improve Sanitation in Area 18 and the rest of the city.

MHC and LCC are the ones who manage the sewer system in the area which, according to the residents, overflows very often but the two institutions are failing to rectify the situation despite recent water contamination incident.

In his statement, Muhara commended the task force for coming up with the report.

Muhara also urged the LCC, MHC and LWB to make use of the recommendations.

A series of press investigative reports tt exposed how deep-rooted the problem of faecal matter was getting into city residents’ food and water.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera, who is also leader of Opposition in Parliament, the Area 18 contamination could be a tip of an iceberg on the magnitude of the problem in the cities of Malawi as most of the installations were built about 50 years ago.

The civil service-led team had deputy Director of administration (OPC), Victor Sandikonda in the secretariat.

Other members in the task-force were Modesta Kanjaye, Director of Water in the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development; Chief State Advocate in the Ministry of Justice, Pacharo Kayira; Director of Local Government Service in the Ministry of Local Government, Sphiwe Mauwa, and Dr. Magret Kabuluzi who is Director of Preventive Health Services in the Ministry of Health.

Malawi, Politics, Top News

President Mutharika chides critics for politicizing corruption

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

APM chides Lazarus Chakwera, says “MCP is in tatters because of his leadership”

Henry Chizimba
President Mutharika says MCP is in “tatters” because of Chakwera’s undemocratic tendencies

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)— The state president Peter Arthur Mutharika, on Monday accused Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera of bringing disunity in the once mighty party with his undemocratic tendencies.

Mutharika made the remarks in Lilongwe upon arrival from the Southern region where he had different engagements, including the commemoration of his late brother, former president Bingu Wa Mutharika, at Ndata Farm in Thyolo district.

Speaking to a multitude of people, who gave him a thunderous welcome, Mutharika said he will continue with his development agenda, despite getting unjustified criticisms from Chakwera.

He said Chakwera is not the right person to be talking about the government failures, saying his party is heading towards extinction.

“They have been saying that you do not want me, but I am surprised with the welcome. I want to assure you that I will continue developing the nation.

“Forget about what the president of the crocodiles’ party is saying. He cannot lead the nation. The party was strong when great leader, Kamuzu Banda was alive, but with the coming of this man, the party is in tatters,” Mutharika said, amid ululation from the staunch Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters.

In apparent reference to Allan Ntata, who was legal advisor to the late president Bingu Wa Mutharika, the president said “someone said there is no transformation in Malawi, but surprisingly he failed to define transformation when asked on a certain television station.”

Ntata is one of the DPP critics and he censures government under the banner ‘Reform to Transform’ slogan.

On development, Mutharika said for the first time in the history of Malawi, seven big roads are under construction at the same time.

In her remarks, DPP secretary-general Grizeder Jeffrey wa Jeffrey, thanked the president for being democratic and tolerant to views from different individuals including the opponents.

She further said that the party has lined up a number of transformative plans under the transformative leadership of President Mutharika, ranging from social, economical, infrastructure among others.

“We are considering all aspects of human kind; the government is widening skill-based developments through construction of community technical colleges, constructing roads, enhancing health service delivery, talk of education, food security and most importantly it is rebuilding its economy,” she said.

Jeffrey then urged people in the country to support the government and said time to act to the contrary is far gone.