LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-A task force has been established to raise funds aimed at bailing out former Malawi President Peter Mutharika’s legal fees in Chief Justice Charles Nyirenda case amounting to MK69.5 million.
The grouping dubbed as “Concerned citizens” on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 told the news conference in the capital Lilongwe that the move is not to defend any wrong doing but help former Malawi leaders following his bank account freezing.
The grouping chairperson Mundango Nyirenda wondered as to why the court could give Mutharika 14 days to pay the legal fees when all in all his bank accounts were not accessible.
Nyirenda therefore suspects President Lazarus Chakwera’s Tonse administration political persecution to weaken opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
“In the same vein we would like to make a passionate appeal to Malawians of goodwill both within and
outside the country and other nationals to join our initiative to raise funds to settle the MK69.5 million
our former head of state is expected to settle as determined by the courts.
“Find us on our Facebook page Justice for APM and make your contribution through bank account detailsto be made public in due course.Let’s join hands to bail out our former leader from this very unfortunate situation,” says Mundango
He added, “No matter how many charges Mutharika might face, genuine or tramped up, he still remains the former
Presidentof this country, and he deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect he deserves”.
Mutharika along side former Chief Secretary Office of President and Cabinet Lloyd Muhara were on last week order to pay the legal fees amounting to MK69.5 million after loosing the case in Chief Justice Nyirenda was forced to go retirement before his time.
Below is the full statement:
CONCERNED CITIZENS
Press Statement
March 16, 2021
LET’S JOIN HANDS IN SEEKING JUSTICE FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT, PROF. ARTHUR PETER MUTHARIK
Fellow Citizens,
We are here representing all Malawians of goodwill and those that believe in justice. We are in our own capacity abonafide citizen of Malawi and a strong advocate of respect for the rule of law and justice in Malawi.
Fellow citizens, as you are all aware, we went to the polls on June 23,2020 for the Fresh Presidential Elections (FPE), after the High Court sitting as the Constitutional Court, nullified the May 21,2019 Presidential Polls.
All eyes were on the reaction of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika who even according to the Concourt amassed more votes than any other candidate in the disputed polls.
Mutharika proved to be a true statesman and a patriot after he humbly, honourably and without a fuss moved out of the State House to his retirement Home in Mangochi.
This facilitated smooth transfer of power to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera whom the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) declared as the rightful winner of the FPE despite the widespread intimidation of DPP monitors in the central region.
Mutharika has now honorably joined the league of former Presidents alongside Dr. Bakili Muluzi and Dr Joyce Banda who according to the Republican Constitution, are entitled to some benefits.
Fellow citizens, we are not here to defend anyone from any wrong doing, and neither are we here to comment on court rulings and judgments, but rather to ignite debate and ask well-wishers to join our course.
Malawians are fully aware that the State obtained a court order to freeze Mutharika’s bank accounts, pending investigations on a matter he was already cleared.
As his legal team was battling it out in the courts to allow him have access to his bank accounts, Malawians who chose to care were shocked to read media reports indicating that the High Court has ruled that Mutharika and his former Chief Secretary, Mr. Lloyd Muhara, should pay MK69.5 million.
It is for this reason that we the concerned citizens issue this statement and raise a moral question as to how does the court expect the former President to comply with the court order when the same court is fully aware that it allowed the freezing of the accused’s bank accounts?
This also begs other questions as to whether Government has given Mutharika his benefits befitting a former head of state.
Finally, should we say this is justice being administered on the Statesman that is Mutharika or this is a mere political persecution? Can’t this be construed as an attempt on the part of the Tonse Alliance administratio under President Lazarus Chakwera to finish off Mutharika in a deliberate attempt to weaken the DPP. which is a major opposition political party?
After all is said and done, we felt the pressure was just too much on the former President, and unfortunately everyone seems not to care as people have folded their arms and are just looking at what is happening to Mutharika. What we are forgetting is that a very bad precedent is being set today, and after APM we do not know who is next in line to be victimized.
We as concerned citizens have undertaken a decision to write the donor community to bring to their attention the way the Tonse Alliance and indeed President Chakwera are treating the former Head of State. It is our conviction that he is being victimized for political reasons, as this is not a case of justice but rather political persecution!
In the same vein we would like to make a passionate appeal to Malawians of goodwill both within and outside the country and other nationals to join our initiative to raise funds to settle the MK69.5 million our former head of state is expected to settle as determined by the courts.Find us on our Facebook page Justice for APM and make your contribution through bank account detailsto be made public in due course.Let’s join hands to bail out our former leader from this very unfortunate situation. No matter how many charges Mutharika might face, genuine or tramped up, he still remains the former Presidentof this country, and he deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect he deserves.
THANK YOU ALL! AND MAY GOD BLESS MALAWI!
SIGNED
National Chairman: Mungando Nyirenda 0999759653/0888366418
Vice Chairperson : Cynthia Chikalimba
National Cordinator: Bertha Mkawachale 0999022212/0881404944
National Executive Member: Zainab Hassan
We have a very corrupt judiciary system in Malawi. How do you expect the former President to pay over 60 million in 14 days and yet the same court has frozen his accounts? This is exactly political persecution. Pur court have lost the dignity they used to have. Thay have turned out to be political weapons to fight the opposition. To the former head of state, remain cool. The Almighty God will fight for you. This too will pass.
Chakwera has dictatorial Tendencies