Deal with my critics—Bingu

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika on Sunday directed his DPP cadres to once again deal with his critics whom he claimed have planned demonstrations to disrupt government this month.

But civil society and the opposition have distanced themselves from the demonstration plans, and urged the President to solve problems not hit at his critics. They have also pointed out that demonstrations are a constitutional right.

Mutharika was speaking at Goliati Trading Centre in Thyolo when he officially inaugurated the Malowa-Goliati-Chiperoni Road.

The President said he is tired of continued insults from members of the opposition, civil society organisations (CSOs) and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs). He thus directed members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to step in “and defend their father rather than just sit back and watch him take crap from them”.

Said Mutharika: “They have been insulting me and I have not hit back. If you think I’m issuing threats, take it as you like. Enough is enough. I will not accept this nonsense any more. I understand they have organised demonstrations and vigils this month, funded by some donors.

“Let us, as the DPP, find a solution to foil these plans. Their cause is aimed not for fuel of forex but to cause chaos in the name of peaceful demos. Mudziwe chochita [find ways to deal with the issue]. If donors are going to criticise that, this is not democracy; to hell with you. I have had enough. If any donor wants to withdraw from this country, let them leave and go”.

But the Council for Non Governmental Organisations (Congoma), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) said they have no information on any planned demonstrations this month. They have asked the President to clearly spell out names.

Congoma chairperson Voice Mhone said while CSOs and opposition parties do not fear the release of DPP cadets to deal with any of their (CSOs) membership, they are still in respect of the ongoing sitting of dialogue, hence have no plans for demonstrations.

Said Mhone: “Maybe he is trying to pre-empt on possible actions we may take should the dialogue fail to reach a compromise come March 28 2012. The President should be tired of the problems on the ground and not his critics. [Unless] he exerts all his energy and resources in finding solutions together, the criticism will not stop. People will still talk”.

UDF director of research Humphrey Mvula said it is wrong for Mutharika to direct his DPP to take the law into their own hands, saying the first time he did that, a lot of things happened such as attacks on his critics, resulting in “commission of inquiries that are still trying to unpuzzle the puzzles.”

Said Mvula: “In any case, demos are constitutional rights and if he is not happy with them, he should re-visit the Constitution and scrap them from our laws. He should retract his speech”.

MCP spokesperson Nancy Tembo said everyone planning demonstrations goes through the required process of applications. Tembo expressed surprise with the President’s proclamation on something many people seemed oblivious to.

Said Tembo: “Someone within his ranks is giving him wrong intelligence information. It is sad that one minute he preaches peace, reconciliation and turns around quickly to preach violence and anarchy. We are worried”.

 

FAST FACTS

• This is not the first time the President has asked his DPP cadres to directly deal with his critics.
• On March 6 2011, the President asked the party followers to deal with civil society that had given him a 14-day ultimatum to respond to their petition on persistent fuel shortages, escalating consumer prices and their effects on business and social life;  governance, drug shortages in public hospitals and low standards of education, among others.