I am not the problem—Bingu

I am not the problem but the solution to the current challenges facing Malawi, President Bingu wa Mutharika declared on Tuesday, asking Malawians to stop lying to international development partners.

Speaking in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe on his arrival from the African Union Summit in Ethiopia, Mutharika said during his meetings with United Kingdom Secretary for State for International Development Andrew Mitchell and USA Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson, they told him he was the source of problems in Malawi.

He said some people in Malawi lied to the international development partners that police shot innocent people during the July 20, 2011 anti-government demonstrations in Malawi.
“I listened to their concerns and I took the opportunity to explain what we are doing about all the issues. What is sad is that people from here continue telling lies. When I said that the devil is sitting on some of you, it is clear from the lies that you create,” said Mutharika.
The President, who addressed a press briefing in the VVIP lounge of the Kamuzu International Airport, told journalists from public and state-run media that in his meetings with the two major donors, he assured them he represents the interests of the country. The private media shunned the press briefing.
“I told them I am not the problem. I am the solution. It is sad how Malawians have turned from being honest people. They even lied about how I voted at the African Union for the chairmanship,” said Mutharika, who disclosed that he voted according to SADC agreement in support of South African Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
He said Carson told him that the resumption of the suspended Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) funding for rehabilitation of electricity supply system in Malawi was dependent on the resumption of the International Monetary Fund programme.
“We have set up commissions of inquiry, we have a team on dialogue and I am asking what next you want me to do,” said the President.
Mutharika repeated his offer that the opposition, the media and religious groups should call him if they have progressive ideas, claiming that people were hoarding fuel while others were externalising foreign exchange.
“I know where the foreign exchange goes. No matter how smart you are, you cannot beat the system. We will catch up with you,” said Mutharika who patted himself on the back as his proposal to have a fixed theme for the AU summits for three years was adopted.
In the official communiqué, Mutharika noted that intra-Africa Trade only constituted 10 percent and there was a need to boost it for Africa to develop quickly.