I’ll never resign, APM challenges opponents

President Peter Mutharika vowed yesterday that he will never step down despite mounting pressure from the opposition for him to do so.

Speaking yesterday when he laid a foundation stone for Daeyang Luke University in Lilongwe, Mutharika dared his critics to wait until 2019 when elections shall be held.

Said the President: “I will never step down. Those calling for my resignation are just wasting their time. I cannot step down. No! No! No!”

He also rebuked Prophet T.B. Joshua of Nigeria for prophesying deaths of African leaders when he could not foretell the tragedy that struck his building which killed hundreds of his followers.

“I am told this man called T.B. Joshua says Robert Mugabe and I will die this year. But I want to assure and challenge him that I am still around until 2019,” said Mutharika.

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), People’s Party (PP) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) are calling for the resignation of Mutharika, whom they accuse of failing to steer the nation out of social and economic hardships.

Delegates to the Fifth All-Inclusive Public Affairs Committee (PAC) Meeting held in Blantyre last month also asked the President to resign, saying the woes currently haunting the nation were enough evidence that his government had failed.

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila is on record as saying the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should swallow its pride and accept that the country is facing a lot of challenges.

Rumphi East Member of Parliament (MP) Kamlepo Kalua told a joint MCP, PP and Aford rally held in Area 25 recently that Mutharika had 90 days to quit and hand over power to a caretaker government.

Meanwhile, Mutharika has commended Daeyang Luke for working tirelessly towards sealing gaps in the health sector in Malawi. n