Mutharika Resignation Calls Irrelevant: Chiefs

Mutharika’s Resignation Calls Irrelevant-Chiefs

By: Andrew Cane Chilapondwa

Senior Chiefs from the Northern part of Malawi have slammed calls made by opposition parties in Malawi for President Peter Mutharika to resign within the next 90 days.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Peoples Party (PP) had a joint rally over the weekend where they urged the President to step down if he fails to solve the current economic and food crisis within 90 days.

The senior chiefs had a press briefing at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu where they warned that Mutharika’s resignation will not bring imminent change towards the country’s economic and food crisis.

Traditional Authority Mwang’ombe from Karonga district told reporters that problems being experienced in the country are not man-made.

“We had floods last year which swept away our harvests but these opposition parties are pointing fingers at the president, was he responsible for the floods? We cannot deny the fact that we are having problems in the country but the solution is not forcing the president to step down,” he said.

He also attributed the current economic crisis to cashgate scandal that took place in the Joyce Banda regime which saw billions of money being squandered by some selfish individuals.

Chiefs who attended the meeting were senior chiefs Mpherembe of Mzimba, Fukapiri and Mkumbira of Nkhata Bay, Mwahenga and Mwankhunikira from Rumphi, Kamene from Chitipa and Traditional Authorities (T/A) Kilipula and Mwang’ombe.

Surprisingly, all the three paramount chiefs from Mbelwa, Chikulamayembe and Kyungu were not present at the briefing.

Meanwhile, Mutharika should brace himself for massive protests next week by some Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s).