DPP campaign launch in pictures

One of the brand new DPP painted pick-ups carrying DPP painted youths.

DPP campaign has gone hitech. The is a mobile state- of- the- art mobile tv screen to be used by the DPP during the campaign period. Never seen in Malawi before!

Three of the DPP branded buses. Dr Bingu wa Mutharika uses the first one on the right.

Arrival with pomp, some DPP supporters arriving in the stadium by bus.

One of he man DPP brand new Toyota pick-ups.

All pictures by Malawi Digest. Please Nyasatimes don't steal them as you always do, tell Bakili Muluzi to hire you a photographer.

Nyasatimes stealing our pictures

We would like to warn the publishers of the opposition UDF and Bakili Muluzi online propaganda tool, Nyasatimes to stop with immediate effect their unprofessional conduct of taking pictures from the Malawi Digest website to their site.

We believe that it is very unprofessional of you to be taking our pictures and start using them on your website without any consent from us.

Malawi Digest invests money for those pictures to be taken by professional photographers and Nyasatimes cannot be just taking them from our site without any prior arrangement and agreement.

Whilst Nyasatimes has been claiming to be a professional media organisation, we find it very interesting to see that our pictures are being taken almost on daily basis and used by Nyasatimes without any shame.

You mean that former president Bakili Muluzi who funds you cannot afford to pay for a photographer to be sending you latest pictures from Malawi?

We are not prepared to enter into any media war with failed journalists who after failling journalism turned themselves into UDF young democrats before flying overseas to seek asylum in the whiteman's country.

We hope that you will also listen to the Media Council of Malawi advice that you must change and turn professionalism and not the way you operate like former young democrats.

To make matter worse, you have published our pictures even without acknowledging us. How professional are you? Is that the kind of journalism you know?

Some of our pictures have also been used in very abusive ways on your site. Please stop this behaviour once and for all as we are not your picture agents.

Please stop taking our pictures!!!

The UDF has got enough people to be taking the pictures for you and send them to you other than you copying the pictures without consent from us.

Afterall, we are not interested in an working relationship with you.

Nyasatimes, please stop today, once and for all - Malawi Digest Editor.

The crook who met his match

Plain View with Mzati Mkolokosa

I WAS TOLD THIS story in the way of a warning that a crook must never be allowed to fool me twice mainly because we live once and some mistakes cannot be repeated.

The story is straightforward. A man, let us call him, Two Boy, married a woman at a village called Namara and failed miserably to manage his family that he was chased from the village. He did not care for his wife also. He failed so miserably for all to see.

It all started when Two Boy came to Namara Village. This was a society in which a man leaves his home to stay with his wife at her home.

Here, the man promised that he would bring cattle and ploughs to prepare people’s field.

“You will no longer use hoes, except for planting and minor works,” he said, “not for preparing ridges no. Not when I am here.” That was in June. He spoke as he lazed on a verandah, by the fire.

People believed him. It’s winter time, so let us not doubt his ability at work, they said. After the cold days, he will join us in the season of work, they thought.

But come August, the man was on the road, moving from one village to another, making more promises, more pledges. He did not ask what people wanted, he simply told them what he thought they wanted. Some did not believe Two Boy but they were outnumbered by those who believed the man.

One day, while walking three villages away, Two Boy met a man who was going to Namara Village to pay back K7 which he borrowed from a resident of the village. Upon greetings, Two Boy told the man that he did not need to walk all the distance.

“I will give him the money on your behalf,” pledged Two Boy.

He got the money but never did what he promised. Now K7, then, was a lot of money. It was school fees for two junior primary school pupils. And you know that people failed to go to school because of fees, lack of K3.50.

As this story of theft spread throughout the villages, more such stories started to flow like waters in a river that runs throughout the year. Here, too, he took some maize for his mother-in-law, said one. That maize flew in the sky and never reached its destination.

Here, he took eggs. These too disappeared. Here also, also said another man, Two Boy promised us razor blades for cutting our fingernails. They are yet to come. He said his father has a factory that makes razors in town and he would bring a carton of the product.

And there was one story of an old woman who was sick and needed some medicine. Two Boy, who had a bicycle, took some money from the old woman, saying he would buy the medicine for her. He never returned with the medicine, not even the money. Out of love for order and peace, this was not said at the funeral of the woman because she died while waiting for the medicine that never came. It was a sad story.

Now after four months, another man came to marry the woman. He was not eloquent as Two Boy. Some people knew him when they discussed what he had done, the good work of his mind.

This is when Two Boy appeared from wherever he was hiding. “I want my wife,” he said. A few people who benefited from the money he stole started to back him. Let Two Boy take his wife, they said. After all, they claimed, Two Boy was just chased, there was no divorce. The new husband is illegitimate, committing adultery and not in official marriage, they added.

The new husband must be chased away, they concluded. But by the mercies of those who loved peace and the work of the new husband, life went on. Two Boy was not allowed back into the village. He did not get back his old wife. The new husband stayed on. Sanity prevailed. I was told this story two decades ago. Now in the new century, it seems to make sense.

My plain view is that some mistakes must never be repeated. Crooks like Two Boy must never be allowed to fool people twice. I hope you see the sense -Nation on Sunday 15 March, 2009, Page 16.

On Muluzi’s candidature

Guest Opinion by Joseph Moloka-Sikwese

IT IS LOUD AND CLEAR. The writing is clear on the wall. The question about Muluzi’s presidential candidature that has been lingering in the minds of many Malawians for a long time has now been answered, though it has been sent to the courts.

But somehow the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has shown its position on the matter. It has declared that Muluzi is not eligible to contest for state presidency since he already served his two consecutive terms as state president from 1994 to 2004.

Analysing the remarks made at the UDF Mangochi rally over the weekend, in the interviews with various media houses, the decision of MEC is bitter is bitter pill to swallow for Muluzi and his UDF party. The UDF and Muluzi strongly feel Dr Bingu wa Mutharika had a hand in MEC’s decision.

Many UDF officials and their so-called alliance partners have made several remarks on MEC’s decision. As expected they side with Muluzi claiming that MEC’s decision to bar Muluzi from contesting is politically motivated.

They have said the influence on the decision has come from the DPP because all along the DPP has been telling the nation that Muluzi does not qualify to contest for the presidency.

They have said Anastasia Msosa and her team have been forced by the executive arm of government since they were appointed single-handedly by the State President who is an interested party in the forthcoming elections.

Thus, according to them, MEC is not an independent body. And now, Muluzi’s legal team, which according to media reports comprises both local and foreign lawyers, is challenging the decision of MEC at the High Court.

This stand of UDF and their allies raises many questions, which are worthy reflecting on.

The UDF claims that MEC is not independent. Imagine the courts overturn the decision of MEC, and allow Muluzi contest in the forthcoming elections, but the results do not go his way.

Will Muluzi and the UDF accept the results? Won’t they claim that the results have been dictated to MEC by someone? Can’t we experience the Kenyan or Zimbabwean scenario?

Politicians rarely accept the election results if they lose in the name of the elections being not free end fair.

A simple example is the parliamentary primary elections. Every aspirant claimed to have massive support, but lost because the election was not free and fair.

Of course some primary elections were really not free and fair. But some genuinely lost, but cannot accept that fact.

Coming back to the issue of Muluzi, we can say that the UDF took a clearly precarious move to elect Muluzi as their torch bearer in the in the forthcoming elections.

They have other persons who can fit the cap of presidential candidate, like Humphrey Mvula, Nga Mtafu, Friday Jumbe, Lillian Patel, Brown Mpinganjira, Harry Thomson et al. Why could Muluzi not elect one of them? Muluzi says Mutharika won because Muluzi himself campaigned for him. Was it difficult to campaign again for Harry Thomson or Lillian Patel?

Perhaps the problem of UDF as various political commentators have pointed out, is that Muluzi is more powerful than the UDF itself just as Mutharika is more powerful than his DPP and John Tembo is more powerful than his MCP.

These political leaders are looked at by their parties like gods. They just impose themselves and their ideas on their parties, and to oppose them decision tantamount to sin.

Friday Jumbe and Brown Mpinganjira have openly said that they cannot contest against Muluzi. What Muluzi and other politicians should know is that they can fool some Malawians, but they cannot fool all Malawians- Nation on Sunday 29 March 2009, Page 17.

DPP fires warning shot

LOUD AND CLEAR: A DPP campaign bus on the Kamuzu Stadium football pitch. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Rodney Muthipo

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Thursday painted the city of Blantyre blue, the official colours for the party.

This was to mark the official launch for campaign for the May 19th Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Starting from the presidential Sanjika Palace, a convoy of over 100 vehicles accompanied president Bingu wa Mutharika when he visited some areas within the commercial city, Blantyre.

The trip took him to Catholic Institute, Stella Maris Secondary School, Zingwangwa Township, Kamba, Kanjedza, Limbe Market, and Ndirande Township before the convoy hit the Kamuzu Stadium.

On this trip, thousands upon thousands of people lined up on the road sides to catch a glimpse at Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, the man who has transformed Malawi’s misfortunes to fortunes and turning round the country’s economy completely.

The Kamuzu Stadium which sports authorities here say it has got an official sitting capacity of 60,000 had all the stands filled up.

That was not all, there was an overflow of the people onto the
football pitch itself after Dr Bingu wa Mutharika arrived in the stadium.

Statisticians estimated that over 20,000 people sat on the football pitch and another 10,000 failed to find space into the stadium putting the record of people that attended the function to over 90,000.

When the main entrance gates were opened at exactly 13:50 local time there was a round of applause, ululation and cheering as the crowd saw the unexpected.

Leading the blue convoy was the usual traffic Police, followed by over 30 brand new Toyota Hilux pick ups all painted in blue.

Then, there were six brand new black Hummers on the convoy one of which Dr Mutharika used at some points on his way to Kamuzu Stadium.

To reach the climax of it all, four buses carrying students, officials and other supporters finished the convoy.

State President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika was in one of the buses. He was coloured in all blue.

The VVIP area of the Kamuzu Stadium was transformed into all blue.

In the stadium itself, there was a huge blue balloon flying high up in the air, another one was right on the ground.

In the left corner of the stadium, the DPP’s election campaign went technology.

There was a black DPP truck fitted with a big screen that beamed the entire proceedings in the stadium to all the people in the stadium.

These are just but a few things that happened in the Kamuzu Stadium and outside never seen before in Malawian politics.

Justice Minister Henry Dama Phoya told the huge crowd that what the people saw in the stadium and outside, was a warning shot from the DPP to all political parties in Malawi that come May 19th, the DPP was coming back into power forming the next government – Malawi Digest.

Dr Mutharika, DPP shakes Blantyre

By Lucy Liponda

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) this morning engages the second gear of its 2009 Presidential and Parliamentary Election campaign when it launches its campaign in the southern region.

The launch, takes place at the giant Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial city, Blantyre.

However, to add colour, pop and hype to the event, State President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika will not go straight to the stadium from his presidential palace.

According to information gathered by Malawi Digest from Sanjika Palace, the State President and his convoy decorated in DPP colours will visit some areas in the city before the launch.

The information says that Dr Mutharika is expected to depart Sanjika Palace at 10 am via the Catholic Institute (CI) area, Stella Maris Secondary School, driving through Zingwangwa Township, Kamba to Limbe Market then into the Masauko Chipembere Highway to the famous Clock Tower in Blantyre via Mwaiwathu Hospital to Ndirande township and visit Makata area before the convoy lands at the Kamuzu Stadium.

According to the ruling DPP spokesperson Dr Hetherwick Ntaba the launch is expected to be one of the best ever staged in Malawian politics.

“Last Sunday we failed because of the rains and we are very optimistic that this time around, rains will not disturb us. Let all people come to the Kamuzu Stadium and see for themselves how popular the DPP is,” he told Malawi Digest.

On the behaviour of DPP supporters during the campaign period, Dr Ntaba said that the party’s supporters are some of the best behaved.

“Our supporters are calm and well behaved because they know that their DPP is going back into government and that the Malawi incumbent leader Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is already assured on victory after May 19th,” he said.

After this launch at the Kamuzu Stadium in the southern region today, the launch moves to the other remaining three regions in the next few weeks.

Mangochi is the next destination where the launch will be held next Wednesday.

Last month, the DPP became the first political party to launch its election campaign manifesto in all of the country’s four regions.

The DPP manifesto was launched in the southern region in Mulanje, Machinga in eastern region, Mchinji in central region and Karonga in northern region – Malawi Digest.

Makande, Kamlepo to appear in court

By Emmanuel Sobilika

Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) deputy secretary general Hophmally Makande and Malawi Democratic Party (MDP) president Kamlepo Kalua will this Thursday appear before the Zomba Magistrate Court where the two will be charged formally.

It follows their arrest on Wednesday in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre.

Both Makande and Kalua, handed themselves over to the Southern Region Police Headquarters Police on Wednesday after hearing there was a warrant of arrest issued against them.

Eastern Region Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwe told Malawi Digest in Zomba that Makande has been arrested for proposing violence whilst Kalua has been arrested uttering seditious words.

He said investigations on the matter are over and that the two will appear in court today.

The alleged offences were committed at the UDF manifesto launch last Saturday in the lake side district of Mangochi.

Former president Bakili Muluzi attended the rally and although both Makande and Kamlepo spoke earlier than Muluzi, the former president did not condemn the sentiments uttered by the two opposition leaders – Malawi Digest.

Is this what Malawians want? Hand-outs?

Former president Bakili Muluzi believes in hand-outs. See the way he is acting like Father Christmas!!!

And more hand-outs from Muluzi in this second picture. A bare footed woman receiving a K50 note from Muluzi. Can that be enough to buy her the shoes Muluzi promised in 1994?

We need to hear from you our esteemed readers, what do you think of Bakili Muluzi's hand-outs culture. Is this what Malawians want for the country to develop?

Please put your comments below we want to know the truth-Malawi Digest.

Nyasa apologises to Dr Mutharika for lying

By Lucy Liponda

Former President Bakili Muluzi's online propaganda tool, Nyasatimes has retracted and apologised to State President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika for publishing reports that the Head of State was not feeling well and that he had handed over the reigns of power to his brother Professor Peter Mutharika.

This is the first time that the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) propaganda tool has found itself in this embarassing situation in coming out in the open to confirm it lies to the world.

In the past, Nyasatimes has published stories about Malawi and it's leadership but alot of readers have doubted their credibility.

In the retraction has been published soon after Malawi Digest carried a story that it was one of the media organisations that attended President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika's live special address to the nation at Sanjika Palace in the commercial city Blantyre on Monday evening.

Our reporter, who saw the State President confirmed in the report that Dr Bingu wa Mutharika was in excellent health and not the lies that were being sprayed by the Muluzi propaganda team on the internet.

The country's only state owned television, TVM and Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) also carried the president's live address to the nation.

In its retraction, Nyasatimes said that it relies on security guards for their information on stories from Malawi.

Many people that have emailed Malawi Digest have questioned the credibility of Nyasatimes who in their own writing on their website confirmed they rely on security guards to suplly them with information on their stories.

"How can the whole online publication like Nyasatimes rely on security guards to supply them with information, they are not serious and they cannot be trusted," said an anonymous writer on Malawi Digest.

The Nyasatimes have also been publishing other image tarnishing stories in the past and Malawians are expecting them to apologise for all of them and confirm that they have been lying.

In February during the presentation of nomination papers for Presidential candidates, Nyasatimes also lied that Dr Bingu wa Mutharika had picked Dr Maggie Kalilani as the ruling DPP Presidential runningmate.

This was found to be another lie of the many Nyasatimes lies because Dr Bingu wa Mutharika unveiled Malawi Foreign Affairs Minister Mrs Joyce Banda as the DPP Presidential running mate and not Dr Kalilani as Nyasatimes speculated.

However, Nyasatimes did not apologise for this February lie - Malawi Digest.

President Dr Mutharika in excellent health

State President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, appeared this evening to the press in excellent good health rubbishing the opposition romours. He rolls out the May election DPP campaign this coming Thursday. Watch Out! Pic By Malawi Digest

Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has appeared in public addressing the nation on issues of national importance ahead of the May 19 Presidential and Parliamentary elections Malawi Digest can confirm.

Dr Mutharika’s appearance in public puts to rest rumours that were being sprayed by former president Bakili Muluzi through some of his boys on the internet.

Led by one of Muluzi’s boys based in Canada, using a pseudo name, on Sunday, he wrote on the internet discussion forums that Dr Bingu wa Mutharika collapsed on Saturday and that he was secretly flown out of Malawi to South Africa.

The rumours were further published by Muluzi and UDF propaganda campaign tools, Nyasatimes on Monday.

The rumours spread by Muluzi have come about following the postponement on the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) launch at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday due to bad weather.

For three consecutive days, Malawi has been experiencing heavy rains and on Saturday Muluzi’s supporters were subjected to a lot of suffering as a result of a heavy downpour.

President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and the DPP having the welfare of the people at heart, decided to postpone the event to a later date.

Interestingly, the same time the Muluzi boys were busy publishing these reports about the alleged State President illness, UDF national chairman Bakili Muluzi told his manifesto launch campaign rally in Mangochi that he saw Dr Bingu wa Mutharika going to his private Ndata Farm.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we would have arrived here earlier but we were held up for a while in Limbe because president Bingu wa Mutharika was travelling from Sanjika to his Ndata Farm in Thyolo,” he told the rally monitored on his Joy Radio.

Muluzi's statement on seeing Dr Bingu wa Mutharika going to his private farm on Saturday indicates that the State President is in very sound and perfect health.

It is a fact that one does not go farming when he is not feeling better.

It therefore begs some questions as to why Muluzi told this rally about seeing Dr Mutharika going to his farm and at the same time spreading these alleged illness rumours to his boys who stay in the United Kingdom and Canada.

A political analyst speaking on condition of anonymity told Malawi Digest that it is not surprising that Muluzi is behaving this way because he is frustrated.

“Muluzi wants to divert attention from his embarrassing rejection by the Malawi Electoral Commission on Friday so that people can concentrate on the alleged illness for the State President,” said the analyst.

He said apart from his frustration over his failed candidature, Muluzi is also confused a lot to his huge burden of debts and the politicians who have been jumping the UDF sinking ship opting to work with government.

“Muluzi wants to make sure that the focus is removed away from him due to his numerous problems no wonder he is spreading this rumours,” he said.

Malawi Digest was privileged this afternoon to be amongst members of the press who attended a special address to the nation by State President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.

The President appeared in very good health and with no signs of any illness at all as was speculated by the UDF and Muluzi propagandists.

Instead of responding to these useless propaganda reports, the State President went on to articulate national issues.

In his address, President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika urged Malawians to vote wisely in the May Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

He called on Malawians to vote for Members of Parliament and leaders who had the interest and welfare of people at heart.

“The people we should vote for as MPs should be those that are ready to support government agenda in developing this country,” he said.

In his address which finished just over one and half hours ago, Dr Mutharika condemned opposition MPs in the just dissolved national assembly, describing them as a disgrace to the nation.

“Important government bills were rejected by the opposition MPs,” he said.

Dr Mutharika further appealed to all political parties in the country to conduct a violence free campaign son that Malawi becomes a shinning example in conducting violent free elections

Meanwhile, Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has announced that the ruling DPP campaign launch at the Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial city, Blantyre will take place on Thursday this week because the weather is back to normal.

The DPP campaign launch in Blantyre has shaken the opposition in Malawi as it is expected to be the start of the May polls victory– Malawi Digest.

Police investigating UDF threats

By Lucy Liponda

Malawi Police authorities are reported to be investigating threats made by senior officials for the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) party, Malawi Digest understands.

The threats were made on Saturday by three senior opposition politicians, Hophmally Makande UDF deputy secretary general, Abubakar Mbaya UDF governor for the eastern region and Kamlepo Kalua of the Malawi Democratic Party at Mangochi airfield during the launch of the UDF manifesto led by former president Bakili Muluzi.

The threats made by the three opposition leaders are some of the strongest coercion made by any Malawian politician in public in recent years.

Impeccable Malawi Police sources have disclosed to Malawi Digest that they are not taking the statements made trio at the rally lightly.

“Police officers from Mangochi who were at the rally are compiling information on what the three politicians said,” said our Police source.

The high ranking Police officer based at the Eastern Region’s Police Division in the former colonial capital of Zomba told Malawi Digest that the security organisation is more concerned that even after the three politicians made these threats, former president Bakili Muluzi did not caution them or distance himself from the threats in his address at the rally.

“This makes us wonder if these people were not speaking on instructions from Muluzi. We are putting pieces of information together and within seven days, a decision will be made on how to proceed,” he said.

Malawi Digest, monitored the UDF Mangochi rally through Muluzi’s Joy radio station.

Addressing the people at the rally, Makande said the UDF was giving the independent Malawi Electoral Commission seven days to make another fresh announcement of presidential candidates and include Muluzi’s name.

“After these seven days, we are ready to set this country on fire the way people did in Madagascar, Kenya and Zimbabwe disregarding the law,” said Makande before Joy radio lowered the microphones to take him off air.

However, Makande repeated the threats in an interview with Joy radio during a heavy rain down pour that whatever happens, Muluzi will take part in the May 19th elections.

“We are going to fight our way through and that president Bingu wa Mutharika will run away from this country,” he said.

Almost similar threats were repeated by regional governor Abubakar Mbaya who spoke after Makande.

He told the rally and Muluzi in particular that the people who attended the rally were ready to do anything on behalf of Muluzi.

“These people here are ready to do anything in whatever way to make sure that Muluzi stands in May. We are ready to die for our party,” he said.

At this point, Joy radio also lowered the microphone once again to take Mbaya off air.

The threatening was joined by MDP president Kamlepo Kalua who said that he does not fear Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and the country’s security services the Malawi Police.

“I don’t fear the Police, Bingu wa Mutharika and anyone in Malawi. In fact President Mutharika is a coward,” he said.

This is not the first time, the opposition UDF has opted to use threats in order to survive politically.

About three years ago, former president Bakili Muluzi told a political rally he addressed in the central region district of Nkhotakota that he was going to remove President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika from his post in whatever way before the elapse of his time in power.

He said, “Sindingalephere kupwetsa chubu chimene ndinapopa ndekha (I cannot fail to deflate the tube that I inflated,” he said.

The opposition UDF party of Bakili Muluzi is well known for using threats, lies and inflammatory language at its rallies – Malawi Digest.

DPP postpones campaign launch

By Rodney Muthipo

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party of incumbent Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has postponed the campaign launch that was scheduled for the giant Kamuzu Stadium in the commercial city, Blantyre.

In a brief statement from the Presidential State House, spokesperson Chikumbutso Mtuumodzi said both the event in Blantyre and that of the eastern region in Mangochi on Wednesday have been postponed until further notice.

He said new dates for the campaign launches will be announced to the public.

According to senior DPP party officials, the launch has been postponed due to heavy rains that have been falling in Malawi in the last few days.

“As a caring leader, the State President did not want to subject his people to a heavy downpour that has not stopped since Friday,” said an official who pleaded for anonymity.

According to Malawi Digest's source within the DPP top brass, apart from the campaign launch, the event was also to unveil, new catches for the party that include veteran politician Gwanda Chakuamba and Ken Zikhale Ng'oma.

Unlike the wise decision taken by Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and the ruling DPP, former president Bakili Muluzi subjected thousands of his supporters to great suffering when he launched the opposition UDF campaign manifesto in Mangochi on Saturday.

Although Muluzi is not standing as presidential candidate in the May 19th polls, he went ahead to launch the manifesto without caring for the people in the heavy downpour.

President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has been tipped by opinion polls to win the May elections for another term of office – Malawi Digest.

In praise of President Bingu Mutharika

State President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawians want him for another 5 years because of his good works he has shown the country's citizens in the last 5 years. Pic By Malawi Digest.

By Boma Lenileni

Our beloved Malawi leader, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika does not play cheap and appeasement politics.

Anybody who has been following our President Dr Mutharika very closely will know that he is a principled man, with all Malawians at heart, not a few greedy politicians.

People should know that the likes of Brown James Mpinganjira failed to make it to ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) because of unrealistic demands.

Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is a shrewd politician, no buts about it.
He is the true political engineer on top of being a splendid economic engineer.

I give Dr Mutharika a straight A for outsmarting all his opponents. The problem which our opposition has is that they were not watching Dr Mutharika out play them.

President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika introduced a new style of leadership in the country.

Dr Mutharika did not and does not believe in "kissing ass" (excuse my French). He believes in people power not leader power.

We all saw how Ted Kalebe, Binton Kutsaira and the late Kate Kainja Kaluluma dumped baba John Zenus Ungapake Tembo leader of the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

Unfortunately, JZU as Tembo is known in Malawian politics did not notice that this was the beginning of his downfall. Tembo and his MCP failed to regroup and re-strategise.
President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and his DPP has the Central region on his back, let nobody fool you- John Tembo knows it and Bakili Muluzi does the same.

The State President knows what’s up, knows what buttons to push and when to push them. If you were not sleeping, you would have seen how the Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo was confirmed - that is Dr Mutharika’s politics.

While the opposition was busy urging and strategizing on how to collapse the Mutharika administration by boycotting important national assembly sittings, President Dr Bingu Mutharika was making some serious headway in Parliament.

While the opposition was busy spreading rumours that the departure of Ralph Kasambara, Ismael Wadi, Tumalisye Ndovi, Uladi Mussa, Gustav Kaliwo, Gwanda Chakuamba and Ken Zikhale Ng’oma would lead to the downfall of Dr Bingu Mutharika, the State President was busy informing Malawians what developments were on the ground and which ones were more to come.

If you have read the book; "From good to great", you will see how the author talks about a bus full of people and heading to somewhere. However, since the bus was full of anybody and everybody was just seating anyhow, it was important for the bus driver to drop off people who were seating in the wrong seats until the seats were occupied only by those who were seating in the right seats.

That’s what the Dr Mutharika did. He dropped off anybody who was on the wrong seat. Leadership is not about having wrong people in the wrong seats, it’s about having the right people in the right seats otherwise the bus will collide with a erratically driven opposition UDF Bakili Muluzi’s bus.

I wish the Dr Bingu wa Mutharika all the success in the next 5 years. He has my backing and that of millions of Malawians.

If you have been listening to Mark Katsonga Phiri the president of the Peoples Progressive Movement (PPM), you will hear him say that he (Katsonga) approached DPP Secretary General Henry Chimunthu Banda for the alliance and not the other way around.

Katsonga saw something profound in the leadership of Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, and that is how the Mutharika administration works.

I should commend Katsonga for being a mature politician and for representing his PPM party well. We only need 5 more Katsongas and Malawi democracy will be heading to maturity.

The likes of Bakili Muluzi are a disaster waiting to happen to Malawi.

Fortunately for us, God is on our side and He is dealing with these people one by one. Never underestimate the supremacy of God.

Now readers, a point of correction: MEC did not reject Muluzi, the Malawi Constitution did and anybody who understands simple English knows that Muluzi was and is ineligible to stand. Full stop!

But we all know Muluzi that he is slow in thinking, slow in understanding, and even slow in quitting. Lately he has even become slow in speaking - something that people once upon a time believed was his strength.

If you listen to him speak now, you will realize that his speeches are gibberish. Bakili Muluzi is a gone force. But like any reasonable person, I don't have time to talk about Muluzi, so let me go back to talking about the State President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and his ruling DPP - by the way, I could talk about him the whole day, if my wife didn't stop me.

Dr Mutharika is the leader every patriotic Malawian should vote for come the May 19th Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

Dr Mutharika is not there to play, he works hard and ensures that Malawians are slowly gaining back the lost glory. He works hard to ensure that Malawians have food on their tables and that Malawians have access to medical care and drugs among many other things.

Malawi’s main referral hospital in the commercial city Blantyre, the Queen Elizabeth Central has completely transformed. If you visited the medical facility today, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Dr Mutharika works hard to ensure that every Malawian has the right to security. These days we sleep in our houses not fearing that some thugs will come and break in and then get away with it as was with the past 10 year regime under Bakili Muluzi and his UDF party.

Women are able to walk around with their cellular phones in their hands in the streets of Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba cities without anybody snatching them as was the case during the Muluzi regime. The list my beloved readers is endless.

In summary, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and the DPP are the best things ever to happen in Malawian politics. So let’s all of us vote Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and DPP for another better next 5 years – Malawi Digest.

BREAKING NEWS!!! Chakuamba joins DPP

NRP's Ken Zikhale Ng'oma (left) and Gwanda Chakuamba in good old days addressing a UDF political rally. They now have dumped Muluzi and the opposition UDF opting to work with government. Pic By Malawi Digest.

By Lucy Liponda

The New Republican Party (NRP) of Gwanda Chakuamba and its entire party executive has agreed to work and support the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi Digest can confirm.

In a brief interview with Malawi Digest a short while ago, NRP’s vice president and acting secretary general Ken Zikhale Ng’oma said they have resolved to work with the ruling party and the incumbent Malawi president.

“We have held discussions for a long time over this matter and decided that Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is the only person who can best handle this country,” he said.

He further disclosed that he was assigned by the party to make the announcement.

“I have been assigned as vice president and secretary general of the party to make this announcement on behalf of the entire party including my president Right Honourable Gwanda Chakuamba,” he said.

Although Ng’oma did not indicate why Gwanda Chakuamba did not make the announcement himself, the Shire Valley political giant is a devout Seventh Day Adventist who keeps his Sabbath holy by staying away from politics, hence the announcement by Ng’oma this Saturday.

Unofficial reports reaching Malawi Digest indicate that Chakuamba and Ng'oma and the entire NRP deal will be unveiled at the ruling DPP campaign launch at Kamuzu Stadium in Malawi's commercial capital, Blantyre tomorrow.

The announcement by the NRP to support government and the ruling party marks the complete downfall of the opposition UDF party’s May 19th election campaign.

The announcement by NRP means the end of the political alliance partnership between the UDF and NRP.

NRP was the only significant political party in the UDF electoral alliance for the May polls. The other parties remaining with the UDF in partnership are the lone man’s parties of MDP of Kamlepo Kalua, MDU of Amunandife Mkumba and Uladi Mussa.

Mussa’s entire party executive last month defected to the ruling DPP leaving him alone.

For over three years, Gwanda Chakuamba was the only significant voice behind former president Bakili Muluzi’s morale booster voice.

He also helped a lot in the re-building of the opposition UDF party when the party was in tatters after the departure of incumbent president Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and thousands upon thousands of members.

Things have not been well for Muluzi in the last few months after Chakuamba clearly showed signs that he was not confident with the leadership of Bakili Muluzi.

Following Muluzi’s return from a month long stay in the United Kingdom in mid-December, Chakuamba has refused to attend any of Muluzi’s public rallies except once.

Since December, Gwanda Chakuamba has appeared with Bakili Muluzi in public once on 4th February when the UDF leader presented his nomination papers to the independent Malawi Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile, the Malawi Electoral Commission rejected Bakili Muluzi’s nomination papers on Friday indicating a dead end to the former president’s bid for a third term come back campaign – Malawi Digest.

UDF manifesto, no Muluzi shoe promise

The opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) party of Bakili Muluzi, today launched its 2009 election manifesto in Muluzi's home area of Mangochi.

Muluzi, is a Yao by tribe and comes from the neighbouring Machinga district.

Although, the UDF has no presidential candidate for the May polls, Muluzi went ahead to launch the party's manifesto.

The party has no presidential candidate following the Malawi Electoral Commission's decision to bar Muluzi from taking part in the race because he served his constitutionally required two-5-year terms of office.

At today's launch, Bakili Muluzi once again promised Malawians many free things including two-free-50 kilogrammes of fertilizer to every Malawian in the next growing season if the UDF wins the elections.

He however, did not mention anything about his shoe promise to Malawians made over 15 years ago.

This year marks exactly 15 years since former president Bakili Muluzi promised to buy all Malawians pairs of shoes.

The promise was made at Mbulumbuzi Trading Centre in Chiradzulu where Bakili Muluzi was on a campaign tour for the 1994 General Elections.

Malawi Digest has a tape recording of Muluzi saying this at a political rally at Mbulumbuzi and the contents of the tape are contrary to Muluzi’s continuous denial that he never made the promise - Malawi Digest.

How Muluzi missed the bus back to Sanjika

PRESS RELEASE 20th March 2009

DETERMINATION OF NOMINATION PAPERS FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

The Malawi Electoral Commission is informing the public that it has determined and accepted nomination papers from thefollowing Presidential Candidates:

1. Ms Loveness Gondwe of the New Rainbow Coalition.

2. Mr. James Nyondo, Independent Candidate.

3. Mr. John Tembo of The Malawi Congress Party.
4. Mr. Stanley Masauli of the Republican Party.
5. Mr. Dindi Gowa Nyasulu of the Alliance For Democracy.
6. Mr. Kamuzu Chibambo of PETRA.
7. Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party.

The Commission has rejected nomination papers for Dr. Bakili Muluzi of the United Democratic Front.

Meanwhile, the Commission has accepted nomination papers for all Parliamentary candidates who presented their papers between 2nd and 6th February 2009 except for Yeremiah Chihana of New RainbowCoalition.

In the meantime, the Commission is scrutinizing the papers received on the17th and 18th March 2009.

SIGNED

Justice A.S.E. Msosa

CHAIRPERSON

BREAKING NEWS!!! Muluzi rejected

NO THROUGH ROAD: Mec says this man should not go back to Sanjika Palace.

By Lucy Liponda

The independent Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has announced former president Bakili Muluzi of the opposition United Democratic Front will not take part in the May 19th Presidential polls.

According to a statement released on Friday evening signed by Mec chairperson Justice Anastazia Msosa, Muluzi is the only aspiring presidential candidate that the commission has rejected.

No reasons have been given in the statement by Mec for the rejection but there is strong suspicion that this is the case because Muluzi served his constitutionally accepted maximum two-5-year terms of office.

However, the Mec statement obtained by the Malawi Digest indicates that seven other aspiring presidential candidates have passed the test to take part in the May elections.

Those that have gone through are: incumbent President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Loveness Gondwe of the New Rainbow Coalition, James Nyondo an independent candidate, John Tembo of the Malawi Congress Party, Stanley Masauli of the Republican Party, Didi Gowa Nyasulu of the Alliance for Democracy, Kamuzu Chibambo of Petra.

On aspiring parliamentary candidates, Mec has announced that all candidates have gone through except for one Yeremia Chihana of the New Rainbow Coalition.

Chihana is husband to the New Rainbow Coalition’s presidential candidate, Loveness Gondwe.

Although Mec has not stated the reasons for Chihana’s rejection, there are courts records that Yeremia Chihana is a convict.

Meanwhile, Mec has announced that it is still scrutinising nomination papers for candidates who presented their papers on the 17th and 18th of March – Malawi Digest.

Fake UDF, MCP have no manifesto

A comprehensive ruling DPP manifesto. Both opposition UDF and MCP are failing to come up with a document like this. Pic By Malawi Digest.

Four days after the independent Malawi Electoral Commission declared the start of the official campaign period, the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) of Bakili Muluzi and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of John Tembo have no campaign manifestos to entice voters ahead of the May 19 Presidential and Parliamentary elections, Malawi Digest understands.

Former president Bakili Muluzi and his opposition counterpart John Tembo have the last few months been addressing political rallies where they have made numerous pledges to Malawians but without being backed by any documentary evidence.

Unlike Tembo, Muluzi has made different pledges some of which cannot be achieved at all but only remaining as a pipe dream.

Muluzi well known world wide for making empty promises and lies has since mid-December been addressing political rallies where he is pledging to give Malawians free education, free fertilizer, free electricity and free housing among many other promises.

However, Malawians know Muluzi better because he normally turns around and deny his own pledges once he is put into office.

For example, millions of Malawians are still waiting for the shoes that he promised them during the 1994 election campaign.

Muluzi deceived Malawians when he denied ever making this pledge and tricked the country’s population when he said he doesn’t know the size of shoes for all Malawians.

On the other hand, Malawi Congress Party’s John Tembo says that his main agenda once voted into power is to revenge on all people who went against him in the last five years.

Tembo, recently told a rally in central Malawi that Malawians should start praying that he shouldn’t win the May 19th election otherwise those that went against him are to face the consequences.

As the campaign gets into full swing, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is the only political party in Malawi that has a political campaign manifesto.

The DPP blue print was first launched over a month ago in style in the southern region mountainous district of Mulanje before other record crowds witnessed similar regional launches in the eastern region Machinga, central region district of Mchinji and the northern region district of Karonga.

Unlike the MCP and UDF who have poor combinations of presidential candidate and running mate, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is the only candidate tipped to win the elections after pairing with another highly respected Malawian personality Joyce Banda.

Bakili Muluzi has political novice Clement Stambuli as his running mate whilst John Tembo has joined hands with another crooked politician Brown Mpinganjira – Malawi Digest.

Mutharika developing northern Malawi

By Emmanuel Sobilika

Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has started constructing a medical hospital in the northern region district of Nkhatabay, Malawi Digest understands.

The hospital is expected to help the people of Nkhatabay, who up until now had been suffering after the 10 year UDF administration of former president Bakili Muluzi decided to ignore them completely.

For a decade under the trial and error rule under Bakili Muluzi, the people of Nkhatabay were using an old, dilapidated and small district hospital and Dr Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration has come in to change that situation completely.

Speaking in an interview with Malawi Digest, Malawi Health Minister Khumbo Kachali said that preparatory works for the construction of the new Nkhatabay District Hospital are already at an advanced stage.

“As I speak, the contractor is on the site clearing the area before the real construction of this magnificent hospital starts,” he said.

The minister said that he is very impressed with progress that he has seen on the hospital construction after visiting the site recently.

“There is an aura of excitement in the whole of northern region because for the first time, people from the north of Malawi feel that there is a leadership that is caring for them,” he said.

Kachali, who is also the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) attributed this exciting news for the people of Nkhatabay and the northern region as a whole on the wise leadership of President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.

“We’ve had administrations before but nothing was done until just over 5 years ago when Dr Mutharika came onto power when we have seen significant developments taking place in north of Malawi,” he said.

Minister Kachali said that apart from valuing the people of Nkhatabay as part of the Malawi society, it was important to have a hospital facility built in the district because historically the area is equally important after some people died during the 1959 State of Emergency.

“The people of Nkhatabay suffered a lot during the 1959 emergency and it’s only proper that they are better rewarded through good projects like this new district hospital,” he said.

According to Principal Secretary in Malawi’s Ministry of Health Chris Kang’ombe, the new Nkhatabay District Hospital is being constructed at Nkondezi in the district.

“Government acquired 50 hectares of land for this hospital project and the contractor is currently concentrating on 15 hectares piece of land because that’s where the hospital is going to be constructed,” said Kan’gombe.

He said apart from the main hospital building, the project also includes 65 houses for medical staff.

According to information gathered by Malawi Digest from the Ministry of Health, the new Nkhatabay District Hospital has received a US $15 million funding from Opec and at this stage, the Malawi government has pumped in MK23 million.

Meanwhile, President Bingu wa Mutharika has finished constructing the Administrator’s office situated in Mzuzu City.

The office, expected to open next month will help the people from northern Malawi to avoid the hustle of travelling all the way to Blantyre to have their money processed if they lose their beloved one.

Previously, Malawi had one Administrator’s office in Blantyre but the wise leadership of Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is trying to decentralise the exercise in order to reduce the pain and trouble people were going through to claim deceased estates.

Apart from these developments in northern Malawi, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika is also constructing a Reserve Bank in Mzuzu and the long touted Karonga-Chitipa road construction is underway.

Following the good economic policies under Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, private entities are also making their own efforts to develop the north.

There is a booming uranium mining project as Kayelekera in Karonga and one of Malawi’s leading commercial bank, National Bank is constructing a magnificent bank building in Mzuzu City – Malawi Digest.

Bingu doing a good job

MALAWI'S SAVIOUR: PRESIDENT Dr Bingu wa Mutharika. Many Malawians like The Nation's reader below are appreciating his great works. Pic By Malawi Digest.

Dear Editor,

Allow me space to comment on the letter by Andrew Manda published in The Nation of 23rd February, 2009.

I find his opinion that President Bingu wa Mutharika should relinquish his ministerial posts of Education and Agriculture based on poor JC/MSCE examination results and a chaotic fertiliser subsidy programme lacking.

Firstly, I do not believe problems affecting the two ministries are squarely due to managerial incompetence of the person heading the ministries.

I think there are many underlying causes for the poor examination results among which are the low levels of investment in the Education ministry towards teaching and learning materials, infrastructure and training needs of teachers.

As for the Agriculture ministry, it must be appreciated that generally, Malawi’s food security has improved during Mutharika’s administration.

The chaos associated with the subsidy programme may be due to inadequacy of the subsidised fertiliser against the demand by smallholder farmers during times of high fertilise prices on the world market.

Where goods and services are scarce, we expect people to scramble for them hence the temptation to smuggle the fertiliser or sell the coupons to non-beneficiaries.

The efficiency of government ministries is usually affected by other factors such as corruption and insufficient resources and not necessarily on managerial abilities of those heading them.

Most ministries, particularly that of Agriculture, are staffed by very capable people.

Therefore, we cannot doubt their diligence in appropriately advising their minister.

Atusaye B. Mwalwanda, Blantyre – The Nation 4 March 2009, Letters Page 17.

War against Bakili Muluzi intensifies

NO THROUGH ROAD: Malawians are no longer interested in Bakili Muluzi proceeding with his third term self satisfying agenda.

By Rodney Muthipo

As the world continues to wonder why former Malawi President Bakili Muluzi is forcing himself onto the May 19th Presidential race, the war against his come back has intensified.

The battle, which was being fought on land, has now entered the water and the sky, Malawi Digest understands.

Last weekend, about 10 Roman Catholic priests, five reverends from the CCAP Blantyre Synod and 12 other senior clerics from some Pentecostal churches met at a lake side resort (name withheld) in Mangochi for 3days strategising on how to make sure that Muluzi does not come back into power.

One of the priests who attended the meeting told Malawi Digest it run from Thursday the 5th of March to Saturday 7th of March.

He said the meeting laid down plans on how best to counter the Muluzi come back third term bid.

“We started the meeting on Thursday to give a chance to members of the clergy to return back to their bases on Saturday, in readiness for their regular Sunday service,” said our source a Catholic priest from Blantyre Archdiocese.

The senior priest, who pleaded for anonymity, said the meeting agreed on how best to tackle the Muluzi third term bid because it is counter productive to the country’s democracy and development.

“This is an initiative taken by individual members of the clergy and we hope that our religious organisations are seeing the same need and that very soon they will take their own stance,” he said.

He disclosed that the group has received overwhelming support from many religious organisations in Malawi to make sure that Muluzi does not succeed in his selfish agenda to rape the Malawi Constitution.

The priest disclosed that apart from their discussions, participants to the meeting also fasted during the three days that they were in Mangochi.

During the lake shore indaba, leaders agreed that after the announcement of the final list for candidates by the Malawi Electoral Commission later this month, they will meet weekly to fast and hold prayers for the country.

“Our mission is not for the public to see but for God Almighty to hear our cry against this egocentric Bakili Muluzi third term campaign,” he said.

Meanwhile, millions of Malawians are joining the anti-Muluzi comeback campaign.

On Saturday, former Mozambican president Joachim Chissano told Bakili Muluzi right in the face at the New State House in Lilongwe that whilst he doesn’t have any powers to stop anybody from contesting in an election, he expects African politicians to rise above their selfish and partisan agenda in accepting and following what the Constitution says.

Although he served his maximum constitutionally accepted two-five year terms, Bakili Muluzi thinks that he is wiser than any other Malawian.

As one of the early fighters for democracy in Malawi, Bakili Muluzi has not explained to the people of this country why people decided to give the president a maximum of two-five year terms of office.

During his time in power, Bakili Muluzi’s administration was characterised by poverty, high levels of crime, hunger, high levels of corruption and economic mismanagement among many other things.

It is not known what he has learnt in the last five years that he now comes back running like a cry baby claiming he can now make a good leader for Malawi – Malawi Digest.

Businessman dismisses UDF propaganda

Faizal Aboo, I have always been a successful businessman from this regime to the previous regimes. One does not need to entice anybody to have customers at a 5 Star hotel like Pacific. Pic By Malawi Digest.

By Emmanuel Sobilika

One of Malawi’s most successful businessmen Faizal Aboo has dismissed propaganda reports financed by the opposition that he is involved in some clandestine activities with Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Aboo, a Malawian of Asian origin trading under Pacific Limited as its Project Promoter told Malawi Digest in an exclusive interview that he has always been a successful businessman getting his riches through clean means.

“There is no reason for me to get involved in any illegal transactions because I have always been successful in any of my business ventures,” he said.

Aboo said that all people that have been closer to him know him better that he has always been a straight forward and honest person who earns his bread and butter through hard work.

“I have been successful in this regime and the past regime under Muluzi and this is a fact that can be cross checked by anybody who feels it matters,” he said.

He was reacting to an online propaganda report published by a Bakili Muluzi and opposition UDF propaganda tool, the Nyasatimes.

On Wednesday, the opposition propaganda online publication published a report mentioning Aboo and some other successful Malawian business personalities that they were involved in illegal business transactions with incumbent Malawi President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

However, Aboo who runs Pacific Limited and Namiwawa Lodge amongst a list of his most successful businesses rubbished the opposition propaganda reports.

“The Pacific Hotel mentioned in the opposition propaganda report is one of the best hotels in Malawi. It’s a 5 Star hotel and the only four storey hotel in the whole of Lilongwe. One does not need to entice anybody to sleep at a 5 Star hotel, people come automatically,” said the confident Aboo.

Several other business persons that have been named in the alleged opposition ‘dossier’ if at all it exists have also denied any illegal transactions with the government of the day.

However, investigations by Malawi Digest have revealed that the people named in the alleged report are those that have turned down advances by the opposition UDF national chairman Bakili Muluzi to give him funding for his third term come back campaign bid.

One of those that were mentioned in the report but speaking on condition on anonymity told Malawi Digest that Bakili Muluzi has always hit a wall whenever he approaches some Malawian businessmen especially those of Asian origin.

“During his 10 year reign in power a lot of business personalities helped Muluzi and his party with finances and in seeking his third term, he thought they would do the same but this time around that is not the case,” said the business man who also runs a number of businesses in Malawi.

He said that these potential financiers have turned away from Bakili Muluzi such that he is very bitter thinking the business personalities are now funding the ruling DPP.

“Muluzi is an angry person at the moment because none of the successful Asian businessmen are opening up to finance him hence the reports to tarnish our images,” he said.

Another businessman also mentioned in the opposition propaganda report but speaking on condition of anonymity to Malawi Digest said that most Asian businessmen in Malawi have fooled Bakili Muluzi the last three years during his frequent trips to the United Kingdom.

“Others promised him that they could not give him funding here but in the UK where a lot of their relatives stay but when Muluzi goes there, he often times has hit a blank wall,” he said.

The businessman said that often times, when Muluzi goes to the UK, he does not fail to visit Leicester City to meet these potential financiers but has not been successful in a bigger way.

Leicester is one of the areas in the UK highly dominated by Asians who have relatives in Malawi.

He therefore said that he was not surprised that Muluzi has gone to the extent of ordering and sponsoring propaganda reports on the internet in order to get back at those that have refused him financial backing.

“Most businessmen are refusing him funding because they don’t see any reason why Bakili Muluzi is seeking another third term after ruining the country’s economy and their businesses during his 10 years in power,” said the businessman.

Former President Bakili Muluzi is undergoing serious financial difficulties such that most creditors are now taking him to court claiming their huge sums of money.

It was revealed in the media recently that Muluzi was even failing to pay his telephone bills after one of Malawi’s leading mobile phone companies Zain Malawi took him to court.

The company is demanding back from over K5 million in air time usage that the former president Muluzi has failed to pay back in the last six months.

Muluzi, who is well known for his life of showing off and splashing money like Father Christmas has not been himself in the last few months after creditors squeezed him into a tight corner.

A Lilongwe based motor repair, the Maulidi Garage has also taken him to court for failing to pay back over K1 million only for motor vehicle services.

Malawi Digest investigations indicate that there is a long list of creditors on Bakili Muluzi but some of them have chosen to accord Muluzi some kind of respect as former president of Malawi by reminding him through letters and telephones – Malawi Digest.

TROUBLE!!! Family Angry with Muluzi

By Lucy Liponda

The Barton family based in the highly populated Ndirande Township in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre has asked former president Bakili Muluzi to apologise for his conduct when he visited their home last week, Malawi Digest can reveal.

The family says it will take some unspecified action on Muluzi if the United Democratic Front (UDF) party national chairman does not apologise for his actions.

One of the family members, Magret Saonda (Nee Barton) has confirmed in an interview with Malawi Digest Monday afternoon that the family is demanding an unconditional apology from Muluzi and his opposition UDF party following their misbehaviour at the family residence last week.

Details of the incident indicate that Bakili Muluzi and his party officials went to the Barton’s house in Ndirande Township with an intention of visiting the mother of the house who is reported to be very sick.

As usual, Muluzi is reported to have arrived with his pop, a convoy of vehicles including a yellow UDF open Land Rover.

It is reported that Muluzi had already organised UDF supporters from parts of Blantyre to converge at the Barton’s house in readiness for his arrival.

Muluzi’s arrival at the residence of the critically sick Mrs Barton was welcomed by the tens of drumming and dancing UDF supporters.

After visiting the sick and ageing Mrs Barton inside the house, Muluzi came out of the house before ridding on his open Land Rover.

A public address system was organised immediately upon which officials of the UDF started a political campaign mass rally right outside the house of the sick Mrs Barton.

First to speak was UDF district party governor Eric Chiwaya before handing over to southern regional governor Macdonald Simon who asked Muluzi to address the people who gathered outside the Barton’s residence.

As Bakili Muluzi was conducting his campaign meeting outside, Mrs Barton was in deep agony inside her house with her children and other members of the family on her bed side.

When he stood up in the open Land Rover, Muluzi justified why he decided to come and visit the sick Mrs Barton.

“The sick Mrs Barton I came to see played an important role during the political change in the 1990s,” said Muluzi.

He went on further to ask supporters of the UDF to vote for UDF parliamentary candidates in the forth coming General Elections.

“I want to take this opportunity to introduce to you the UDF parliamentary candidate for this area Mr Ernest Maganga,” said Muluzi before asking Maganga to address the people.

The drama at the Barton’s residence took well over 45 minutes before Muluzi and his supporters dispersed.

Reacting to this uncalled for behaviour by Bakili Muluzi and his UDF supporters, Magret Saonda (Nee Barton) said the family is very disappointed with the conduct of the UDF leader and his party supporters.

“We appreciate Muluzi’s coming to see our sick mother but their conduct outside the house is uncalled for,” she said.

Saonda said that it was very surprising that despite being president of Malawi for 10 years Muluzi could not respect the cultural norms of Malawians.

“How could they be campaigning outside our house when our mother was lying in pain inside the house? To make matters worse have drumming and singing supporters on loud speakers. This is uncalled for,” she said.

Magret Saonda (Nee Barton) said the family has since complained to the UDF national chairman and his party demanding an apology for their unusual behaviour.

The family has promised to take some unspecified action, if the UDF and its leadership do not apologise.

Former president Bakili Muluzi is trying to come back into power for a third term of office although the country’s laws only allow presidents to serve for a maximum two-five year terms of office.

This is not the first time that Muluzi has fallen into trouble for campaigning at very unusual venues and functions just to make sure that third term campaign goes through.

Last year, Muluzi’s campaign at Metro chain of stores in the heart of Blantyre ended acrimoniously when shoppers ended up picking more than what the former president could afford.

Muluzi ordered people inside the shop to take any items they wished and admired and that he would pay on their behalf.

However when the bill reached MK21 million and other items in the shop looted, Muluzi refused to pay.

Later, Muluzi negotiated with Press Corporation owners of Metro shop where they agreed for a K6 million bill.Bakili Muluzi was allowed to settle this amount in instalments.

Muluzi is also known for campaigning at funerals, weddings and hospitals as long as there is an opportunity for people.

Last year, his efforts to campaign at a funeral for Traditional Authority Masula in Lilongwe also ended up in a big fight resulting in damage of property and serious injury of some mourners.

The coffin of the late chief had to be rescued from the Bakili Muluzi generated fight and burial hastily conducted at a nearby grave yard– Malawi Digest.

If I were Bakili Muluzi

By Garry Chirwa

If I were Bakili Muluzi Presidential candidate of the United Democratic Front (UDF), I would trade carefully on my campaign promise to introduce free secondary education once I return to State House in May.

If I were Atcheya, I would realise that much as my promise sounds appealing, it is easier said than done considering meagre public resources the country has.

How I wish I were BM, I would accept the harsh reality that mine will be seen as pipe dream considering that the free primary school education has been billed as a failure.

If only I were Muluzi, I certainly would appreciate that it is not enough to say I will introduce free secondary education without explaining the modalities on how it will be done.

If I were Agama, I would have recalled that while the free primary school education got a stunning response, it created huge pressure on public resources and that should have given me plenty of food for thought.

All I am saying is that if I were Atcheya, I would realise that there is more to free primary and secondary school education than just removing the fees.

That is if only I were Atcheya. Unfortunately, I am not the UDF presidential candidate. – The Nation, 4 March 2009 Political Index Page 1.

Mutharika is right on Kumbambe

Mrs E. Chafulumira of Ndirande says ‘yes’.

Oliver Kumbambe made a mistake because the Police Band previously followed Bingu wa Mutharika to the convention and other party functions as President of Malawi not as party president.

It was a party function, yes, but Mutharika is first and fore most President of Malawi and the party comes second.

Mutharika deserves respect from everybody in Malawi, including the Inspector General of Police.

Remember, wherever Mutharika goes, he is still head of government – The Nation 4 March 2009, My Take On Page 8.

Muluzi as Father Christmas

MULUZI FATHER OF HAND-OUTS: Former president Bakili Muluzi dances with a woman at a recent UDF political rally. Note the MK50 notes that Muluzi gave the old woman. Whilst Muluzi is putting on a decent pair of shoes, this woman is completely bare footed telling Muluzi right in the face that Malawians are still waiting for the shoes that Muluzi promised them in 1994. How unfair this world can be sometimes! Chimenechi ndiye chitukuko? (Is this development?) Pic by Malawi Digest.