No third term for Ngwazi Dr Mutharika

NO THIRD TERM: Unlike his power hungry predecessor Bakili Muluzi, His Excellency the State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika says he will not seek a third term of office. Pic by Malawi Digest.

By Chifundo Kasambwe

Malawi President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has dismissed reports that he intends to seek a third term of office when his Constitutional term of office comes to an end in 2014.

This reaction from the Presidency follows reports by Bakili Muluzi’s funded propaganda tools that have been spreading rumours that the Ngwazi is planning to stay on in power.

In a press statement issued this weekend, the State House in Malawi has denied suggestions that Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika would like to extend his time in office once it expires in 2014.

“The State President has no intention at all to extend his time of staying in office,” said the statement.

The State House also assured Malawians that Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has high respect for the country’s Constitution.

“The State President has openly said that he will respect the Malawi Constitution when his time of staying in office is over,” the statement added.

The State House has attributed these reports and rumours to people that do not wish Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika well.

“We call upon all Malawians not to listen to these reports as they are only aimed at tarnishing the image of His Excellency the State President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika,” the statement concluded.

Unlike his predecessor, Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has led Malawi by respecting the country’s Constitution.

President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika has ruled Malawi from 2004 and the Malawi Constitution allows Presidents to serve for two 5-year terms of office.

Former president Bakili Muluzi who is funding these propaganda reports on his successor has on three occasions failed to rape the Malawi Constitution by seeking another third term of office.

Between 2000 and 2003, Muluzi twice failed to change the Malawi Constitution to suit his personal wishes for a third term of office.

The two bills to change the country’s Constitution were defeated in the National Assembly.

Following these embarrassing failures, Bakili Muluzi was forced into retirement in 2004.

However, two years later, this power hungry politician resurfaced again to seek another third term of office.

The High Court of Malawi also saved Malawi from Muluzi’s poor administration when it stopped him from contesting in the May 19th polls saying the Malawi Constitution does not allow former presidents to bounce back.

Bakili Muluzi, is currently in the United Kingdom where he is seeking asylum running away from a long list of legal battles ranging from corruption, theft, fraud and huge debts-Malawi Digest.