Commentators urge Malawi VP Chilima to receive April 27 demo petition

Social-political commentators have encouraged the Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima to receive the Civil society organisations (CSOs)  April 27 demonstration petition in person, arguing that this would indirectly send the message that Chilima is a servant leader who cares about the concerns raised in the petition by the citizens.

Demo organisers say they would present the petition to the presidency through ‘N8mber ‘

The CSOs under the burner of human rights defenders forum requested that President Peter Mutharika should personally receive the petition and not delegate the task to anyone.

But State House through presidential spokesman  Mgeme Kalilani rubbished the demand as ‘wishful thinking’ allegedly because the President is not party to the protests.

Just a few days ago the Police barred the CSOs from presenting the petition to the State House for security reasons as the State House area is said to be a protected area.

While insisting that the CSOs did not see anything wrong in presenting the petition direct to Mutharika, Human Rights Defenders Forum Chairperson Timothy Mtambo said if President Mutharika was not willing to receive the petition in person the citizens would proceed to petition the Vice President  Chilima at Capital Hill in Lilongwe.

“In fact, we have formally written the Vice President Right Hon. Saulos Klaus Chilima as Mutharika’s deputy to receive the petition on his behalf and letter submit to him. As we have all along said the nature of the issues we are dealing with here requires that the chief duty bearer – who happens to be the President- is presented with in person. However, since the President is running away from his own people then certainly we have no choice but to present these issues to his Vice – who also happens to be the one he delegated to be in charge of the country as he is away in UK for official business” said Mtambo.

Weekend Nation newspaper Editor and seasoned columnist Steven Nhlane faulted Mutharika for refusing to accept the citizens’ petition and further urged Chilima to go for it and receive the petition on 27 April 2018.

“State House is clearly missing the point on the objective of the protests and petition. It is CSOs which have the support of many Malawians that have organised the protests, and they are saying that if the President cares about their concerns, he should be the one to receive the petition. Fair enough. They are not asking for something that is impossible. The President is only supposed to act on the petition. All that they are saying is that personally receiving the petition will give it the importance and urgency to act upon its contents”, argued  Nhlane in his column.

Added Nhlane: “But by dismissing the request that the President should personally receive the petition, the message he is sending to the CSOs and the general public is that he does not care about what they want to communicate. It also vindicates CSOs fears that government does not take their petitions seriously when they are received by other officials (technocrats)”

Nhlane said by refusing to receive the petition the President is now surrendering that advantage to his number two, who some in DPP already think he is better placed to be the party’s torchbearer in next year’s elections to get the limelight.

“Now we know with certainty that the President will not personally receive the petition because he will still be outside the country on April 27. And so the organisers have said the one holding the fort should now receive the petition. If Saulos was to listen to my two tambala advice, I would say, go for it. After all even if government fails to address the concerns the CSOs raised in the petition, the buck does not stop at you. It’s not you who will get the flak. Don’t say the Bwana said he would not receive it and who am I to do so? It is the DPP youth who are pulling away the carpet off the Bwana’s feet. Not you”, wrote Nhlane in his weekly column Off the Shelf.

However, Mzuzu-based governance analyst Mankhumbo Munthali  has said the CSO’s plans to petition the President through Chilima provides a litmus test to Chilima’s leadership.

“This is certainly a tricky situation for the Vice President but at the end of the day he has no choice but to come out of his cocoon and be decisive on the matter- whether to receive the petition or not. This situation provides a real litmus test for Dr. Chilima’s leadership abilities mindful of the fact that the Vice President has all along publicly portrayed himself as a servant and transformational leader – or the man of the people- who shares the concerns of Malawians.

“Certainly, the Vice President will have to choose as to whether be on the side of the oppressed poor Malawians by receiving the petition and possibly face political repercussions from the DPP inner circle or side with Mutharika and DPP inner circle by rejecting to receive the petition. Whatever the case Malawians will be able to assess Chilima as to whether he lives by what he preaches or not by just looking at the way he will handle the issue. Unlike the current Carrista hurricane saga, adopting a “silent approach” on the matter may not work in this situation which requires him to be decisive before 27th April 2018. So it will be interesting to see how he resolves this puzzle,” said Munthali.

Amongst the key concernes outlined in the CSOs “10 Point-Demands” to be presented during 27th April 2018 demonstrations in Mzuzu, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba include the DPP initiated K4 Billion miracle money fund to reward MPs who rejected electoral reforms; the resignation of Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe and Minister of Local Government Kondwani Nankhumwa; the re-tabling and passing of electoral reforms; shortage of drugs and medical personels in hospitals; dwindling education standards; electricity blackouts despite procurement of generators; the killings of persons with albinism; delayed justice on extrajudicial killings of Chasowa, and Njaunju; and APM to reverse the appointment of Rodney Jose as Police Chief.

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kaukonde
kaukonde
5 years ago

I hope Saulosi or his men would read this before 27th. We have a house of the people and that is parliament and if these agents of imperilist want some petetion delivered they should deliver it to parliament and let the clerk of parliament receive it. These CSO want to cause antagonism between APM and SKC so that there is political tension and they go out there to beg for more funding for their regime change campaign. if these snake were wise and transparent, they should tell us who is funding them, how much they are spending and what are… Read more »

Phwisa
Phwisa
5 years ago

I have been wondering as to why only CSOs headed by Northerners make a lot of noise in this country. Are the just frustrated because they see no hope for a Northerner ruling this country. Kamuzu sanalakwe ponenena kuti aliyense kwawo nkwawo. Look at the Salima Lilongwe Water Project. They are trying all they can to frustrate it.

Citizen
Citizen
5 years ago

Mukayende ndi ana anu, akazi anu ndi abale anu omwe mumadya nawo ndarama za matanyulawo!

Citizen
Citizen
5 years ago

Malangizo achinyengo onsewa. I know all of you here mumadya nokha ndarama za azungu, enanunso mukudya ndarama za matanyula….anthu oyipa inu God will angrily punish you very evil people.

Chipapwiche Kajhalwiche
Chipapwiche Kajhalwiche
5 years ago

Mtambo, Nhlane, Munthali – atumbuka opusa.

SATA
SATA
5 years ago

CSOs are run by mafia – they get so much money from donors which these same loud-mouthed leaders use to enrich themselves. Just go and check the type of cars they are driving, houses they have built and the amount of money in their bank account to appreciate that CSOs are racket. They use poverty and suffering of the people to enrich themselves. Take the log in your eyes FIRST.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago
Reply to  SATA

This is why it is I portent for Malawians to wake up. We should be able to sense rascals from miles away. These could be CSO’s, politicians, religious leaders, chiefs etc. We need to reach a point where ordinary Malawians are able to think for themselves and are devoid of manipulation. DATA, you could be right that Cat’s are also funded by institutions with their own agenda. However, the only final defence is us citizens. We need to wake up and vote appropriately especially those uneducated and poor people living in the rural areas. Each one of us who believe… Read more »

Huta
Huta
5 years ago

The petition should be given to Parliament because it is the one that should be petitioned. Mwamva CSOs. Go to parliament musatibowe ndi your useless demonstrations.

Mat
Mat
5 years ago
Reply to  Huta

Uyo ndiopusa akuti tisaonestele kodi mwana amene uli naye ungamuthandize bwanji usatipusise

Bandawe
Bandawe
5 years ago

CSOs are getting so much funding form western donors but they cannot point at anything concrete they have done to improve the lives of our young people and all the people except organising demonstrations. Stupid and selfish people. Leave Chilima alone.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago
Reply to  Bandawe

Ordinary Malawians need to take charge of their own destiny. It’s not anyone’s job to do that. Not the CSOs, politicians or churches,

Napoleon
Napoleon
5 years ago

These champs thinks they have power to control and influence bad things. What do their NGOs do to impower the youth in Malawi. Apart from the famous inorganizing demos, what do they do in Malawi that people can appoint I this helping the citizens. Enough is enough, these guys has to be told to stop messing up with peoples lives. They will be getting fat alllowances , yet the people whom they are urging to come out they will not get anything. If these demo people are injured are they going to take full responsibility to care for them. If… Read more »

Holla Talimile
Holla Talimile
5 years ago

Chilima should not receive their petition. Wait until he comes back from Scotland..
Incase of emergency, the best way is to hand it over to a messager or anybody working there who happens to be at the gate and will hand it to HE.Otherwise just close and stop this demonstration. We will achieve nothing and our waisted time won’t be recovered.

Mat
Mat
5 years ago
Reply to  Holla Talimile

We have to come back if there is nothing happened, look at our brother’s in Zimbabwe they did it not once ,sitinga tope tibweraso tatopa ndi kutitenga ngati ana

JOSEPH CHAGOMELANA
5 years ago

APADI NDIYE NDATSIMIKIZA KUTI MA CSO NDI OYIPADI,MOTI ZOWONADI MUKUFUNA KUMUPWETEKETSA CHILIMA POMAMUNAMIZA KUTI MUMAMUKONDA?KODI KUNENA ZOWONA,INUYO MUNGAMUVOTELE CHILIMA KAPENA MUKUFUNA ANGOKHALA KHASU LANU POKWANILITSA ZOLINGA ZANU ZOPANDA PAKEZO?KOMA DZIWANI KUTI CHILIMA SIOPUSA NGATI ATSOGOLELI A MA NGO AKUMALAWI IYE APANGA NJILA MPAKA MUMULEPHELA.KKKKKKKK MA CSO MWATCHELA KUMWEZI NKHANGA ZAWONA KKKKK

nyaxy
nyaxy
5 years ago

Dzuka Malawi I think U re athink thief thats why Ure making alot of noise which presedent does not sourunded by people apa kulibwino tisamakhale ndi vp chifukwa vp aliyense akumafuna kukhala presdent ndiye aliyense amene akudana ndi boma ndikumamuona ngati mbava anthu ozavota sapezeka pa nyasa times

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