Mutharika refuses debate challenge: ‘Chakwera’s level is Mchacha, Nankhumwa or Navicha’
President Peter Mutharika has dismissed the call by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate Lazaraus Chakwera, who is also Tonse Alliance torchbearer, to a debate ahead of the Constitutional Court sanctioned fresh presidential election , saying the two are not at the same level to debate.
Mutharika said this on Monday when he joined the hunt for votes, holding campaign meetings at his home trading centre of Goliati then Thyolo Boma and Bvumbwe, his first major public appearance since presenting his nomination papers on May 7.
“Chakwera wants to hold a debate with me, if he wants to, then he should not debate with me, but [Charles] Mchacha, [Kondwani] Nankhumwa or [Mary] Navicha. I am not on the same level with him,” said Mutharika who is seeking a second and final term of office.
President Mutharika expressed optimism that he would win the fresh elections.
Mutharika pointed out that the numerous development programmes government has been implementing across the country, including community technical colleges, construction of both primary and secondary schools and youth empowerment were some of the reasons people would re-elect him in power.
“I draw my confidence from the fact that over the first term of my office, we successfully carried out a number of development programmes aimed at uplifting people’s livelihoods especially those in rural areas,” he said.
The President added that he has made deliberate efforts to empower the youth, noting that 50 per cent of his cabinet comprises youthful members.
“In fact, I chose United Democratic Front (UDF) leader, Atupele Muluzi as my running mate in the fresh presidential election in the spirit of sustaining the agenda of youth empowerment,” he said.
“I have a burning desire to improve welfare of youth in the country. Out of 30 cabinet ministers in my government, about 14 are youth. I will continue all programmes on youth socio-economic empowerment,” he said.
The Malawian leader asked Malawians to turn out in their large numbers and vote for him and his running mate during the proposed June 23, 2020 elections in a bid to prove the courts and the opposition that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the polls.
“I am repeating that the DPP won the May 21 elections which both local and international observers described as free, fair and credible. We should come out in large numbers to prove High Court Judges that their ruling was not the will of the people,” he challenged.
“Don’t make any mistake of voting for Lazarous Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party and the Tonse Alliance,” he warned.
Mutharika assured people in Thyolo that once re-elected, his administration would continue with the development projects initiated in the district, citing upgrading of some feeder roads such as Chingazi-Nansadi, Nang’ombe-Bvumbwe and Katundu-Thunga, among others.
Vice President for the DPP in the South, Kondwani Nankhumwa said Mutharika and his running mate Muluzi would win resoundingly.
“Your leadership has demonstrated that you’re very tolerant and a true champion of democracy despite being pushed to the limits by some disgruntled people operating under the cover of human rights defenders when in actual fact they are political hooligans,” he said.
Earlier, Thyolo Central Constituency legislator Ben Phiri said people in the district will not allow MCP to rule again.
“The fresh presidential election gives us an opportunity to maintain sustainable development and respect of people’s lives, not to elect a crocodile and cruel party (MCP),” he said.
The country is expected to go to the polls again on June 23 2020 following the Supreme Court decision to uphold the Constitutional Court’s ruling that nullified the May 21 2019 presidential election.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Debate is good for the good of the nation.Only myopic leaders would refuse debate because they don’t have facts, arguments or ability to debate. No matter what whether one likes or not the presidency will always have issues to debate.
Disgusting Arrogance of the President Malawi needs a President who will talk to the poor uneducated who elects him to know what the poor uneducated individual needs. The President is NOT a KING or Dictator his days are numbered and will be removed July 4th for contempt of court if the election is not Held by June 23rd.
I thought the debate was between Presidential Candidates? The people mentioned are not.
BY the way, APM is only a caretaker president and should not brag.
AMP is afraid of debate, he is also afraid of the election and now the final chance for him to prove that he is indeed a man. Come one on one fight and see who is the real man. Blow by blow. Chakwera is giving Peter no more than 30 seconds in the ring. APM prove to Malawians that you have the pair. Prove that you have the balls. Come on one one one and let us settle this once and for all. No more innocent blood shade. You and me in the ring.
I thought they said this guy (Mutharika) is a constitutional lawyer. Based on his remarks I seriously doubt if this is true. It does not take a lawyer to understand that as a candidate you don’t get to choose who you debate, you just debate whoever is your opponent, as a lawyer he should understand this better. Here in Malawi it is not a constitutional requirement yet to debate, but even so, if the electorate wants to hear from you through a debate then you just need to do it no matter who your opponent is. Also as Citizen has… Read more »
Idiot is always right. (Again and again.)
I have read the story on what President talked about Mrs Joyce Banda, and what Mrs Joyce Banda said about the president, l feel sad that our politics has gotten to this point. First why did Mrs J Banda bring up the issue of the president drinking Kachasu? I thought we are talking about politics and what one will do when he gets into government my observation is that mai Banda has nothing to offer, infact MCP though so desperate to go onto government, it’s a waste of time bringing Joyce on board, she has nothing to offer. She had… Read more »
Mutharika is right. Chakwera has nothing to debate. All government winning issues are from Chilima; 1 million Jobs and K4500 fertilizer. what else? He says the obvious like a small party.
So by saying that the level of Chakwera is Mchacha, Nankhumwa and Navicha you think you are making a point, but what you have inadvertently done is belittle those members of your party and elevate yourself to be above everyone else. I don’t know how those mentioned people can take comments meant to denigrate in a positive way! My guess is that if they were at the meeting, they probably clapped hands. My final point is this, no matter what academic qualifications someone has, but as long as they qualify to stand for president, all candidate are equal, so it… Read more »
watch the rally even Mchacha himself and Nankhumwa were the first to harmer this point
Anthu odzikweza anagwetsa pansi pa chimpando chawo nakweza anthu achabe……. Tione momwe mutagwere in the next weeks to come.
Mwayi kuti muli ndi manja okhota, mwina mudzangogwa, nkuyamba kumakwawa.
is Donald Trump down???
Same, tired old arguments. You can build thousands of schools, roads and hospitals. That is NOT ‘development’. Where are the teachers and books for such schools? Or the doctors or equipment or medicines for hospitals? We might like to see new roads. But they are of little use if people do not have JOBS or money. The unemployment and poverty rate in Malawi, and most African countries, has not changed substantially in decades. Most people try to scrape by in the ‘informal’ economy. We want food to fill our stomachs, JOBS to provide for our families and to live comfortably.… Read more »