BY STEVE MALOYA
Malawi’s former President Arthur Peter Mutharika, popularly known as APM by his fanatics, has admitted that he was practising tribalism during the time he ruled the country.
Addressing a rally jointly organised by the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre on Sunday, the former leader admitted practising the vice through conceding the arrests of two former cabinet ministers of his time: Joseph Mwanamvekha, and Ben Phiri and former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor, Dalitso Kabambe, who all come from the Lhomwe belt from which APM also comes.
“There is one tribe which the current government seems to have chosen to persecute. You know that group of people; I come from the same group. This ethnic group is being witch hunted and persecuted. I urge President Chakwera to stop the persecution,” Mutharika intoned.
APM, who looked too frail and too old to rule Malawi; even if he is given another chance, was seen being helped to ascend steps to the podium. He further admitted that, given a chance to rule again, he will choose his ‘boys’; apparently meaning his tribesmen to help him rule Malawi.
However, commenting on the address by the former ruling party’s regional governor for Southern Region, Charles Mchacha at a media briefing in Blantyre last week, that the party would hold a rally; particularly to confess to Malawians for wrongdoings during APM’s reign, political commentator, Wonderful Mkhutche, said it was not surprising that the party harboured such plans since its last five year rule was riddled with rampant corruption, nepotism and general maladministration.
“One thing that Malawians clearly remember about DPP is corruption. Now that the party is admitting its poor leadership, let them confess the same and apologise to Malawians for the poor governance during their reign,” said Mkhutche.
APM ruled Malawi from 2014 to 2020 and his reign was well known for bad governance which rocked the country through corruption, tribalism, nepotism, lack of rule of law, killing and abduction of people with albinism; among many vices which retarded development.
