Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tense Situation at Undule Mwakasungula's Lilongwe House

Symon Vuwa-Kaunda: President Mutharika is a peaceful man
Contrary to claims profered by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General, Bintony Kumtsaila, that Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) Executive Director, Undule Mwakasungula, staged the attacks on his offices last weekend, the situation at the human rights activist's home is tense.
Fear has gripped the family following the attack,. and entry requirements to Mwakasungula's house are more strict than ever before.
Zachimalawi was previleged to visit Mwakasungula's house from 3:00 pm to around 04:20pm, and witnessed for itself how Malawi, as a country, is slowly going to the dogs as government turns against its own citizens to inflict terror among the general population.
Mwakasungula is being targeted for advocating human rights, and questioning 'questionable' government decisions such as the paying of millions in Kwacha to First Lady Callista Mutharika for the sole reason that she married a man who became Malawi's President- all in the guise of her Safe Motherhood advocate role.
Malawians are raising so many questions. These include: If the President can decide to pay his wife over K1 million monthly, how much does he (the President himself) receive at the end of the month? Are we not cheating ourselves to believe that Mutharika received K45, 000 he claims to receive?
If the Vice President, Joyce Banda, receives K800, 000 monthly, are we honest with ourselves to believe that the President (the boss) receives peanuts (K45, 000)?
When Mwakasungula questioned decisions such as these, the DPP government automatically ear-marked him as a target.
Now the party, through Kumtsaila, is purpoting that Mwakasungula 'staged' the attack to his own office.
This claim, as Zachimalawi discovered after visiting Mwakasungula's home today, is outrageous, malicious, and twadleful.
Mwakasungula's family is worried; Mwakasungula himself cannot walk freely now; and many other things are happening in the country we so much love.
It is sad.
On a lighter note, Zachimalawi was also previleged- for the first time- to come face-to-face with Jumani Johanneson (Former President, Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda's self-proclaimed son) at Mwakasungula's house.
Jumani is a down-to-earth individual. He is very open, too. And kind.
He is Malawian. At least the traits that make one purely Malawian.
Zachimalawi awaits, with abated breath, the long-awaited Deoxyribonucleic Acid to settle the matter of hids partenity once and for all.
The many sad, political developments taking place in our country have shifted our focus from this interesting issue, as living in Malawi becomes more risky under Mutharika's regime.
Mutharika told a political rally at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Sunday that he needed more action from them, in terms of "answering my critics on my behalf: you always keep quiet when they go on the offensive".
Already, observers and political parties- notably the Malawi Congress Party and United Democratic Front- have condemned Mutharika for uttering such remarks, fearing- like many Malawians- the return of notorious political party youth groupings. These groupings have a reputation of brutality and torture.
Many people are asking: thither Malawi democracy?
Zachimalawi asks: thither human rights?
What with Mutharika's sentiments that peaceful demonstrators should be paying a 'damage-surity' fee of not less than K3 million to quarantee against possible property (read, collateral) damage.
Zachimalawi condemns this statement, and President Bingu wa Mutharika, in strongest terms.
This will not be allowed to happen in Malawi, Sir.
Period!
But Information and Civic Education Minister, Symon Vuwa-Kaunda, told Zachimalawi today evening that people have misinterpreted Mutharika's sentiments.
"His Excellency the State President, Ngwazi Professor Bingu wa Mutharika is a peaceful man; he wants only the best for this country. He simply wants to defend development," said Vuwa-Kaunda.

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