Former Presidential Press Officer Chipiliro Mtumodzi and former Presidential legal advisor Allan Ntata have advised President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to take full responsibility of the economic challenges the country is currently going through, saying ‘living in denial won’t help matters’.

Mtumodzi and Ntata said this in a media briefing held on Monday in the capital Lilongwe under the theme ‘Our Malawi: a land of devoid of a leader’.

The two said Mutharika’s recent remarks on Maize scarcity in ADMARC deport and the hunger situation in the country clearly shows that the President is out of touch with the reality on the ground.

“We are not disappointed with President Peter Mutharika’s ineptitude; we are rather disgusted with the predictability of his Administration’s adoption of distraction and blame tactics instead of taking full responsibility and proving us wrong that contrary to these telltale signs of a ship cruising towards an iceberg, he is indeed in charge and not just dancing to whatever tune his henchmen spin for him,” said Ntata and Mtumodzi.

They added: What makes the case of Malawi hopeless is President Peter Mutharika’s trademark tendency of burying his head in sand at the least sign of trouble. The Academic Freedom saga, which unfolded and established itself on his watch, the needless diplomatic standoff that happened right under his nose, pale in comparison to the total breakdown of vital services in the country, which the President is just too keen to downplay.”

The two also urged President Mutharika to immediately fire Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe, saying he is the main man behind the country’s challenges.

“We have followed with bemusement public calls that President Peter Mutharika must now retire the no longer relevant and visibly exhausted Minister of Finance and allow him to leave the scene with a modicum of dignity, before hell breaks loose.

“The thinking is that the President will then appoint someone with fresh and innovative ideas who can spearhead the recovery, a duty which Hon Goodall Gondwe has clearly abrogated, opting to escalate Economic Recovery to the Almighty, without either the requisite faith or deeds to match. Gondwe’s sentiments are, in our view, as good as expecting the sun to rise from the west,” they said.

Ntata also warned Mutharika of the rumours going around that he is planning make Minister of Foreign Affairs George Chaponda his success instead of the his Vice President Dr. Saulosi Chilima, saying this is uncalled for.

“The Vice President, we want to remind President Mutharika, cannot just be ignored or wished away. They were elected together. Impeachment, which can easily backfire, is the only constitutional way to dump him before the administrative term expires.

“And since this will not happen, the Vice President should be allowed to earn his perks by bringing in the much-needed fresh perspective,” said Ntata.