Following criticism President Mutharika received for ordering Malawi Defense Force (MDF) and Malawi Police (MPS) to stop the planned Airports and boarders demonstrations using necessary force, government has clarified Mutharika’s speech.
The clarification has been made through the Ministry of Information Civic Education and Communications Technology. signed by the minister responsible Mark Botomani.
In a statement seen by Faceofmalawi reporter, government has labelled those criticizing Mutharika’s remarks as enemies of truth saying they are trying so hard to misinterpret the president.
“Government wishes to dismiss efforts by enemies of the truth who are trying hard to misrepresent remarks and directives of the president,” reads part of the statement.
Botomani continued by describing Mutharika as the true democrat and a gentleman who loves his country and respects people’s rights, saying he has never stopped any demonstrations in the country since he came to power in 2014.
“Therefore no one has a basis for accusing him of being against peaceful demonstrations or contravening any written or unwritten law in this country,” Botomani said.
Maintaining its stand, government has called on the organizers of the peaceful demonstrations to call off the demonstrations saying if they insist they will meet them with force.
On August 21, Mutharika ordered MDF and the police to use any force necessary to stop the planned Anti-Ansah demonstrations which they are destined to shut all major Airports and boarders accross the country slated for August 26-30.
Despite Mutrharika’s threats Human Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has vowed not to bow to Mutharika’s threats and continued with the planned demonstrations on the planned days.
“To the organizers, the warning still stands that the demonstrations should be called off unconditionally. Any attempt to proceed with them will be met with force and never say you were not warned,” rads the statement.
Meanwhile some foreign embassies have sent a warning to their people in and outside the country to observe the political tension that has arouse in the country.
The demonstrations are aimed at calling for a resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah to step down for allegedely mismanaging May 21 tripartite elections.
