Government through the ministry of information has condemned the remarks by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Secretary General Eisenhower Mkaka that MCP president Lazarus Chakwera is the President of the Republic of Malawi and his wife Mrs. Monica Chakwera is the First Lady.
On February 8, MCP held a thank you rally at Msundwe following the Constitutional Court’ victory, where the May 21, 2019 presidential elections were nullified as requested by the petitioners of the case, State vice president Saulos Chilima leader of United Transformation Movement (UTM) and Chakwera.
According to Minister of Information who signed the press statement Mark Botomani, Mkaka’s remarks were unfortunate, hence the move to condemn the remarks.
“Government would like to remind the MCP that the Constitutional Court nullified the May 21, 2019 presidential election but upheld Professor Peter Mutharika as President of the Republic of Malawi until elections are held as ordered by the court. By extension, the judgment means Professor Gertrude Mutharika remains the First Lady of the Republic of Malawi,” reads part of the statement.
“Any views and utterances contrary to the court’s ruling are a departure from the rule of law and recipe for violence.”
According to Botomani, Mkaka made the unfortunate remarks at Msundwe where has become a hotspot of the violence “as such, the remarks at Msundwe may have been strategically made with the aim of inciting more violence,”
“Government also finds it very unfortunate for the MCP to choose Msundwe as venue for the party’s rally. It is an open secret that Msundwe is now associated with violence.”
Government has also condemned the unfortunate remarks by Mkaka signifying that they were premeditated.