University of Livingstonia (Unilia)-based political analyst, George Phiri, has described President Peter Mutharika’s party leadership as dictatorial.
Phiri said Mutharika has his own favourites who he appoints to various positions in total disregard to democratic principles which call for elections in some cases.
Phiri was commenting on declarations by Mutharika that some of his favoured leaders would not go through primary elections to represent the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) at parliamentary level.
The President was addressing a rally at Chitipa Boma after commissioning Chitipa Water Supply Project.
“I am working with some people like Nick Masebo who are [my] advisers. I mean they are good advisers working for government. Therefore, they will be DPP MPs at all cost come 2019 elections. Not only him but also Goodall Gondwe in Mzimba, Symon Vuwa Kaunda and Grace Chiumia in Nkhata Bay,” Mutharika said, attracting applause from the gathering.
However, Phiri said such declarations are known as “domesticated democracy” which is not allowed in a party that values democratic principles.
“This means these names will be on the ballot on DPP ticket despite that the people might not want them. Imposing a vourites is becoming dictatorial. People are supposed to be given a chance to choose their favourites because such declarations can lead into divisions which can negatively affect the party,” Phiri said.
Mutharika argued that some of these party gurus deserve to be in Parliament because they are loyal to the party and government.
But Phiri said leaders are supposed to be loyal to the people because they represent their views at the highest decision-making levels.
Gondwe, Kaunda and Masebo lost the 2014 parliamentary elections and Gondwe is now Minister of Finance while Kaunda is Presidential Adviser in Parliament and Masebo advises the President on national unity and the youth.
They all once served as MPs for DPP for two consecutive terms.
Meanwhile, the Public Affairs Committee (Pac) has condemned Mutharika for calling his critics, especially those who accuse him of nepotism, stupid.
Pac Publicity Secretary, Peter Mulomole, described the statement as unfortunate and not befitting the office of the President.
Mutharika was speaking at Katoto in Mzuzu on Monday, when he called the people who accuse him of sidelining the Northern Region in government appointments zitsiru (stupid).
He cited his recent appointment of Charles Mhango as Attorney General as an example that his appointments are made on merit, adding that although he is from Thyolo, the North which has nine percent of the total population has a 33 percent representation in government.
But Mulomole said it was unfortunate and unnecessary for the President to use such language.
He said Mutharika accepted to be President of the country and must learn to accept criticism.
“He accepted to be the head of state and a head of state cannot avoid criticism. You cannot say that those people who criticise you are stupid. It was said in anger but be must learn to control himself and be exemplary,” he said.
Alliance for Democracy (Aford) Chai rperson for Elections and Campaign, Dan Msowoya, said it was unfortunate that the President called people stupid for expressing their opinions.
Msowoya said Mutharika must take heed of the views of his critics, saying the Cabinet ministers he trusts for advice mostly lie to him on matters of national importance.
“It’s uncalled for that the President called people stupid for expressing their views. Being a critic simply means expressing your views freely, it could be right or wrong but you have to assess what the people are saying and amicably explain yourself,” he said.
At its 5+1 All-Inclusive Stakeholders’ Conference in February, Pac also condemned nepotistic tendencies by DPP.
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