Malawians will suffer in next 3 years—Atupele

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika should not be allowed to experiment with people’s suffering for three more years as the poor are the ones bearing the cost of his arrogance, UDF deputy leader in Parliament Atupele Muluzi has said.

But presidential spokesperson Hetherwick Ntaba said Atupele’s remarks indicated his inexperience in government operations, saying in asking for three more years, Mutharika was proposing adoption of home-grown policies that could result in a strong economy.

Atupele was speaking at Namitete, Waliranji, Kamwendo, Mchinji and Kapiri trading centres during whistle-stop rallies where United Democratic Front (UDF) leader in Parliament Ibrahim Matola also declared that Mutharika had admitted failure.

“For someone with less than 26 months to go, you cannot understand that government is asking for three years to experiment with the people’s lives on systems that have brought more misery to Malawians in their lifetime,” said Atupele.

He said Malawians are demanding solutions to the current crises such as fuel, foreign exchange, drug shortage, low tobacco and maize prices, disorganised subsidised fertiliser coupon distribution systems and high taxes that are strangling businesses.

“This is the time to tell Malawians when they should expect to be relieved of such taxes killing our private sector or removing people’s disposable incomes, or when fuel or forex will be available, when coupons will be accessed by the poor and not the rich,” said Atupele.

Matola said parliamentarians could not believe the President’s statement, saying as opposition, they are ready to provide solutions if government could admit that it had run out of ideas.