Muluzi offers to advise Mutharika

BLANTYRE, Wednesday

Former Malawi President Bakili Muluzi has offered to help the current president, Mr Bingu wa Mutharika with advice on how to resolve an economic crisis that is submerging the country into turmoil.

Mr Muluzi, who ruled Malawi from 1994 to 2004, made the offer against the backdrop of the government’s failure to raise forex for his medical check-up trip to South Africa which was due on December 21, 2011. 

He said he has experience in running a country and was willing to offer advice to help Mutharika resolve the economic challenges Malawi is experiencing.

Mr Muluzi said the problems Malawi is facing are not new in running of a country but said the challenge is how to manage them.

“During my presidency we experienced these challenges but Malawians did not notice because we talked to our friendly governments and organisations to help us out.

“I could pick a telephone and call leaders of countries and organisations to explain my predicament and in most cases they would understand and come forward to help before Malawians would notice.

‘’It all borders on foreign affairs policy. The key word is to have a good relationship with other governments and organisations,” he said.

At the moment Malawi’s relationship with donors, international organisations and neighbouring country’s is not that rosy.

In his national address on Christmas day President Mutharika blamed ‘Satan’ for the problems Malawi was going through and urged Malawians to be vigilant in prayers and be patriotic as his government was working around the clock to address the economic challenges the country was going through.

Mr Mutharika admitted that 2011 was a bad year for Malawi but was optimistic that the country’s situation will improve in 2012.

“Satan oppressed us and brought envy, hatred, gossip and jealousy among us. But God has triumphed because 2012 promises even more blessings and peace for Malawi. God has not forsaken us,” President Mutharika told the nation.

Mr Mutharika’s spokesperson Hetherwick Ntaba said Mr Muluzi was welcomed to advise government and it will be up to the government to see the merit in the advice.

Meanwhile one of the opposition parties, Alliance for Democracy (Aford) has called upon President Mutharika to form a government of National Unity or quit as he has failed to steer the country out of the economic challenges.