By Isaac Salima:
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika on Saturday lashed out at the current administration, accusing its officials of destroying Blantyre City by transferring headquarters for public offices to Lilongwe.
Mutharika said this in Blantyre during the party’s Southern Region Fundraising Dinner and Dance.
The former Malawi leader said when he was in power, he wanted to stabilise and anchor the commercial city; a thing he said was being reversed now.
“I loved this city because it is where I grew up. But this government is gradually destroying it by moving all important structures from Blantyre to Lilongwe. For example, Macra [Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority], Malawi Housing Corporation, Mec [Malawi electoral Commission] offices, and so forth, have been moved to Lilongwe.
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“I want to assure you that on 17th September next year [after general elections] my first job as president will be to issue an executive order bringing all those buildings back to Blantyre. And no other buildings will be moved to Lilongwe,” Mutharika said.
In his reaction, government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu said they were not neglecting Blantyre City but, rather, decentralising most government functions.
“And having a central point of command located within the capital does not only save resources but enhances efficiency and effectiveness as well. There is no single office that has moved and left a gap in service delivery. There are fully functional regional structures through which top quality services are being delivered to Malawians in a cost effective and speedy manner,” Kunkuyu said.
Mutharika also said it took him two years to accept to represent the party in next year’s elections.
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“It was not for personal glory or for seeking wealth but because I love this party and this country. I would like to leave the party presidency while the party is in power,” he said.
On his part, organising chairperson for the event Noel Lipipa said the money realised would, among other things, be used for rehabilitating their office building.
“We would like to use the money to sensitise people to the importance of registering for the elections and voting. We have observed incidences of voter apathy; so, we need to raise awareness on this,” he said.
DPP’s vice president for the Southern Region Joseph Mwanamvekha said he was impressed with the turnout to the event, further urging members to take that route in raising funds to support the party.
The party had planned to raise about K200 million.
