Kaliati claims northerners advancing Malawi regime change

Malawi government spokesperson Patricia Kaliati has claimed that members of the civil society organisations (CSO) from northern region are agitating for nationwide demonstrations with an agenda of regime change.

"This whole thing is political. We know this," outspoken Kaliati told private-radio Zodiak.

"And all those advancing this are Northerners. Why is that so? Judge it for yourself," she added.

"These people are advancing regime change. They want to introduce impeachment (of president Mutharika) and get Joyce Banda (Vice President) in the drivers' seat. We know it," said Kaliati.

Kaliati: People from the north are the ones fighting for regime change

The Information Minister also squarely blamed opposition Peoples Party, Malawi Congress Party and the United Democratic Front for being part of the scheme for regime change.

Government journalist and renowned commentator, Mzati Nkolokosa, is also on record arguing that the fight by the activist at the surface is political and economic issues but deep under the waters, it is a fight between one tribe and another.

"We have a tribe or a unity of tribes from the North fighting the Lhomwe and other tribes from the South,"Nkolokosa argued on his blog.

He noted that it has become clear that "this is a war of tribes, disguised as a war over governance and economic issues."

"Or consider the people behind the demonstrations. At the forefront is a person from the North. The team behind him is largely from the North, and of course, some collaborators from the South. This is where we need an explanation. If this is a tribal war, how do we explain the involvement of those from the South or Central region?" Nkolokosa writes.

But Billy Banda, executive director of Malawi Watch said the problems facing Malawians were universal.

"All the problems that the civil society presented to government are genuine concerns of Malawians and the government has to address them," he said.

And spokesman of the organizers of the September 21 civil society led demonstrations, Billy Mayaya (not a Northerner) dismissed the regionalism assertion by government.

"There is a nationwide cry on issues of democratic governance, human rights and economic governance," said Mayaya.

The activists deny that northerners are dominating the civil society, saying there other non northerners who are on the forefront organising the protests aimed at registering their discontent against the current government's political and economic governance.

Nyasa Times 21 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/blog/2011/09/20/kaliati-claims-northerners-advancing-malawi-regime-change/
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