Political analyst Humphreys Mvula says the recent mediation statement by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Southern Region vice president Kondwani Nankhumwa lacks political honesty.
During Sunday’s DPP rally in Blantyre, Nankhumwa offered to initiate dialogue with the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM to settle the ongoing post-election protests organized by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC).
Mvula said much as the dialogue can be the main solution to address the current political stalemate, Nankhumwa’s statement can be deemed as a motive to win political mileage as it was made on the podium.
Mvula said: “To promote dialogue is very important but calling for dialogue in public rallies, let alone political in nature, cannot achieve anything because the most important thing is to call the parties involved and organize a closed door meeting.”
He further suggests that the main task to call for the meeting lies in the hands of President Peter Mutharika rather than his minister.
The commentator said Mutharika has all the capabilities to contact Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader, Lazarus Chakwera, his counterpart Saulosi Chilima and the Human Rights Defenders to discuss on the matter by involving mediators.
He also advised Mutharika to swallow his pride and stop castigating those demonstrating against the May 21 general elections results.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC), in collaboration with opposition parties, have been organizing demonstrations calling for the resignation of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah for allegedly mismanaging the election results.
Meanwhile HRDC have announced that it will hold another round of demonstrations on Friday, July 19.