Mutharika calls for peace during the festive season

By Blackson Mkupatira – Mana

President Professor Peter Mutharika has appealed to people in the country to observe peace during the festive season to avoid loss of life and property.Mutharika made the appeal on Wednesday at Mbande community ground in the area of Traditional Authority Juma in Mulanje when he presided over the launch of the 2019/2020 National Forestry Season.He said there have been a lot of violence in the country of late; [citing the recent Kasungu chaos as evidence], a thing he condemned saying Malawi is a God fearing nation; hence, the need for the citizens to embrace peace.On national development, Mutharika said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led government aims at ensuring that every community in the country has food all year round, good roads, availability of clean and potable water, electricity, hospitals, secondary schools and community colleges.Mutharika, however, lamented that while this is in process, there are some people who were destroying the structures in the name of politics.“While we are busy building schools, roads and development structures, some ill-minded people are busy destroying such facilities. Let me warn you; if this continues those found perpetrating this lawlessness will face the law,” he said.On food security, Mutharika said he was aware that currently some families do not have enough food for consumption. He said the situation is already being handled by responsible cabinet Ministers who are working to ensure that every household has enough food.Mutharika, therefore, assured the gathering that government would continue to develop the nation, especially the rural areas.He also appealed to all Malawians to observe peace during the Christmas and New Year festivities, repeating that Malawi remains a God fearing nation.DPP Regional Governor for the South, Charles Mchacha said development comes with the ruling party and that the DPP-led government is dedicated to ensuring that every part of the country is developed.Mchacha added that the DPP respects the courts, churches and other political parties, noting that it [DPP] strives to foster peace in the country; hence, will not be involved in violence as the election case progresses in the Constitutional Court.“When we told them that we will defeat them with a landslide, they did not believe us, now look!“They are lucky that the DPP is a peaceful party; so, we will continue to concentrate on developing the country while they take it to the streets,” Mchacha challenged.Member of Parliament for Mulanje West, Yusuf Nthenda expressed gratitude to the government, saying it has transformed lives of people in his area, citing various major development projects such as bridges, boreholes, modern roads and health facilities.Nthenda also took time to thank President Mutharika for the timely distribution of relief food items which are being supplied countrywide.Traditional Authority Juma thanked government for constructing Thuchila Health Centre in his area.Juma observed that the facility would not only help his subjects but also those from surrounding districts of Thyolo, Phalombe and Chiradzulu.Mana/bm/adn/gjp