The Malawi leader might have only been trying to set a precedent in giving an example, but Peter Mutharika should have remembered the world was listening when he referred the Malawi media to check how his Zambian counterpart, Edgar Lungu blew a lot of money with a higher delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently.
The angry looking Mutharika while railing at the local media for exposing Malawi’s poverty too much, had been seeking ways to defend his reported 115 entourage to the US besides having a typed list of names of people that went along with him.The Malawi President was quick to compare his entourage to that of Zambia’s while trying to parry away accusations that he wasted taxpayers money.
“You are attacking me for taking 115 people? Just go to our neighbors Zambia they took 256 people and their President hired a private jet that took him all the way to New York and
waited for him right there for the return trip,” said a visibly-angry Mutharika.
Just go to our neighbors Zambia they took 256 people and their President hired a private jet that took him all the way to New York and waited for him right there for the return trip
He laboured to contrast President Lungu’s direct flight from Lusaka to US with his 5-hour flight from Lilongwe to Dubai on a private jet where he connected to New York on a commercial airliner.
“Strangely, the attack comes at a time the two seemed to be in good books following Lungu’s visit to Malawi during independence celebrations July this year. This is not the first time that Zambia and Malawi leaders have been at loggerheads.” Zambian Mirror Facebook Page reported on Sunday.
Mutharika’s late brother President Bingu wa Mutharika was not in good books with Zambia’s late Michael Sata following a deportation feud that the later suffered while he was still an opposition politician.
Upon coming to power, Sata never fancied the presence of Bingu at any international forum and the two were only talking diplomatically not as personal cronies.Mutharika blew over K2 billion on his trip to the US, unofficial calculations revealed.
Source:Malawi 24
This is embarrassing for Lungu
Basically he is being ridiculed from NY to Malawi across all the shores
He has to go for plundering the monies. The entourage if true is a scandal and a game changer
Thanks
Bb2014
Looking forward to hearing Sunday Chanda’s moronic response to this! Whats wrong with African leaders? They just squander resources with no thought to their poor economies or people.We are not poor because we have no money but because we are stu..pid
You are complaining about 15 bottles of Carlsberg lager… bla bla bla, look at my neighbor Edgar’s table he has mosi, rhino, Chinika, Whiskey black and Jameson.
I didn’t know presidents do compete to show who can spend most. Our Edgar is the winner, 256 people including musicians with their instruments.
It would be interesting to know who was on that list of 256. Cabinet office shani ka list kabili. Watchdog, are you sleeping? Whoof, whoof, whhooff…!!!
Lungu you had 256 delegates to the UN Assembly yet not even half that number listened to your speech, isn’t a shame on you sir.
@Nostradamus
Kekekeke! Zoona it was a battle of poverty in a night club Ku New York,,,, Mutarika checks out Changwa’s table,,awe shuwa ni black table
Surprisingly, these days I find myself agreeing with you.
Well, that is what the PF Government has been doing in its defence of the failing Kwacha and the economy; to compare with the neighbours and beyond by saying we are not alone. Peter is a fast learner, It is African.
AND THE RECKLESSLY WASTEFULL PRESIDENT (LUNGU), IN HIS WISHFULL THINKING, WANTS AND EXPECTS GOD TO REPLENISH THE WASTED MONEY AFTER 18TH OCTOBER PRAYERS. IF IT DOES NOT HAPPEN LUNGU WILL TURN AROUND AND BLAME GOD FOR REFUSING TO LISTEN TO THE NATIONAL PRAYERS.
I’m not sure the title on this article reflects the content. But anyway I don’t think that ECL’s attending independence celebrations in Malawi qualifies them to be in good books, cordial yes. However, Mugabe and ECL, are BFF.
The economy is Malawi is in ICU, they have no mines and mainly depending assistance from other countries.
@ Pio, absolutely agree with you. Comparing Zambia and Malawi is like comparing mango and maize. Completely two different crops. Malawi could not even afford oil to bury their president until late Pres. Sata came to their rescue. Not that I am amused with Lungu entourage if true. but people let us face it, Malawi is worse than us. There is no way of masking this, even learned Malawian agree. Tobacco has fallen off the list of most valuable cash crops for years while we were having a field day at the peak of copper prices. In addition Malawi is suffering from the worst corruption in their history, the cashgate scandal where $150 million dollars of donor aid went in the pockets of civil servants. Zambia and Malawi are not at par. sorry achimwene.
@ hobbes! you better shut up, you don’t know what you are talking about, Sata donated fuel out of his hearty generosity, doesn’t mean Malawi GOVT could not afford to order some few tankers for funeral ceremony, it was all about African culture to give a helping hand when a neighbour is in trying moment, Machende ako vagabond.
Two issues:
1 It is silly to jusitfy your excesses by comparing with that of another country’ excesses
2. Zambia despite its battered economy still has a stronger economy than that of Malawi
@ Mulenga Tembo, just like your name has two issues:
1. Mulenga is the Zambian name just like Mwape or Hakainde (original indigenous)
2. Tembo is all over place, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique
Do you get my point, be smart my friend, you can’t get headache from thinking….
@ Mulenga Tembo, it is even sillier to jusitfy your load shedding and poor economy by comparing with that of other countries
it’s actually not silly but very unprofessional to cry out like that, and go on to mention someone else. A leader should not run to blame, when justifying their actions, but simply just explain the reasons why he decided or whoever was in charge decided to go with 115 people. Ridiculous.
Comment: Some president, surely you can’t just defend yourself minus comparing to your colleague.
But that is exactly what Lungu is doing. He is telling us that the kwacha is not the only currency that is struggling. Lungu told us that the South African Rand is also struggling. So why complain when Mutharika compares his spending to Lungu? People please, open your eyes and stop defending the indefensible. Let us all accept it, when it comes to reckless spending, our ‘ifintu in Lungu’ takes the biscuit! He is the crown jewel where big spending is concerned. Cry the beloved country ?
Honorable Kambwili is on phoenix radio let the people talk.
stupid**** cant read between the line
I equally wait for an official response from government regarding this brazen attack/allegation on our president by another statesman. Quite unprecedented and most interesting, a Zambian delegation of 256 compared to his 115, if true, well…….words fail me, sho!!
Two slaves on a slave ship comparing on who is wearing the shinest chain!!
They actually hired planes from the same company
What have people said about this gentleman? LUNGU has no agenda for Zambians and i think he was very clear on this one when or during January 2015 elections. I do not even see the reason why people should raise issues out of every thng that he does. For me he is just doing what he promised you people, to say I shall only do what you will request me to do for you and he is just doing that. There is no kind of initiative he is bringing in but only to do what you want him do for you. NEXT TIME JUST MAKE SURE YOU ANALYSE PEOPLE”S MESSAGES AS THEY CAMPAIGN.
There all fools,why wasting all that tax payers monies while there people suffering with no food on the table,no shelter,clean water and no health facilities… Just *****s making their pockets huge!!!!! Then at we pray pa 18/10/15,muli mbwa sana imweeee!!!!!! If God has given u brains nd u fail to use them to solve our economical problems,wht do u expect??? God to drop manna for u? Mr Jamason think at plot 1 u bring in sangomas instead of pastors then u say we must play? Are sure of what u are doing???????
Nothing to write home about, except for 256 pipo who went with EL to NY City
2 cheeks of the same backside
Comment: The Randy is a currency not a person.
ECL MUST HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND DISCLOSE THE 256 PEOPLE THAT WERE ON THE HIRED PLANE. SORRY KZ MISSED THE FLIGHT.
NA MALAWI YATUSEKA
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GWENT TO SAUDI ARABIA WITH FIRST LADY? SHE FLEW STRAIGHT FROM NEW YORK TO RIYADH. IBRAHIM MUMBA THE AMBASSADOR THERE IS AN EASTERNER OF ARAB PERSUASION.
HE IS. A BOOTLICKER AND MAY HAVE WANTED THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF TO GO TO FRY AND SECURE HIS POSITION IN CASE PF WINS IN 2016. SO THE NEXT BEST WAS TO GEF MADAM. BUT SHUWA WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A FIRST LADY I ask?
..its time some heads of states swallowed their pride….Zambian , Malawan and Zimbabwean economies are on their knees….surely wouldn’t these three guys team up with a handful entourage plan and share one plane to the UN sure..??…the selfishness of our leaders is killing us…..all they need was to call Zuma and arrange for a lift on his jet…and contribute to the cost of the trip…eg fuel, parking fees etc….which would have been very minimal compared to what they used on individual trips….
…I know this sounds weird but very practical…..
Its not an attack, he is making reference to what is real and known by all……………
What daring?
This is irresponsible and inaccurate reporting.
Amazingly, some of you jump up and down to this. My o my.
Couldn’t you read properly, and see what Mutharika is trying to do? He is trying to shelter in our shadows from the heat of his people’s criticism. There is no daring or falling out in all this between the two “cronies”.
that Malawian president is actually a coward because he simply cant stand up for his own actions, who does that?
You people I don’t think comparing things with my neighbour is becoming at loggerheads? Don’t insert you words into Mutharikas minds please. He was just comparing that “you are complaining about me look at my neighbour he has more shares than me” Do you call that an insult? No! Mutharika and Lungu are very good friends from childhood in Petauke when they were herding cattle together. Don’t let them hate each other for nothing. I for me the former President of Malawi, I will still encourage our President to call Lungu.
LOL
I think EL thought he was going for one of the many campaign rallies, so he wanted to outdo the whole UN gathering by his alone!!!
Its funny that nobody noticed him or listened to his useless speech. All he brought us is more poverty and pictures of him and his wife posing with Obama.
Probably his spokesperson and defender Kabwili will realise his folly, now that the Malawian president has defended himself by saying basically ,” if you think I am extravagant ( read stupid) , check out the Zambian delegation .”
Now he wants the whole nation to pray for forgiveness and divine intervention. Who is forgiving who and for what wrongs have they committed. Siamunene says everything Lungu says comes from god (check spelling). This is his god in the Jameson bottles !!
they take papers for him to approve when he’s high on Jemason.
Lungu’s face has been twisted by Jameson, he always looks like he’s from crying a lot! its good he’ll fast from Jameson for the first time next Sunday and he can drink again on Monday!
I WISH I WAS ON THAT TRIP AS WELL.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO NEW YORK.
PEOPLE, IF THEY WERE ZAMBIANS ON THAT TRIP SO WHAT?
WE NEVER COMPLAIN WHEN SO-CALLED EXPATRIATES COME AND GO AWAY WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
BUT WE MOURN WHEN ZAMBIANS GO ON OFFICIAL DUTIES TO REPRESENT US.
LET ZAMBIANS ALSO ENJOY BECAUSE IF WE DON’T BAZUNGUS WILL DO SO ANYWAY.
Comment: you people do not think gorvment is home interms of spending, gavment should spend money, kaso! Nizako ndalama, siyanchito from gavment if you tax payers is been spend amy how.
Iyeeeeee!!!!! 256 people in New York, for all those number of days, eating and sleeping at expensive hotels. If this is true then we have a big scandal on our hands. This is being reckless on the part of govt, totally wrong.
ZAMBIANS ARE TOOTHLESS AND COWARDS. A PRESIDENT IS MESSING UP WITH THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY WITHIN 3 MONTHS, AND YOU ARE ALL WATCHING AND DO NOTHING. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE ZAMBIANAS? LUNGU SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPEACHED IMMEDIATELY. LUNGU IS HELL.
But pipo what private jet can carry up to 256,thats too biger
Be serious they are advance parties, op goes in advance etc. My god the level of analysis in this country is disturbing. Who said they all got on the same $300,000 plane?
Boeing 777, Airbus A330/A340 would do the trick. Not sure the size of the private jet is anywhere near…
We really need to pray hard on the 18th of October so that our government can stop wasting our money, 256 people for what? When other nations with better economies were sending just 10 people, its very clear Zambia needs more than just prayers! We can pray but if we as the people and government to do not put an effort and do our part anything will change.
In the first place, looking at his life style and marital status, Dr. Chiluba was not the right person to declare Zambia as a Christian nation. If he was not the rite person, then the whole declaration was misplaced and inappropriate. We should have selected a spiritual person to declare Zambia as a Christian nation. Now the effects of that declaration is that some Pentecostal churches that appear to be promoting witchcraft have sprung up. Abnormal requests are being made to God when we have the powers to change our own circumstances. 256 is one such case.
Anyone can declare Zambia a christian nation, and it doesn’t matter whether its done by a saint or a sinner, all will be acknowledged because it was finished at the cross, but its the overall attitude of Zambians that is wrong, people have nothing good to say about each other and its becoming the norm, be it family, work, love, or any relationship.
The overall collective consciousness is more of hurt, hate, judging who is perfect, and no where near love and God is love.
You’ll never get it right with religion. Best leave it be in matters of nationhood.
Stupid Zambian media! What you know is sprinkling hate seedlings between individuals, be professional and accurate, we might be the poorest nation on planet earth but we are extremely happy and contented, leave our president alone, we do not need your disrespect mentality towards sitting presidents. GET OUT
No more wondering why these two countries are still poor and lagging behind in many aspects. Poor leadership and a bunch of i*****s running the show. Mutharika should be embarrassed to even compare himself to another failure. Ati naviwonelanji at play!
Mutharika said look at our neighbours not neighbour
Viyazi, you are lucky you are far you Malawian refugee, otherwise, I was going to punch the lights off your head. I argued my view without insulting you imbecile. There is nothing like hearty generosity. It is Zambian tax payers money that was used and the president never asked Zambians about that. It is hard economics and nothing like generosity. As for you describing me as a vagabond, unlike you, I chose to come and live in the UK, which I am sure you would so much love to come to. I, however, am a full Zambian with all my family and friends in Zambia. I can visit any time I want and I have the best of both Worlds, unlike you refugee from kalonga depending on Zambian generosity. Lucky you are even in Zambia and not so backward village in your Malawi.
let Kambwili respond to that. Because when its HH saying these things PF claim that he is bitter. Interesting to see what they will call the Malawian president since he is saying the same things about our extravagant government. PF cadres time to defend the indefensible.
Zambians are really fools who believe anything they read and hear. This story is fake because even the Malawian media is denying that Mutharika said that. Media literacy is very important because no one will misled you from lies. Think rationally before you believe anything. I can see how some people are agitated after reading the above article and how their judgement is clouded with anger. What is the source of this article and what is the motivation of the person who claimed Edgar carried 256 people and what evidence does he have. Think! Who are the 256 people? What size of plane was used and people say this plane at KKIA, did they see 256 people???
Ninshi filya the late king cobra used to say ati my ministers are useless was true. Kwena ba Lungu sure it is too much.Who is in control really?
Mutharika said look at our neighbours not neighbour, referring to almost every SADC country, never mentioned Zambia and 256 delegates, only Jacob Zuma flew using his presidential plane among all SADC leaders who chartered private jets. Above all Nyusi of Mocambique hired a big aircraft plus 561 delegates including English- Portuguese interpreters, now you are busy squeezing words into president mutharika mouth to things he never said. Mxiiiiiiiiiiii
Viyazi Tembo, this was reported in the Malawian Media. Stop defending madness and incompetence. If you area PF cadre sometimes you can do well by just hibernating. Stop irritating people that are aggrieved..
Zuma once said SA is not like Malawi… What was he referring to??
The dramatics in Zed are hilarious. NOBODY has yet interrogated past entourages where this rot is emanating from. While it is a good idea to stump this nonsense it is good education to make sure he is not the “cheapest” of your Presidents who spent their lives in office scurrying all over the face of the earth with the Missus, Cooks-turned-Minister and campaigners-getting-payback…
No Malawian media reported the above crap and thats not what Peter said. Zambians are really fools who believe anything they read and hear. Media literacy is very important because no one will misled you from lies. Think rationally before you believe anything. I can see how some people are agitated after reading the above article and how their judgement is clouded with anger. What is the source of this article and what is the motivation of the person who claimed Edgar carried 256 people and what evidence does he have. Think! Who are the 256 people? What size of plane was used and people say this plane at KKIA, did they see 256 people???
Even the man who keeps the nation’s purse is alarmed! Where to Zambia? Some of our leaders do not mean well for the Country.
They complain about their little tax they pay. They even complain about the cost of by-elections when they know that Zambia is a democratic nation. they even complained that Sata shouldn’t have been taken abroad for treatment…and yet they know that every work has conditions of servive & benefits of the worker.
Good people just ignore these kachemas…They do not even slaughter a dying cow for relish but for sale…and continue eating nshima with mabisi…AND no matter how you try to advise them they will just insult you…just like that…you just wait and read about the responses to these words I have said…. They are just like that….inkulilo is the cause …whether they go abroad or not they are too economic to spend. Even those abroad have bad dress codes males or females both…
Even Mushota has joined them…just look at her head gear….pathetic
These two ídiots are two butt cheeks on the same set of buttocks.
ok, I should have said rear-end
sober up guys . Don’t go to bed mad. Just accept he’s our PRESIDENT.
@TRUTH: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. THE GOOD FOR NOTHING PEOPLE ARE MESSING UP OUR LIVES AND WE CONTINUE NOT ONLY TO TOLERATE THEM BUT TO SUPPORT THEM. IT RIDICULOUS AND FULISH. WE HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME FOR OUR MISERIES BUT OURSELVES. NOT EVEN GOD WILL SPARE A SECOND TO LISTEN TO OUR USELESS PRAYERS AND CRIES. OUR SONGS, PRAYERS AND FASTING WILL BE NAUSEATING TO GOD.
Nostradamus you hitched a free ride back to the US and now you are complaining. hahahaha.
Viva President Nawakwi.
Have I learnt anything from these postings? Mmmmmmmmm. Not much. Let’s be constructive in what we write.
Jelous too much you guys.ok,tell us how best to reward our best bootlickers and praising cadres than to fly them around the country and out side and put them in the world’s best hotels and give them hefty allowances.tell us ok,how best to put more money in our pockets…..
The headline/title is very misleading. with specific reference to the word “dares”.