US demands Malawi’s explanation on coup funding claims

The United states government is awaiting an explanation from Malawi over President Bingu wa Mutharika’s remarks that western donors are conniving with opposition parties and the civil society the country to topple the government, a US diplomat has said.

US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman made the remarks through a teleconference press briefing from Kenya on Wednesday while sharing issues discussed during her one day visit to Malawi and the rest of Africa.

Last Sunday, when he opened a road project in his home district of Thyolo, president Mutharika accused western donors of funding a coup plot by the opposition and leaders of the civil society to government.

But Sherman says Malawi authorities should come clearly to specify which donors are involved in the alleged plot describing Mutharika’s general statement as regrettable.

The US diplomat said the civil society is a critical component of any democratic society as they speak for the voiceless and defend the rights of vulnerable society.

Both the opposition and the civil society have laughed off Mutharika’s unsubstantiated claims describing them as a scapegoat for his administration’s failure to solve numerous challenges that are hurting Malawians.