Mutharika urges for calmness as imminent arrests loom for his aide

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Professor Peter Mutharika has appealed for calm among Malawians as elections situation tenses up.

Mutharika was speaking at a press briefing a while ago at his Nyambadwe Residence to respond to President Joyce Banda’s briefing in the morning where she alleged that the DPP have rigged the tripartite election through hacking into MEC’s digital system and manipulating results.

During the briefing she also read a suicide note allegedly left by the late Godfrey Kamanya who shot himself in the wee hours of today. According to President Banda, the note implicated Mutharika’s aide Ben Phiri and another DPP official only identified as Mayi Makuta who are alleged to have threatened to kill Kamanya.

But Mutharika said allegations that the DPP have rigged the elections are completely false.

“I understand that there’s a warrant of arrest for my running mate Saulos Chilima and Ben Phiri on allegations that they hacked a computer to rig. That is utterly false. How can we rig the elections?” queried Mutharika.

Mutharika said at this critical point, it is important that people avoid language that would cause tension and wait for the results.

“MEC is facing some challenges, let’s wait. MEC told us that they were ready and we believe them and that they will handle it. I know MEC are doing their best and Mbendera is a man of integrity let him do his job. I personally know him so,” he appealed.

During the briefing, Mutharika alleged that he has information that PP is mobilizing people to go on the street to protest the results.

MEC is yet to announce any official result but credited broadcasters MBC and Zodiak have been keeping the nation abreast through unofficial results which indicate that Peter is still hanging on to his lead in the presidential race, closely followed by MCP candidate Dr. Lazarus Chakwera while Banda is on third. Atupele Muluzi of the UDF is at a distant fourth.

Meanwhile, we have received a tip from highly placed sources in the military that a coup is on the cards if Mutharika is declared a winner. The tip could not be independently verified. President Banda will do everything possible to block Mutharika and the military coup is her last resolve. Coup is on the cards… our regular sources in the army revealed.