By Suleman Chitera
Former President Peter Mutharika says he was not invited to the country’s 61st Independence Day celebrations, dismissing claims by the government that all former leaders were formally contacted.
Speaking through his spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, Mutharika refuted assertions by Information Minister Moses Kunkuyu, who earlier told the media that invitations were extended to all retired leaders.
“The statement by the Minister of Information that all former presidents were invited is not true. The invitation never reached us,” Namalomba said.
He added that even if Mutharika had received the invite, he would have chosen not to attend as a sign of solidarity with Malawians who, he says, are facing untold hardships.
“What is there to celebrate? People are hungry, hospitals have no drugs, prices of goods keep going up, and the youth are jobless,” said Namalomba.
The comments add to growing criticism of the Tonse Alliance administration’s handling of the economy and public service delivery. The Independence Day celebrations, held under the theme “A Nation United for Prosperity,” have sparked mixed reactions, with opposition figures and civil society questioning the cost of the event amid a struggling economy.
