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| National |
| State House threatens to sue Gwanda |
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by
Zainah Liwanda, 02 May 2007
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06:07:32
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The State House has threatened to sue New Republican Party president Gwanda Chakuamba for allegedly saying President Bingu wa Mutharika’s daughter Duwa sent a friend a message saying her (Duwa) mother’s life was in danger.
But efforts to speak to Chakuamba on Tuesday proved futile as his mobile phones were switched off. His vice Ken Zikhale Ng’oma’s phone went unanswered.
State House Press officer Chikumbutso Mtumodzi in a statement released Tuesday said Chakuamba was quoted by Capital Radio yesterday as saying the Monday’s statement from Mutharika’s residence about First Lady Ethel Mutharika’s illness was false.
According to Mtumodzi, Chakuamba alleged he got news about the First Lady’s sickness through a member of the Mutharika family.
He further said there has never been any communication between Chakuamba and any member of the first family.
“He [Chakuamba] is trying to circumvent the truth and at the same time, create laughter at the sickness of Her Excellency the First Lady Madame Ethel Mutharika.
“Why is Chakuamba trying to be insensitive to the First lady’s illness when every sane person knows that the First Couple are also human beings and can fall sick? Mr Chakuamba should retract his claims of the existence of a mole in the First Family, otherwise we will have no option but seek legal assistance,” reads the statement in part.
According to Mutharika, Chakuamba’s comments on the illness, when he is neither a medical doctor nor a leader of a well established political party, evidence that the veteran politician is making the First Lady’s sickness a laughing matter.
In an interview yesterday, Mtumodzi said Chakuamba was quoted by the radio in its 7:00am bulletin as saying Duwa sent a friend a message saying her mother’s life was and had been in danger.
But the State House publicist said Duwa denied having sent any message about her mother’s illness, hence the demand for a retraction.
Mtumodzi in a statement on Monday finally cleared the mist surrounding the First Lady’s health, saying she recently underwent a minor surgical operation outside the country.
He did not disclose the type of illness but said she was making steady recovery at home, adding that President Bingu wa Mutharika and the immediate family members deeply appreciated people’s messages of best wishes and good will.
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