“I feel obliged and duty bound that we find a civil solution to curtail the prevailing situation, initiate conversations and dialogue,” Muluzi, popularly known as Atcheya, wrote to HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo.
Muluzi, the first multiparty president in 1994 who was elected under the UDF ticket and served two terms until 2004, wrote that he had been following the “turn of events” in the country following the aftermath of the May 2019 elections.
“Given the current volatile situation in the country, your call for the resignation of the Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission over the disputed electoral process and your subsequent call for mass demonstrations, as a Former Head of State of this country I am equally concerned about the current situation,” Muluzi wrote, calling for the Tuesday meeting.
Muluzi signed the July 22 dated letter in his trademark green ink. The letter bore the Arms of coat with the words Office of the Former President, Republic of Malawi, complete with BCA Hill residence address, email address and telephone numbers.
During his tenure as head of state, Muluzi was a peace maker and the Southern African development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) sent him on several peace-keeping missions across Africa.
He remains Chairman of his UDF, which has not regained power since 2005 when late President Bingu wa Mutharika dumped the party to form the DPP.
Muluzi’s son Atupele, who is president of the UDF, has failed twice the presidential race since 2014.