The United States has denied reports that it is involved in an alleged plot to overthrow Malawian President Peter Mutharika.  

Reports on Monday indicated that the US Ambassador to Malawi, Viginia Palmer, had allegedly endorsed secret discussions between the leader of the opposition, Malawi Congress Party's (MCP) Lazarus Chakwera, and an unknown group to strategise Mutharika's removal from power.

Newly elected Malawian president Peter Mutharika signs the oath book after he was sworn in, at the High Court in Blantyre, Malawi.

But, according to Nyasa Times, Edward J Monster, the Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy, denied the claims.   "The accusations are completely false... The US and Malawi enjoy a strong and productive relationship and we intend to continue working closely together for the benefit of the Malawian people," Monster was quoted as saying.


The MCP has since labelled the allegations "fictitious".The spokesperson of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Francis Kasaila, was however not so easily convinced, as he spoke about the issue on the Daybreak Malawi show on Capital Radio.

Kasaila called on all those who were named as being part of the plot to prove their innocence, saying that government was taking the issue seriously. Mutharika and his government have in recent months been receiving criticism over the country's continued economic hardships