Callista Mutharika is DPP ‘Plan B’ for presidential race
Malawi opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidet Peter Mutharika has a back-up plan if his pursuit of contesting for presidency in 2014 fails owing to legal challenges.
Mutharika is expected to face a challenge on his candidature on allegations that he still holds dual citizenship and effectively owes allegiance to a country, other than Malawi [being the United States of America].
DPP sources say Mutharika has penciled in his brother late Bingu wa Mutharika’s widow, Callista, as a fallback option.
“Callista Mutharika is a substitute presidential candidate for DPP,” said an aide to Peter.
Mutharika, a law professor himself, has hinted that his candidature faces mist, accusing government of using the legal system in the country to block people from standing for political offices in the 2014 elections.
“It would be very important at the time that we should have a level playing field. Legal or penal systems should not be used to make it difficult for others or stop them from contesting in the elections. There must be justice and fairness in the whole process,” Mutharika is on record saying
The 74-year old Mutharika is answering perjury and treason charges related tin the events that happened during the transition soon after the death of his brother president Bingu wa Mutharika in April last year.
Mutharika is one of the presidential candidates alongside Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), President Joyce Banda for People’s Party (PP) and Atupele Muluzi for United Democratic Front (UDF).
Meanwhile, Lilonwge District Commisisoner and Malawi Police have cleared Mutharika to go ahead with his whistle-stop tour of Lilongwe this Sunday.
Patricia Kaliati, DPP Director of Women and parliamentarian for Mulanje West has also disclosed that the former First Lady is quoted saying that: “The police have already given him the permission to conduct political rallies in Lilongwe this Sunday. We are urging all DPP supporters in Lilongwe to come in large numbers and hear what our President Peter Mutharika has in store for us and Malawi as a whole.
“Peter Mutharika is traveling to Lilongwe to articulate our policies and assure Malawians that DPP is forming the next government next year,” said Kaliati.
The DPP President will first stop and address party supporters at Chinsapo, then Kalambo, Ngwenya, Area 23 before finishing with “huge” rally at Masintha ground.
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