Analysts say Mutharika cannot stop DPP succession battle
Political analysts say President Peter Mutharika, in his last-term of office, cannot stop those aspiring to take over the leadership of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from campaigning.
Humphrey Mvula, a political analyst said the aspirants would ignore the advice from the president as the stakes to be party president of the DPP are high.
Mvula told Times Radio that DPP “gravy train” of succession is rolling unstoppable.
Mutharika said on Sunday the party aspirants for the top position should stop campaigning as the exercise, he said, is dividing the party.
Another political analyst Sharrif Kaisi said in politics, there is nothing like stopping campaigning.
“Even the president himself went through this. His brother, the late Bingu wa Mutharika and other party officials vigorously campaigned for him way before the party convention,” he said.
The party is now fractured, split in camps as Kondwani Nankhumwa is the favourite candidate for the party with much support from the Lhomwe belt.
Others include the vice president Everton Chimulirenji who also is eyeing for the top DPP position and seems he has now the backing of Local government minister Ben Phiri who is said to be looking for the vice presidency in exchange.
First Lady Gertrude Mutharika and powerful and rich presidential aide Norman Chisale are for Chimulirenji ticket.
Education minister Bright Msaka and former Justice minister Samuel Tembunu are also campaigning silently for the same high-stakes position.
In presidential elections results being challenged in court, Mutharika, won the r ace in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections with 1 940 709 votes or 38.57 percent.
In 2014, Mutharika, with Saulos Chilima as his running mate, triumphed with 1 904 399 votes, representing 36.4 percent of the votes cast against Chakwera’s 1 455 880 or 27.8 percent. Then incumbent president Joyce Banda, who had ascended to the presidency in line with constitutional order after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in 2012, finished third with 1 056 236 votes or 20.2 percent of the vote while Atupele Muluzi finished fourth with 717 224 votes or 13.7 percent.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
If competition is blocked then it will be too late. Let battle rage on. It happens even amongst Democrats and Republicans in USA……Unfortunately Chimu apatsidwa presidency ya DPP on silver platter…Anthu rna ngamwayi……komanso DPP would shift to central region leaving south with no presidential candidate in 2024. On the other hand Nankhumwa has been eyeing for this for long. Maintaining Lomwe belt has its disadvantages……..and Nankhumwa is not a natural politician. And worst he is outplayed by First Lady and Chisale…..am sure he will be outwitted by well resourced Palace team……. Another team will be those neutral ones who may… Read more »
Let the DPP succession battle rage naturally and the toughest will survive! After all a divided DPP is good for national development!!
With due respect spare the Honourable Chimulirenji. The winning team is Hon. Nankhumwa pairing with Hon Bright Msaka. Don’t gag them its health for the party. Let them compete and the best will grab the mantle. No remote control. My two nominees actually managed to revamp the party at a time when everyone thought DPP was finished.
The HE was not attempting to stop what is going on but rising above the potential divisive squabbles that are not good for party stability. It is within the realm of his fatherly responsibility to do this. Stop this yob tendency of looking for negative sides in each presidential sentence. It is childish for grown up asses like you to indulge in.
I can’t believe some people in Malawi think chimulirenji can be a president, do you really care about malawi? Or just your pockets?These are the people we need to flush out in this political system of ours inorder to take Malawi out of the bottom of the food chain.