Bakili pose behind DPP/UDF campaign poster causes stir

A picture of former president Bakili Muluzi standing smilingly behind a campaign poster for the DPP/UDF alliance has caused a stir and a storm in social media platforms.

The picture shows Muluzi leaning on the half-man size poster with symbols of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the alliance partner, the United Democratic Front (UDF).

The poster has also words, “vote for DPP/UDF alliance.”

It seems the picture was taken from his office.

This comes barely weeks after his son, Atupele, who is also running mate to president Peter Mutharika in the court sanctioned June 23 presidential election, said the former president would come out to campaign for the alliance candidate.

In social media circles, some people said it was not good for a former Head of State to engage in active partisan politics.

Malawi has two living former presidents, Bakili Muluzi who governed from 1994 to 2004 and Joyce Banda who was in power from 2012  – when Bingu wa Mutharika died in office – and she lost elections to incumbent Peter Mutharika in 2014.

Banda is still in active politics and campaigns for opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera under Tonse Alliance banner.