Callista insists Mutharika not the leadership Malawi needs beyond 2019: ‘Chilima our hope’
Former first lady Callista Mutharika who has thrown her weight behind Vice-President Saulos Chilima to lead the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as presidential candidate in the 2019 Tripartite Elections “for a better Malawi” has insisted that her in-law and incumbent President Peter Mutharika is not the leadership that Malawi needs beyond 2019.
President Mutharika has declared that he will lead the DPP as presidential candidate in the elections.
But Callista, the widow of DPP founding president Bingu wa Mutharika, is in a group called Chilima Movement advocating for leadership change in the ruling party.
Addressing a news conference in Lilongwe on Thursday, she apologised to Malawians for being one of the people who backed Peter Mutharika to be the country’s leader, saying he has not delivered.
“Peter is, indeed, my brother-in-law. On this occasion, I am looking at him as a leader of this country. to me, he hasn’t done so well as president and leader of our party,” she said.
Callista, one of founding members of DPP, said 79-year-old President Mutharika is unable to make crucial decisions, “too much procrastination.”
She continued: “We made a mistake as Malawians because we elected someone who is not conversant with Malawi’s culture.”
Callista said Mutharika has been surrounded by “beasts of prey” who cannot assist him to be a better leader but rather mislead him.
She maintained her declaration of support and encouraging Chilima to represent DPP as a presidential candidate in 2019.
“Chilima our hope for better Malawi,” she said at the news conference which was attended by DPP legislators and director of women Patricia Kaliati, Noel Masangwi, Allan Ngumuya, Willet Kalonga, Joseph Chidanti-Malunga, Bon Kalindo, Malidon Ndau and Paul Chipungu.
Other DPP officials present included national organising secretary Richard Makondi, director of youth Louis Ngalande, director of logistics Dr Ben Chidyaonga and deputy director of women Loyce Mponda.
Callista was seen dancing and singing while clad in DPP party cloth with a portrait of Bingu, said she was deeply sorry to Malawians for “misleading them” to vote for Peter Mutharika.
She said: “He is good as a lawyer and academician, but a bad leader.”
Callista said she will not be intimidated by regime thugs as some people in the DPP, apparently not amused with her position, were plotting to “finish her off”.
Mutharika picked Chilima, then Airtel Malawi managing director, as his running mate in February 2014. The pair campaigned from the opposition and wrestled power from then president Joyce Banda and her People’s Party (PP).
The President said he settled for Chilima from a possible list of 40 potential running mates because he was decisive and assertive.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Great entertainment this has been! When all is said and done, who will have the last laugh? The beauty with democracy is that people can afford to vomit out rubbish as long as they cannot be taken to task legally. One other important aspect of democracy is that leadership is not attained through mere public pronouncements. There are legal systems in place to guide the process. No one should tell anyone that they are not worthy leaders when they satisfy all leadership requirements. Everyone has a right to seek any elective position as long as they are in good standing… Read more »
Malawians should learn to put arguments based on content versus the person putting across the argument or submission. Why are we so judgemental of personalities as opposed to what they’re saying. It just shows how immature we are as Malawians. We are unable to read an argument for what it is and are quick to dismiss otherwise valid arguments because it’s being carried by those we do t like or differ with. Shame on us.
Malawi will achieve middle class country status by 2024! Malawian workers will be paid a minimum wage of MK500,000 pa with 80% living in nyumba za malata. By 2024 the economy will achieve sustainable growth rate of 8% with inflation only at 5%. The exchange rate will hover around US$1/MKW200 with unemployment sitting at 5%. Malawi would have achieved a manufactured and industrialised state by 2024 exporting most its goods to the rest of Africa and the world. Aspiring Head of State should be able to visualise this kind of Malawi and talk of how he would achieve this dream… Read more »
APM IS ANALOGUE TOGETHER WITH GONDWE, CHAPONDA,DAUSI, NTABA,KASAILA, KUNTSAIRA,MUSSA, YUNUS MUSSA, AND OTHERS.THE future is with DIGITAL CHILIMA AND SOME NEW BLOOD.LET THE AUTHORITIES HEAR THIS AND PEACIFULLY RELINQUISH POWER..
I will only take your opinions seriously if your kids echoes your stance,that is Duwa Mutharika and Tapiwa,it’s uncommon among our culture not to side with our mom’s, if not then am gonna look at it as an internal family fight coming from a disorganised family.Zomwe mukupangazi ndizochitisa mayazi n unmalawian,ku malawi supita pa gulu kukamuyalutsa mlamu wako,it’s a new culture which you hon Madame Mutharika are trying to instill in young girls in Malawi
We should’nt be fooled that the APM government has stabilized the economy merely on lower figures from such macroeconomic variables as interest and inflation rates when in actual sense the end consumer is still spending more on commodities. The basic necessities for ordinary Malawians are still far from being provided. It is high time we changed our leaders with “Poor philosophies on development”. SKC tionetseni zina.
Zoona zake ndizioti, if Peter had decided to go back to his America after Bingu’s death that would be the end of DPP, am sure about this. All these people are cowards, and nobody would be courageous enough to lead DPP. And Chilima is being fooled by these opportunists. Its obvious SKC would be the next leader for DPP and may be Malawi if he pairs up with this old man in next year’s elections because he may not even finish the next term due to incapacitation as a result of old age. And by then you shall have convinced… Read more »
Calista ukunena zowona APM sakufunikanso lero pa 01 June 2018 Peter Muharika ndi a George Chaponda atuma apolice kuti atseke ma Office a Times Group /BNL ku ginnery ku Blantyre
Nanu mukuikira mbava za Times kumbuyo? Why do they preach what they don’t do?
I support change but the kind of people advocating for change mmmmmmmmmmm am afraid to say cant be trusted seems like they are disgruntled they didn’t get what they wanted I stand to be corrected
Malawi is in this mess because you the Callistas, Kaliatis and your APM wanted power at all costs and hired Chilima to help you rig elections. So ngati munabela ma vote with Chilima, which shows Chilima is not ethical coz stealing elections is worse than cashgate because uko ndikuba dziko and kuwabela a Malawi, nanga atakhala president angawope kuba?
Kodi mukuti Chilima adabera mmbuyo monsemu ababa a tembo amalira kuti aberedwa amabera ndi Chilima? Was Chilima not young by that time?