DPP MPs including Uladi endorse Mutharika as torch bearer for Malawi watershed elections 2019
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members of Parliament on Wednesday held a news conference in which they endorsed President Peter Mutharika as the party’s presidential candidate in the 2019 Tripartite Elections.









The endorsements come against the background of some DPP members declaring their support for Vice-President Saulos Chilima to stand for the presidency in the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
Addressing reporters in Lilongwe, chair for DPP backbenchers in parliament Victor Mbewe said the endorsement comes because of Mutharika sound leadership style.
“Here is a President who promised party members not to leave them when it seemed like all was lost and he picked a the pieces to rebuild the party when some abandoned it.
“After leading the party to victory during the 2014 general elections, APM (Mutharika) managed to bring back donors confidence after the cashgate scandal (which occurred during Joyce Banda tenure) and he is developmental conscious as evidenced by different developments mushroomimg in the country in all regions. This is the reason why we want him to continue ruling this country,” he said.
Mbewe said the party’s convention which will be called later will formalize the endorsement.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Nsanje North Esther Mcheka Chilenje added the voice to the endorsement.
Among other things, Chilenje said Mutharika showed parental care to her constituents after the 2015 floods when he assisted the affected families.
“Government is also building a state of the art hospital, construction of Thabwa-Maoni and Thyolo-Thekelani-Thava roads and we are also benefitting from the rural electrification program. So these are reasons enough to endorse APM as the party’s torch bearer during the forth coming elections,” She said
Taking his turn, Chiradzulu South MP Joseph Mwanavekha cited several developments as indicators that Mutharika is the rightful man for the country’s development.
Among other things, he cited Chiradzulu Teachers Training College, various hospitals and secondary schools and good road networking.
Among those present at the conference were party’s General Secretary Grezeder Jeffrey Wa Jeffrey, Jean Kalirani, Anna Kachikho and Uladi Mussa who ditched People’s Party of Joyce Banda to join DPP.
Mutharika, 79, is facing an unprecedented resistance, for an incumbent eligible for a second term as per the Malawi Constitution, from a section of his governing DPP lobbying for the candidacy of Vice-President Saulos Chilima, 45.
Former first lady Callista Mutharika—widow of DPP founding president and the incumbent President’s elder brother, Bingu wa Mutharika—sparked the succession debate weeks ago when she said her in-law should pave the way for the comparatively youthful and energetic Chilima widely seen as a hands-on and results-oriented leader after he vibrantly led the Public Sector Reforms Programme that has lost steam since it was moved from his domain.
But Mwanamvekha defended the endorsements, as he noted that the trend is common in many democratic countries across the world where the incumbent is backed to recontest the presidency for a number of reasons.
He said Mutharika’d leadership qualities and overall approach to national development have been outstanding.
Mustaffa Hussein, a political analyst based at Chancellor College, said the convention is the right forum to earn fresh mandate as per DPP constitution.
But DPP gurus are declaring Mutharika will go unopposed at the convention.
Mutharika has personally declared that he will seek a second and final mandatory term next year, saying he is not going to lead DPP in the elections, the party will be heading to opposition.
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Mwakhuta, mwaledzela nawo ufulu omwe apm wakuonetsan. Akulangani Mulungu. Mudzakhulupilira Pa May2019 APM AKUTUMIKILASO AMALAWI.
That will not happen. If opposition in the party is nearly half, and most of them long standing members for that matter how many do you think are among the voters? The party’s use of intimidatory method of silencing those in the opposing camp will not help either because you will not be able to know many more new ones in the party – Now they are fighting right in front of you but they will soon/later be fighting you from behind and that will be be dangerous. Let the party have a convention that’s it.
Nanga ma MP a UDF ali kwayani.Paja mumatoyendesera ziko limozi.Kupatula Lucius yekha.kkkkk.
It only shows ones level of ease of comprehension of the status quo of things in Malawi. Seriously Mr Uladi and your fellow APM supporters, you luck alot. In HR terms, APM’s score card is rated TIME TO STEP UP, otherwise Malawians we put him in PIP (Performance Improvement Plan) which if he does not improve within the time frame, he will be shown an exit door
Sadly, when you are on the wrong side of the law as a politician all you have to do to secure your continued freedom as a free man is to join government and be on its political side. The case of Uladi Mussa. It will only happens in Malawi. What is it with these party sponsored meetings peddling APMs name and endorsing him for candidature in 2019? Does it mean the party will not hold a convention to elect office holders? What happened to free choices and democracy within a party that touts itself as democratic? Should Malawians hope for… Read more »
The best measure of a country’s potential to develop is the calibre of its people/voters. In as long as Malawi has very poor quality voters Malawi will remain poor with its developmental bar set so low. This is why you have a president, ministers and voters alike praising Malawi for achieving unimaginable development even in the midst of the whole world saying otherwise.
The problem with boot -lickers is that they never say the truth! Even JB was told by some of the same people, that people in the villages liked her and everyone knows what happened in 2014. Any wise person thinks twice when people like Uladi Mussa(change goals ) are singing praises for him! Fortunately APM knows his true friends…he knew them in 2012. The likes of Callista and Akweni are APMs true friends osati atidye nawo enawa!
And you claim to be democratic. Is this democracy or demonic?
Demonic Pathetic Party, don’t you think?
Uladi should have a developmental agenda. His Salima District is a shame. The whole town looks like an open market. Yet he is busy wanting to fill up his pockets. Can’t there be law in Malawi that should stop politicians to jump ship?
Section 65, kkkkkkkkk. Ma MP akamapanga choncho, ngakhale maprezidenti azipani omwe ndekuti kumene amachokerako kuli zidodo zokhazokha.
This is the way to go. Bravo DPP !
oky chabwino tamva