DPP upbeat Mutharika to ‘reclaim’ victory in Malawi fresh elections: ‘Stronger than before’

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership has expressed confidence  that  President Peter Mutharika  will be re-elected  in the forthcoming fresh elections which the Constitution Court ordered should  be held by 2 July this year under a 50-plus-one majority electoral system.

DPP secretary general Greselder  Jeffrey wa Jeffrey, presidential aide Francis Mphepo, Southern Region governor Francis Mphepo, former minister Henry Mussa and  veteran politican Brown Mpinganjira whose name features highly in the attempted bribery of the judges,  said on Monday in Blantyre  that party is “neither shaken nor moved” by cancellation of the last year’s polls.

Wa Jeffrey said  DPP is “stronger than before” and that they will contest the fresh polls to “reclaim our victory.”

On his part, Mussa who is DPP executive mebr, said the party is well known for winning elections and that it will do it again in the repeat exercise.

“President Arthur Peter Mutharika was legitimately elected and did not rig. We therefore find no justification in the ordered fresh elections,” said Mussa.

“But we will go to the fresh polls with one goal, to beat our opponents once more and show that we are the people’s choice,” said Mussa.

Mpinganjira said DPP will use “every resource “at its disposal to emerge victorious in the fresh elections.

Regional Governor for the South, Charles Mchacha, told party supporters during the protests that the party will win the fresh elections to show the world that it won fair and square in the May 21 presidential polls.

“We are going back on the ground to mobilise our bases to vote again and we are winning again,”

In the nullified election , President Mutharika “won” after securing 38% of the vote  when tally sheets arrived at a central vote-counting station having been altered with Tipp-Ex, a correction fluid . Runner-up Lazarus Chakwera secured 35% of the vote while former vice president Saulos Chilima came in third with 20%.