DPP’s Ben Phiri dismisses Chilima-for-President crusade
President Peter Mutharika’s long time confidant Ben Phiri says he is now back in front line politics, immediately ruling out the possibility of Mutharika giving way for Vice President Saulos Chilima as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate.
Calling himself a political lion, Phiri, who is DPP director of field operations also known as Field Marshall, said Mutharika deserves another term of office, dismissing former First Lady Callista Mutharika opennsupport for Chilima towards a presidential run under the DPP banner at the expense of incumbent Peter Mutharika—who is her brother in-law.
“APM (Mutharika) has done a lot during his first term of office, he therefore deserves another term,” Phiri told journalists in Lilongwe.
He trashed former First Lady Callista Mutharika for her Chilima-for-President crusade, saying the winning ticket for DPP is Mutharika pairing with Chilima as it were in the previous presidential polls.
Callista has been making headlines since last week when she openly said her in-law is “aged”; hence, Malawians should not give him their vote and install Chilima as President instead.
Phiri said Mutharika and Chilima is a good pair and that they yet to be convened DPP convention will decide on the candidature of the 2019 polls.
During the news conference , Phiri said time for Chilima to take over the party is not ripe.
“Dr Chilima is still learning like anyone else . DPP is grooming the party leaders and Chilima is one of the leaders being groomed,” said Phiri.
Phiri also did not rule out replacing Mutharika when his term of office expires suggesting he was being tested.
“I am still learning dynamic of politics , I am still learning,” said Phiri.
During interview with Zodiak radio, Callista responding to a journalist question that a Ben Phiri is among the potential names mentioned to take over the DPP mantle, she said but she that would be a “gratuitous insult” to Malawians.
“Umenewo ungakhale nyozo (That would be an insult). I have never heard about that, but, if true, that would be a gratuitous insult. Malawians are not stupid. What is your personal take on that? Do you think the people you are mentioning can rule a country? I mean, can they govern? Can the they steer the ship in the right direction? Can the poor be uplifted from the doldrums of poverty? Some people think it is easy to take advantage of the low literacy rate in our rural areas, so they just wake up and say ‘I can be president.’ It’s not that easy,” said the former first lady.
“Let me make a plea to the people in our rural areas: when you hear so-and-so plans to contest as president, ask carefully: what kind of education has he or she had? What are his or her plans? Aren’t these the very same thieves plundering government entities? They need to ask themselves those questions,” she said bluntly.
The journalist pressed Callista further to explain what was wrong with Ben Phiri not to be eligible to run for president.
In her response, Callista said she had no intention to speak further on specific individuals, but said “just do your research and look carefully into their personal stories. I will not say anything more than that. Find out what people out there say.”
During the interview, Callista pointed out that Malawians are engulfed by too much fear.
“ Why is that so? God protects us. Let us learn to speak the truth, to stand for what is right. In addition, let us not deceive the masses in rural areas, to whom we go masquerading as philanthropists, yet these so-called philanthropists are thieves, stealing from your government, stealing from public entities . . . my plea to those stealing is please, stop that. People are suffering in rural areas. You are stealing money that could have assisted the poor.”
The widow of the former president Bingu wa Mutharika also took a dig at DPP secretary general (SG) Greselder Jeffrey who trashed her views that Chilima should become the ruling party’s presidential candidate in 2019.
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The winning tickect for the next election for DPP is Peter Mutharika and Atupele Muluzi
You are lucky Ben Phiri that Saulos is still sleeping and inert, otherwise mukanamva madzi come DPP’s elective conference later in the year. My plea to you Dr Saulos Chilima is, please wake up and don’t hide under quite diplomacy and unworkable silent strategy. This is politics and not the corporate world, which is much less ruthless and predictable. Dr Saulos Chilima, this is your first and last chance to take DPP forward for the good of the people and yourself/your family; otherwise, after the tripartite elections next year, you’ll be dumped and the Ben Phiri’s of today will rise to the occasion and take away what is rightly yours. That, my good friend, will be the end of Dr Saulos era.
All citizens loving Malawi would want a young energetic president. Achina tidye nawo will forcibly work against this. They will even start beating and killing people. We are not saying DPP should not rule this country. Whether DPP, MCP, AFORD or any other party we need a young president who can change things. Tizasekedwa mpaka liti?
Ben phiri is the right person to lead DPP in 2024
Onwe of the beasts off prey that have surrounded the president is this guy Ben Phini. Phiri thinks he is the wisest person in Malawi. He is fooling himself.
What else can Ben Phiri say? He can control Peter Mutharika. Thats his way of surviving. His wealth and everything. He knows if energetic people like Chilima take charge he will hit the road. He will run. Zigawenga zomuzungulila Peter ankanena Callista zija ndi anthu ngati awa. Malawians would like to see old people like Muthalika as advisers to young and energetic presidents.
Hastings everyone who wishes Malawi well should be worried and question the quality of candidates featured.Its probability my friend .If you have two good apples in a basket the probability that you will pick a good apple is 100%.However if one apples is rotten at the core and the other one is good your chances become 50%.So if you are young and cares for the future of Malawi be very worried when Conmen begin calling the shorts.When you have clueless old men taking olders from conmen.When people of intellect can no longer stand up to conmen.Be very ,very worried.
Malawi need a young leader now,Ben phiri will never be Malawian president he is just a cow.
How does Ben Phiri understand the word experience? Did Peter Murtharika possess political experience before becoming president? The answer is yes but at a negative level.
APM tested several ministerial portfolios during late Bingu’s tenure, but flopped in all of them. He gained experience as a politician to be a bad top civil servant just short of the top executive position of the country. He was very passive and lacked the brainwave to shake things in all the ministries he once commanded. Isn’t this the experience Ben Phiri is talking about?
In my understanding, Ben Phiri likes the weak leadership in Peter Mutharika because such leadership creates room for conmen like him to silently dig into the coffers of the country and even ascend to a presidential position. It is not accidental for people like Ben Phiri and Gertrude Mutharika to acquire unaccredited and fake doctorate degrees if they did not sniff some weak spots in the DPP hierarchy. Both have presidential ambitions and look at Chilima as a threat and an outsider.
According to Ben Phiri, DPP will lose identity if Chilima is to be its presidential candidate and the party should never surrender its Lomwe influence. Ben Phiri thinks is next of kin to Peter Mutharika in as far as succession is concerned. He is a nobody in the intellectual elite but thinks he has the mantle and wisdom to lead the nation at some point. I think Malawians are taken for fools to have the likes of Ben Phiri harbor presidential ambitions.
If experience is to go by, what Chilima acquired as an executive officer of Airtel is more than enough to qualify him to lead the nation.He was successful there, and most times successful business leaders transform economies of nations.
Malawi needs a young leader who can create jobs and who understands the country’s problems. It needs a leader who is tough on corruption, promotes oneness, promotes quality workmanship, attracts foreign investment, tackles problems decisively, and opens up the country to the rest of the world. Malawi does not need Peter Mutharika, Ben Phiri, Gertrude Mutharika, George Chaponda, and Kondwani Nankhumwa to lead it.
Ben Phiri yomweyo kuti wawawa
Musathe zambiri. Let DPP sort out their own things. So far a plus to APM. Kukanakhala kwina kuja bwenzi pano wina ataotcha nsaru. Inu aganyu zilimbanani ndi zakwanuko leave DPP alone.
Chilima is learning just like anyone else? where did Mutharika learn to be the president? By that time Chilima finishes his presidential school, he is going to be old and unattractive after being part of a party of the beasts as Calista has told us. Time for Chilima is now.
Chilombo chachikulu chimenechi and Callista stressed on him
Its Ben Phiri who doesnt want Chilima not DPP as a party. Please Ben, DPP is bigger than you and if think you are a Political Lion just go to National Park
Mwati apite ku zoo lol
anthuwa akunama zoona zenizeni nzokuti ku blue zavuta ndiponso a pitala wa mayazi apangapo tione ena amaso mphenya
Pitala walephera and he is old anthuni. Old. Octogetarian.