DPP’s election chief says Mutharika re-election certain: Ben Phiri backs Chimulirenji as credible choice of a running mate
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) elections director Ben Phiri has the party is pulling in one direction to ensure a successful campaign for the May 21 Tripartite Elections.
Phiri, the ‘campaigner-in-chief’ of the DPP, said the prospects for a landslide victory for Mutharika are high and that his pick of Everton Chimulirenji, a member of Parliament for Ntcheu North East Constituency, is a sure guarantee for re-election.
There were reports that the pick of Chimulirenji, 56, who is also part of Mutharika’s Cabinet, serving as Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development, had not pleased some top brass of the DPP.
But Phiri said Chimulirenji who served as deputy minister for Defence before the latest Cabinet reshuffle took him to his present portfolio, has been well received by the party.
“There are no problems at all in DPP. In fact we are much more gelled to win the elections,” Phiri said in an interview with Rainbow TV monitored by Nyasa Times.
He backed Mutharika’s choice by picking a running mate from Ntcheu in the central region.
“It could not have been possible for Mutharika to pick me as someone from Thyolo or Hon Kondwani Nankhumwa (from the Lhomwe belt). The President proved that he shares the cake with other regions and tribes hence the choice of Chimulirenji is the best so far,” said Phiri.
Reacting to what people are saying that the choice of Chimulirenji has weakened DPP, Phiri said that was not true.
“People don’t vote for the running mate people vote the party and its torchbearer,” he said.
DPP senior members have been holding meetings across the country aimed at asking people to support Chimulirenji as the best choice for President Mutharika to be the second-in-command.
When he unveiled his running mate during the presentation of his nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in Blantyre, Mutharika described Chimulirenji as someone loyal to the party.
He also made clear the role his running mate will be playing should they win the May election when he said Chimulirenji “knows the difference between a vice-president and a deputy president.”
With the opposition fragmented and a first-past-the-post election system that awards the presidency to the candidate who gets a plurality of votes, Mutharika is the frontrunner to win the May vote.
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Why does it in Malawi a region matters that much?
Don’t you think this is what stirs hate among ourselves?
Just for one day try to pretend that Malawi is a One region.
These politicians will have nothing to say in there speeches
I put it to this reporter and my country Malawi that it does not take a Nobel laureate to see that it is impossible for MCP to lose this coming election.
The data speaks for itself.
The evidence is clear. Utm has done nothing, even no branch office,. DPP has delivered, let those who choose to be blind be, Lord they should seek an optician to help them. People in the villages have seen and are ready to give another victory to DPP. Wait and see, like Thomas Dedmo.who could not believe other disciples that Jesus has risen, we still have them in Malawi , they will confess when the DPP will be back in government,.
what a rotten leadership in dpp . let me tell you that Malawians are tired of corrupt leaders and we want to change everything this year 2019
Mudzavote ndinu nokha? Albino killers!
FAKE PHD GUY. FAKE RUNNING MATE. FAKE FAKE FAKE
There is no sharing of cake here. Chilima is from Ntcheu and Chikulilenji is from Ntcheu. Why didn’t APM pick someone from another region? Moreover politically Ntcheu is considered to be in the Eastern region together with Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi and Zomba. The truth of the matter you are pretending to put a show of unity.
Apm and chimulirenji is a combination of nyusensi men or useless men not fit to end albino killings
Iyayi mungoti zangobvuta, because if that is the case then a Maliseche should have picked Mr Chimunthu Banda or Bright Msaka who are definately more seasoned by far than a pa Ginnery corner
A DPP kungomusiya uyu Kagame Ben Phiri kuti ayambenso kutilukira poyera chonchi basi Muluza. Nzeru za mkulu ameneyi ndi zazifupi zedi ndipo saganiza za mawa.kutereku akumupusitsa chimulirenjiyo kuti iyeyo adzakhale running mate wake.KUTHA KWA DPP UKU
kkkkkkkkkk