HRDC to oppose Mutharika 2025 Presidential election candidacy

April 27, 2023 Watipaso Mzungu - Nyasa Times 20 Comments

Former president and opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, risks being barred from seeking re-election in 2025 should the campaign Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has embarked on materialize.

HRDC Northern Region Chapter has embarked on a move aimed at rallying political players to stop grandparents aged 75 and above to stand for political office.

Northern Region HRDC Coordinator Walita Moir Mkandawire has told local media that they are planning to court members of Parliament (MPs) on the issue.

“We want the members of Parliament to help in amending one of the sections in the Republican Constitution so that those who are above 75 years cannot contest for political office,” Mkandawire said.

Their proposal has since received support from People’s Party MP for Mzimba South East, Ackson Kalaile Banda, who said critical positions like that of the president need fresh, serious and mature people.

“It’s a good development. A crucial job must have a cut-off point to safeguard the interests of the people,” Banda said.

UTM MP for Mzimba Luwerezi Sam Chirwa shared similar views, saying Malawians no longer needs “sign post presidency”.

“Let’s accept that and give a chance to others to take over when we are tired with old age. There are a lot of things to do after retirement age,” Chirwa said.

Adding on, Karonga Central Malawi Congress Party MP Leonard Mwalwanda said the age limit should also be extended to MPs.

“This is a good idea, but why are they leaving MPs behind? If retirement is now at 60, why should someone be an MP in his or her 70s and 80s? How would the President or MP make good plans for the youth when he or she is over 75 years old?” Mwalwanda said.

Currently, the Malawi Constitution only prescribes 35 years as the minimum age for a presidential candidate, but is silent on the maximum age limit for presidential hopefuls.

Sometime in 2018, former Nsanje South West MP Joseph Chidanti Malunga moved a motion in Parliament on the age limit for presidential aspirants, pegging the maximum age at 65.

He sought to do so by seeking an amendment to Section 80(7) of the Constitution.

“We are saying we cannot have very old people holding such a big position [of president]. We already have a 35-year age limit, which restricts some youths below the said age from contesting for the presidency.

“Therefore, if we can also have a limit up there we will not be wrong. The country needs fresh minded leaders who can make right decisions on their own,” Mkandawire said.

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20 replies on “HRDC to oppose Mutharika 2025 Presidential election candidacy”

  1. Why rocking the presidency, while the judiciary is on the increased service.That is hate, look at Biden in America he is aspiring for office ,so,why Malawi playing double standards.Where were they when Tonse appointed Mulusu, Retired Nurses.The lows are nothing in Malawi and only interests with influence.There is no difference to what Our president talked about in Zimbabwe of the colonial Western and eastern countries propaganda with nothing beneficial to citizens.

  2. We don’t want to be like Nigerians, voting for a moving corpse to be the president of the country. Malawians, plz plz, don’t abuse this old man, because if he will urinate himself in his pants in public one day, we are the ones who is going to be embarrassed.

  3. I think HRDC was formed to deal with APM and DPP. They are always active when DPP is on the wrong, quite when Malawi is going through hardships created by their Tonse masters.

  7. Mwina mukadanena opanga mademo kukala ena osati omweo anagulitsa dziko dzana kwa anthu ofuna kudya za ena. Pano dziko lili kuti pomwe amapanga mademo kuti atule udindo pansi PM

  8. HRDC mwangokhala ndi nsanje ndi APM basi…. Manyazi akugwireni… Leave him alone leave DPP alone. Inu zipangani zanu za nzeru ndi omwe mumawasapotawo…

  10. Human Rights defenders infringing someone’s right to contest as a president…this is pure hatred shame on these mofos

    1. sure ndipo ndikudabwa HRDC imadzuka ikamva dzina la Mutharika yet pano iri mutulo tankonono tija aaah chitani manyazi

  14. Very about the age of Mutharika and others who aspire top positions in public sector that age really matters. We saw Mutharika when he was President he disappeared when he was President at crucial moments and only reappear ed when Joyce Banda said derogatory remarks about his drinking habits.
    Mutharika is now an old man and running a country like Malawi one needs to be vibrant and full of energy not being swayed or misled by a crazy power hungry wife or advisor who take advantage of your advanced age.
    Mutharika failed to monitor things around him that his aides were doing typical example is Chisale his bodyguard connived with his wife Getrude to manipulate Mutharika taking advantage of his age.
    Malawi needs a young leader not an old man like Mutharika to move the country forward.

  17. Yes if people retire at the age of 60 why give such a person a bigger job after that age? If that is the case then there should be no retirement. People bite their fingers by themselves

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