Malawi’s Mutharika insists he will seek final presidential term in 2019

President Peter Mutharika has maintained that he will contest in the 2019 presidential elections, snubbing his critics who say he is old to continue ruling the country.

Mutharika: Gets approval from some party members

Mutharika, who is currently receiving endorsement from party members including some lawmakers, said on Wednesday that he will seek a new mandate in the country’s watershed polls set for year.

Mutharika, a retired US law professor, described those calling for him to leave the stage to young people as Judas Iscariots who do not wish him and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) well.

“I will stand come 2019, contest and win with a landslide,” he said.

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.

Some senior DPP members, such as director of youth Louis Ngalande and legislators Bon Kalindo, Patricia Kaliati, Allan Ngumuya and Noel Masangwi have also come out in support of Callista’s sentiments.

But the party heavy weights have publicly endorsed Mutharika to contest for the post of presidential candidate during the DPP’s next convention.

Mutharika has warned that fielding a different candidate would oust the DPP from power.

Protesters last month staged unprecedented demonstrations against the president peacefully on governance and socio-economic concerns.

Civil society groups have given the president 90 days deadline from April 27 to listen to their demands, promising a fresh wave of protests if he does not address the chronic poverty that has ensnared most of the country’s citizenry.

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M Sizini
M Sizini
5 years ago

Anyone with eyes that work can see when someone has outlived his YOUTHFULNESS.
However, for many of us, it is much harder to recognize when someone has outlived his USEFULNESS.

LEGO
5 years ago

In the first place why he went on buying other MPs from the opposition to vote against 50+1%?That’s shows he can not rule the majority of Malawi but his minority.Lets vote him out and lets vote Chakwera with a 50+1%.

GIFT
GIFT
5 years ago

vote him out basi he has the right to stand and we have the right to vote simple as that.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

If the President was smart he should propose for a change of the party’s constitution as far as election of leaders is concerned. The relevant provision should be amended to allow all card-carrying DPP members (in good standing) to vote for their preferred leadership including a torch bearer. This systems should then allow aspirants to raise their hands and campaign all over Malawi (to DPP card-carrying members) for election into leadership position. This way you don’t have this secrecy nonsense where rating hands and campaigning for positions is prohibited for some but allowed for others. Open the process up to… Read more »

Boss
Boss
5 years ago

Akuti, a Malawi ndikuchedwetsaninso kwa 5 years zina. Ine sindine okondwa kuti inuyo mutukuke. 2019 ndiimanso.

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
5 years ago

The Constitution of Malawi and the DPP Constitution allows the current president to stand in 2019. However, let the endorsement come through the convention as per the constitution. Let SKC compete at the convention instead of operating undergoing movements to destabilize the party,. if (SKC) he wins at the convention, we will endorse him and support him . If APM wins at the convention, let him and his disgruntled cohorts support APM . Politics is a game of numbers so let people decide.

Dipipi wa Yudiefu
Dipipi wa Yudiefu
5 years ago

Ngati asamamva madandaulo awanthu ali muteremu yoyamba yaulamuliro nanga akapeza teremu yachiwiri azizamva kalikose nanga. Ndiye zijatu zoti amene akuti mafuta kulibe, magalimoto sakuyenda, akakhale pamsewupo awone ngati galimoto siyimugunda. Nganganga zinthu zikukanika. Bakili Muluzi ananena kuti mamuna wakwatira koma ndikuwona kuti mphatso yamwana sikupezeka munyumba ndiye chifukwa chomusungira mwamunayo ndichani? Tiwone zina. Azipita ku America azikacheza ndizizukulu zake.

Msundu
Msundu
5 years ago

Chonde chonde abale Goodal Gondwe wakula mukumuzilanji munthu.

Laanje
Laanje
5 years ago

Malaysia just elected a 92 yrs old veteran politician Mahathir Mohamad as new PM. He now becomes the world’s oldest leader. He is not the PM of an African country.

Nyambi
Nyambi
5 years ago
Reply to  Laanje

But he has promised to step down after 2yrs and give the mantle to the chilima of his party there,can your gogos here do alike?zasiyana ndikono anthu akuba atakalamba.

Dipipi wa Yudiefu
Dipipi wa Yudiefu
5 years ago
Reply to  Laanje

Inde chimodzimodzi Kamuzu akanakhala wamoyo ndikupikisana ndi Peter Muthalika a Malawi akanasankha ndani ngati anthu akufuna chitukuko? This dunderhead Peter is quite the opposite of his brother Bingu.

URIM AND THUMIM
URIM AND THUMIM
5 years ago

PLEASE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF
PETER ADVISE YOUR OLD MAN
TO GO AND REST IN PEACE —
NOTHING IS MOVING WITH HIM
ON THE DRIVING SEAT –PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING –ENOUGH IS ENOUGH ‘-

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