Mutharika desperate for power, says University of Malawi political analyst
Malawi’s former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) acting President Peter Mutharika’s recent remarks that ‘no matter what’ he will represent the party in 2014 tripartite elections have attracted condemnation from Dr. Mustafa Hussein, Chancellor College’s political analyst, a constituent college of the University of Malawi (Unima).
Hussein, in an interview monitored on Zodiak Broadcasting Service, observed that Mutharika’s remarks were a clear testimony that he is desperate for power.
Mutharika, young brother to former president late Bingu wa Mutharika has been conducting political whistle-stop tours of the southern and central regions to drum up his support.
Speaking and on Tuesday in Kasungu district, Mutharika, 76, said “come rain, come sunshine, I will represent the party in 2014.”
DPP is scheduled to have its first ever national convention from April 17 to 19 and Mutharika is challenged Henry Chimunthu Banda, who is the current Speaker of the Malawi National Assembly.
Hussein noted that Mutharika’s remarks have damaged the credibility of the convention and that are a threat to the party’s democracy.
“His remarks that, come rain come sunshine, he will represent the party in the 2014 Presidential elections show that he is so desperate for power. Mutharika thought that he would have no competitor during the party’s convention and his remarks are a threat to democracy in the party,” said Hussein.
After Chimunthu Banda announced that he will run for the DPP presidency, a faction loyal to Mutharika started making changes to stifle competition at the convention.
The purported changes include shifting of venue from Lilongwe to Blantyre and having only two delegates from each constituency attending the convention instead of nine as required by the party’s constitution.
