Mutharika runningmate quandary: DPP wary with UDF demands, Chimunthu playing ‘clever card’
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and President Peter Muthrika are in a deadlock regarding choice for 2019 runningmate with United Democratic Front (UDF) reportedly giving the ruling party a list of demands to be met as part of its terms for an electoral alliance, forcing a switch to former Speaker of Parliament, Chimunthu Banda, as a more viable option for a running mate in the 2019 presidential race.
According to sources, the DPP had commissioned a team comprising Kondwani Nankhumwa, Frank Mphepo and Ben Phiri to engage former President Bakili Muluzi, who remains partron of UDF, for an electoral alliance ahead of their 2019 Tripartite Elections.
However, Mutharika has been rattled by the demands by Muluzi who, among other things has demanded that, apart from Atupele Muluzi being picked runningmate, he must be appointed the country’s Second Vice President and the UDF should also be given 5 Ministerial positions, 5 Parastatal CEO positions as well as 5 positions for Parastatal Board Chairperson – all appointments to be made, immediately, in the current government on the day of signing of the agreement.
The trio felt uncomfortable with the demands and reported back to Mutharika that Muluzi is scheming to wrestle power from DPP through his son.
The three DPP gurus agreed with Mutharika to put the Atupele deal and negoations on hold.
Thereafter, they approached Chimunthu Banda arguing the DPP needs votes fom the central region more than estern region.
Chimunthu was given assurances by the trio that he would be appointed runningmate to Mutharika and that he be wecolmed into the party at a stop over rally in NKhotakota on Thursday.
However, knowing DPP tactics too well and fearing of being duped, Chimunthu demanded that he meets Mutharika in person to hear the offer from the horse’s mouth before going public.
Sources said Mutharika showed no committment hence no show for Chimunthu at the stop over rally.
This means DPP is still scouting and strateging on the runningmate issue.
But, according to the source the DPP inner circle that forced Vice President SaulosChilima to quit remains strong and resistant to accepting an outsider to get that position againas they would like to maintain the DPP Presidency in the Lhomwe belt as part of their continued promotion of the Mulhako agenda.
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Mwati Chimunthu Banda???? He can not bring any votes at all, who is deceiving u in DPP. Atupele is the right candidate who can take u into next government. Bow down to the demands and share the cake
The best APM can do is to join hands with another owned family party which is UDF .
Muluzi ndi deal. He is aware DPP is desperate with the coming in of UTM and is capitalizing on that to table demands that he knows DPP cannot easily stomach. Muluzi has achieved his objective of being spared from arrest for the alleged theft of MK1.7bn. He has silently been harbouring his anger for the behaviour of Bingu to dump UDF and formed DPP. Tiziona.
I hate Utm, udf and dpp but keeping udf nkuweta njoka. Udf would want to take back power from dpp and that can be done by making Atupele VP. Should APM who is singing the last verse of his life died in office, udf through Atupele will take over. The truth is that someone beyond 75 has a big chance of dying due to old age. Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba is 80 is already in his last chapter of life. Udf is smiling and Nankhumwa watch out. The snake is smiling. After all Bingu should be angry with APM for bringing… Read more »
Chimunthu would have to be a stupid foolish person to accept running mate position. Besides he cannot mobilise sufficient votes in the central region as he is a nonentity.If one recalls APM’s remarks a few years ago about the person, one would have to think twice about the proposal. He would end up like Chilumpha, JB or Chilima; being dumped along the way if, by remote chance DPP won the elections next year.
Zoona sometimes people do eat the vomit there is nothing within the DPP to justify a return. All what is left is a chicken’s leg a swarm of flies over the DPP carcass
Don’t drag Bakili name in the DPP running mate issue. Atupele is a grown up man and can make decisions. Next year’s elections will be the most complex ever and like what PAC observed a lot of factors will come into the mix to determine the winner chief among them religion, regionalism and youth appeal. Atupele cut across them with excellence so that anybody who will partner him is almost guaranteed keys to the state house. So to you DPP doubting Thomases its better to win with UDFs load of demands rather than to lose without them. The president will… Read more »
I didn’t know that parastatal CEOs are appointed from political parties. I always thought these are professionals recruited on merit. Here, Muluzi is just underlying his credentials as the great mastermind of corruption in Malawi. An UDF/DPP combination is a recipe for more doom and gloom for our pitiful country. Dziko lomvetsa chisoni
Court Mathews Mtumbuka and sweep the northern vote because at it stands if Jb stands the eastern vote will be fragmented, And to convince these ambitious northerners sign a public pact declaring that when AMP does his term he will support Mtumbuka as president in 2024, that way all northerners will defect to DPP including those who have defected to UTM.
Rubbish comment
kkkkkkkk
DPP apa ndiye pavuta
zivuta kwambiri. Akapatsa Atupele chair will make sure UDF ibwerezera what Bingu did to him. Choose an outsider from north or centre, means party drifting away from mlakho. Problem is they want to have the cake and eat it too.