Mutharika says Malawi opposition fear losing in 2019, cites Economist poll

President Peter Mutharika has scoffed the idea of the opposition to form an electoral coalition in 2019 elections and field one-presidential candidate, saying the plan is borne out of fear of losing.

Mutharika says opposition's singel-candidate idea is a sign of fear
Mutharika says opposition’s singel-candidate idea is a sign of fear

“I know the opposition is afraid of DPP [Democratic Progressive Party], no wonder they are planning to field one presidential candidate in the 2019,” said Mutharika on Thursday  in Thyolo, his home and political bedrock.

The President was launching constructon works of the Thyolo- Thekerani- Muona Road.

Mutharika accused the opposition of sabotage, saying they want tu frustrate  his government’s development projects including the Malata and Cement subsidy programme.

He challenged the opposition that “they will not succeed.”

President Mutharika said opposition were panicking because of one of the world’s most renowned research and analysis institutions, Economist Intelligence Unit, has forecast victory for DPP in 2019.

In its 2nd quarter forecast report on Malawi, the EIU gives Mutharika credible chances at the polls for how stable his leadership has been even in the face of no donor support for the national budget.

President Mutharika -the report says – stands shoulder above the rest having managed to present a strong campaign message at the 2014 polls which facilitated Democratic Progressive Party’s comeback after two years in the sojourn as an opposition party.

It is the incumbency among the many factors that will maintain his momentum along the electoral landscape past 2019, the report notes.

Among Mutharika’s main focus areas of his leadership are Community Technical Colleges, Decent and Affrodable Housing for the poor, Public Sector Reforms, Greenbelt Initiave, massive Foreign Direct Investment and a strong anti-corruption drive.

The report further cements Malawi Congress Party (MCP) position as the main opposition bloc in the country while denying them any chance of upstaging President Mutharika any time soon.

MCP has been Malawi’s main opposition party for 22 years now.

The report also completely discards any chances for former leader Joyce Banda to make any comeback to the political fray soon owing to her damaged image due to Cashgate.

Both MCP and PP have thrown doubts over the report saying it does not reflect the reality on the ground.

EIU is a subsidiary of The Economist Group which also owns probably the world’s leading magazine, The Economist.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
13 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
PATROIT
PATROIT
7 years ago

CHIMPEN JAMES,think before you write offal.I knew Winston Msowoya as a youthful and gallant Chipembere’s supporter in Zomba during the famous cabinet crisis of Sept 9,1964,he is not a puppet of anybody,but his own.Perhaps,the word puppet is beyond your comprehension.I wonder whether Bingu and Mathanyula returned home to contribute to the society,which society is that,Lomwe? James,let be informed that Winston is an accomplished Freelance Journalist trained in the former Soviet Union,present day Russia.Both Muthalikas were in diaspora,but were there to learn about mafiaism and corruption which are now having diabolical effects to citizenry.For your information also,Winston was the only active… Read more »

chimpeni james
7 years ago

Iwe Winston Msowoya!!!!! to label you a fool is a great respect indeed but you are a STUPID PUPPET. If you fear Lhomwes, now know that Lhomwes are and have been very educated tribe, since 1890s . If you have a contrary view come home and hold a K100 bill in your hand whereby you will see that the first guy to wake up was a Lhomwe. Rev John Chilembwe. So all Lhomwes upon completing their overseas education they immediately return home to contribute to the society. Only did the Lhomwe stay behind as Kamuzu was hunting and killing them… Read more »

Zechariah
Zechariah
7 years ago

Foolish analysis plus arrogant talk when your performance don’t measure the failed policies. The economy is in very bad shape MCP still a very strong opponent for DPP not be underestimated. The demographics can work well for opposition if unity occurs in the coalition making the current regime ran for their monies. Truth to be told DPP has failed Malawians at all levels nothing to show prior to cosmetics reforms. Opposition must work on sound ideologies that are patriotic not haif baked solutions contrasting the current leadership.

marvin
7 years ago

DPP will rule for the next 50 yrs. MCP will win with the kids that will be born after 25 years from now as it has no chance in this country. Everyone still remembers the CROCODILES, NYAKULA, MAKHADI, ROAD ACCIDENTS, THAMBANI STAGED ACCIDENT (Gadama and the other 3 that were brutally killed)

Winston Msowoya
Winston Msowoya
7 years ago

Muthalika is desperate,he knows if the opposition elements unite and form a united front,DPP will,without doubts,loose badly because people are disgruntled in myriad of ways.First and for most,they don’t have food to eat,corruption is up on the roof,crime is vicious,unemployment devastatingly at the highest level so what would make Malawians to vote for a rotten Party which caters only for a few chosen Engels? Having gargantuan funds stollen from government coffers,the opposition are obliged to run a united and committed election campaigns when that time comes.In fact,the opposition has many advantages over the DPP in that Muthalika personally,has politically and… Read more »

Mwaonatu
Mwaonatu
7 years ago

Someone thinks one candidate in the name of Laza can unseat the incumbent. What a farce! I can;t imagine how people think one can win the presidency after collecting less than 100 votes from Nsanje to Ntcheu.

VYOTO
VYOTO
7 years ago

DPP IS EQUALLY AFRAID ABOUT LOSING THE 2019 ELECTIONS GOING BY THE POLITICAL MARRIAGE OF INCONVENIENCE WITH UDF AND THE DPP PLOT BEHIND THE SCENES TO DISCONTINUE THE BAKILI MULUZI MK1.7 BILLION CORRUPTION CASE.THE SAID ECONOMIST- POLL WAS VERY CLEAR THAT DPP CAN ONLY WIN IF THE ECONOMY IS IMPROVED.THE ECONOMIC FORECASTS POINTS TO THE GLOOMY ECONOMIC SITUATION IN 2016/17 FINANCIAL YEAR. COST OF LIVING IN GENERAL AND THE HUNGER SITUATION HAS WORSENED SINCE DPP TOOK OVER POWER. THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION HAS BEEN LEFT ONLY IN THE HANDS OF KAMLEPO KALUA,DONORS CONTINUE TO SIT ON THE WALL AS A… Read more »

MAPAZI
MAPAZI
7 years ago

Vuto la a opposition ndi loti alibe mfundo. Amangotsutsa zili zonse komanso samapereka maganizo othandiza. Zitha kukhala zowona kuti sangawine. Zizakhala ngati za 2009 pomwe a MCP ndi UDF anakunthidwa ndi Bingu. Nanga zimene amapanga a china Kamlepo even O Chakwera ndi zothandiza ku mtundu wa a Malawi?

captain
captain
7 years ago

pamtumbo pako Pitala utazavote ndi iweyo kapena ife? Tatopa nawe and am in a special project to witch you. you are a big thief like your brother Bingu…….Machende ako

Kenkkk
Kenkkk
7 years ago

Preparing to rig elections again. Even if you dpp mafias end up winning in 2019, still this Peter is showing his total ignorance about polls. How can he be serious about a poll which is taken two years before the elections? Only a vote rigging person can be confident about the poll. It is you Peter who is afraid of the opposition fielding one candidate to take you because you know over 60% of the country didn’t vote for you and you will lose in 2019 if faced by one opposition candidate. But don’t be afraid because the opposition is… Read more »

Read previous post:
Malawi ‘s Auditor General under political duress to shield corrupt gangsters – Analyst

University of Malawi's Chancellor College-based political professor, Mustafa Hussein,  has said Auditor General Stepheson Kamphasa is under political duress  not to disclose names...

Close