Mutharika’s succession choice of Chimulirenji causes uproar in Mulhakho wa Alhomwe

February 11, 2019 Green Muheya -Nyasa Times 55 Comments

Muhlakho wa a Lhomwe members and some chiefs from the southern region are not pleased with President Peter Mutharika’s choice of Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development and Parliamentarian for Ntcheu North East, Everton Herbert Chimulirenji as his successor.

President Mutharika and his choice of vice president if re-elected, Everton Chimulirenji
Power behind the throne: Bodyguard Chisale with President Mutharika all wearing same shoes

Mutharika picked Chimulirenji as his running mate for his re-election bid in the May 21 Tripartite Elections.

Nyasa Times understands that Mulhakho wa Alhomwe top brass has been having underground meetings to discuss the President’s choice of his successor as the party loyalist  were ambushed  as they only learnt about it  at Comesa Hall in Blantyre when Mutharika presented his presidential nomination forms to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials and  were heard murmuring in disapproval.

According sources in Mulhakho wa Alhomwe, the members expressed their anger on First Lady Gertrude Mutharika and President Mutharika’s Security aide Norman Paulos Chisale accusing them of misleading the President to pick their preferred successor Chimulirenji.

Many people especially from the Lhomwe belt had hope that Mutharika would ensure a proper succession plan with the blessing of the party top brass.

With the appointment of Chimulirenji as Mutharika’s running mate and in the event that DPP wins the May watershed elections, Chimulirenji will be Vice President, the   Lhomwe people believe they are losing grip of the party.

“People are very angry with the First Lady and Chisale because they believe that it is them who influenced Mutharika to pick Chimulirenji. Even the chiefs wondered why Mutharika acted this way,” said a source who attended the meeting.

“They have agreed to send a delegation to meet Mutharika and demand answers for his action before deciding what to do next,” added the source.

Inside sources at State House said the Chimulirenji deal was done a few weeks ago after Mutharika rejected the name of Bright Msaka as his running mate.

“It was after the Msaka issue that the First Lady and Chisale pushed for the name of Chimulirenji because he comes from Ntcheu and would protect them than other Mulhakho people. But they convinced Mutharika that Chimulirenji will counter the Saulos Chilima vote in Ntcheu and the boss was convinced,” said the source.

Strongman Chisale comes from Ntcheu and the First Lady comes from Balaka.

It is not known if Mutharika will grant the group an audience as it is Chisale and the First Lady who controls the diary of the President.

Mutharika has already defended his preferred choice, saying he had settled for Chimulirenji because of his integrity, educational qualifications, outstanding performance and a team player who would effectively help him run government for the next five years.

“He understands the difference between a vice-president and deputy president and that a vice-president is always delegated and the vice-president will never be a co-president,” said Mutharika.

Commentators say lack of succession plans and intra-party democracy are the source of chaos for handing over the leadership mantle.

Malawi political parties have been advised to embrace intra-party democracy, tolerance and devise proper succession plans as “good leaders do not leave a vacuum or chaos”.

Chimulirenji, 56, is also part of Mutharika’s Cabinet, served as deputy minister for Defence before the latest Cabinet reshuffle took him to his present portfolio as Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development.

He is also the party’s deputy national director of elections, a position he was elected to at the party’s national convention in 2018.

Chimulirenji studied business administration and once worked with the then Ministry of Works. He was running a construction company when he joined newly formed DPP in 2005 under the stewardship of former president, the late Bingu wa Mutharika.

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55 replies on “Mutharika’s succession choice of Chimulirenji causes uproar in Mulhakho wa Alhomwe”

  1. I think we have this mistaken notion about who a leader should be. Being a good leader can simply mean having a good eye for identifying talent in other people basi! All this downgrading of Chimulirenji because of his purported lack of education, popularity, eloquence and what not is unfortunate and must stop. If Muntharika had picked from the shortlist the formal and informal media had made for him, he would have still incurred some form of wrath.

  2. By the looks, the bodyguard should be the running mate wa DPP. This is fun. Mulakho wa ALhomwe has been cancelled!

  3. The truth of the matter is that according to culture, Peter Mutharika is from Ntcheu. It is believed that is where his mother came from. The appointment of two running mates from Ntcheu is to try to reward his kinsmen.

  4. There will be no real and sustainable development in Malawi until tribalism disappears from politics and public life. Malawi should be a nation of people united under one flag, not an amalgamation of tribes. Forget tribalism and realise that we are all one people living in a country called Malawi. Let this concept guide us in choosing who will run our country for the next five years.

    1. they are same brand just different colors actually blue and black! APM shoelace are tight while the other guy’s its loosen a bit!!

  6. The talking point is the age and poor health of Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba who is already above life expectancy age of human beings. Most people know that the old man would not finish his term should he win. Winning is already a tall order after sideling people like Atupele, Ntaba, Goodall, Charles Mhango, Tembenu, notorious Uladi Mussa, George Malemia aka Nankhumwa, Francis Kasaila, Bintoni Kutsaila and George Chaponda. This Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba lacks political maturity. There are no people left to campaign for him except his MBC which many people don’t listen to. Stupid APM.

  7. Succession or Vice president?DPP will do convention right?and issue of the same shoes what’s the matter?Chimulireji is a Malawian,DPP executive member&Campaign director right?..its you people who are tribalist not DPP & with ur tribalist mentality u thot vice president will be Lomwe ?Shame! DPP is a National party…or by the way was Chilima Lomwe? Keep ur hatred and brace for defeat&Muheya keep reporting ur half baked fake news.Sold out reporter.If Chilima humbled himself wouldn’t he still be the DPP running mate? Shame shame shame!

  9. I as a Lomwe of Amakuwa, Mihavani and Nyamwero am very angry indeed and I will vote for UTM.

  10. WE TALK ABOUT HIM BEING SUCCESSOR BECAUSE IN CASE AMP DIES, HE BECOMES THE PRESIDENT. JUST LOOKING AT HIM he can’t be a president no no no!
    THE GUY LOOKS VERY DULL, THE TYPE AMP WANTS. BUT LUCKILY FOR MALAWIANS, NO SANE PERSON WOULD VOTE FOR THIS PAIR NOT EVEN NGOLONGOLIWA.

  12. Surely, now all of us Lomwes will follow where Manganya is cos we know that he is representing us their. Tsalani ndi chipani chanucho a Peter ndi Chimulirenji

  13. Ife alhomwe sitikudandaula za successor wa DPP. Why? Because we know our mamwiya is going to loose anyway. Talowa UTM now…. SKC buuuu

  15. The coming in of Chimlirenji marks the beginning of the fall of the Lhomwes on the land.
    Yes, there was some tremendous influence from the mentioned two for this pick in order to protect them in the event of…………
    We do not dispute that.
    However, let’s also not forget that the mother of the Malawi leader came from Ntcheu whilst the mother of the late was from elsewhere. Only their father was same hence brothers.
    So in essence, Ntcheu is an important district at the moment and it deserves exceptional respect and honor.

    Let’s make no mistake here; this is a clear game changer.

  19. Malawians, when are you going to learn a lesson? When Bakili Muluzi chose Bingu to be the next president, it was a talk everywhere. Bakili has goofed he has chosen somebody who can’t talk well, somebody difficult to sale ETC ETC. When Bingu was in office, the same Malawians started talking; Yes, it was a blessing in disguise, ooh! God has chosen us the right leader, ooh if Bingu came earlier after Kamuzu Malawi would have been developed ETC ETC. Today is Chimulilenji, why don’t you hold your peace and see who Chimulilenji is when he is in his office, then you can start talking? We are not there to choose people because of their names or what we have seen them to be, there are silent people out there who we will save us when we give them chance. What I see in all this is that people are afraid of DPP and my advice to the disgruntled DPP members is that the door is open for you to make a choice of your preference other than talking bullshit!

  20. He’s the running mate only not the successor don’t put words in president mouth.The party chooses who should Lead them through convention.The party belongs to everyone in Malawi not your garbage thinking you analyst

    1. Pitala is old and can die before 2024. Then this guy will become our president. You’re so dull that you don’t even know our constitution. Shut up and sit down.

  22. Choices of the world are nothing before the Lord. God has his own choice on this trapatite election. He knows who will perfectly lead this nation. Let’s just pray to him (God) so that he gives a good leader despite these multiparty systems on earth.

  23. Mulhomwe ndi chitsilu nkona amakwera chilore cha mthochi to lilongwe. Does the president belongs to your tribe only ? You must be stupid No wonder northern and central will vote for chakwera . Peter munthalika we address him as the state president not president wa a ngulu or lhomwe. Stop you stupid thinking. Are you happy with insecurity? Are you happy with untold corruption? Are you happy with poor health system? Are you happy with albino killings? Are you happy with poor development goals infact we are supposed to hold DPP government accountable for the promise not delivered during last election campaign. Alhomwe ndinu opusa mumathila tomatoe source pa ma cornflakes. STOP IT DZIKO LATONSE ILI

    1. Aaaaaah m’bale wanga usatitukwanile padera, ine ndo mulhomwe ndipo ndili okondwa ndi chisankho chimene a president athu achita. Zaonetsa kui ndi mmalawi weniweni, ndipo amachikonda chipani cha DPP that is why akufuna kuti chifikile kwa anthu onse ndipo as long ndiiwe wa DPP it doesn’t matter dera lomwe wachokela koma ukhale ndi udindo uliwonse muchipanimu. Izi zalembedwa apapazi ndi zophikidwa ku nyasatimes, sizinachokele kwa alhomwe eniake. Chonde musatitukwane chotere achimwene che Sure.

  24. Our experts have finally concluded that MCP is the next Government and that this confusion in JERICHO is bringing more and more advantage to MCP

  25. No. No. Reporter of this article is correct. A lot of top dpp leaders are in pain because Chimulirenji is vice president. That’s fact of the matter. Even u can ask a kids they wll tell you the same. Also you will tell me that Lhomwe are Nt discussing about this issue? Why Lhomwe only is unpleasant about their leader choice? Dpp members from central region are happy;we did not hear that chewa people are discussing behind. Remember division in the part is normal. Which party Mr Chilima came from? Which party Mrs kaliati came from ? Which party Mr kalindo came from? Etc. So you guys here. Are you telling Malawians that there is no division in DPP party? Are u kidding us?

  26. Ma presidentwa a Malawi timawapatsa mphamvu zambiri. important decisions should not be made by one person either in the party or in government. Ngakhale sindikugwirizana nawo a mulhallo on rtribalise DPP.
    The party belongs to all regions nchifukwa you have followers all over Malawi. To sustain your party party zake zavuta zikubwerazi you would have chosen the DPP blood from any other region than south. This would have been done by Excetive or conversation. Koma ndiye mulira simulation. 50 +1 mudamukana Uja mumufunanso kuti mwina akadakuthandizani but it will be too late

  27. Osamanyoza kapena kutukwana ma tribe aanzanu…this reporter’s article is meant to divide people’s minds…. everyone knows DPP is not for the lhomwe pipo only it’s for every malawian…zonyoza kapena kutukwana ma tribe nzachikale man it won’t take you any mile at all… please stop it…one DPP all Malawi

    1. Ayi dpp is for few lomwes who are stealing our tax money we dont want tribal or family parties u pipo shud wake up look only mcp n new utm are parties for all Malawians inu ma cadets munya pa 21 pano we are tired of dpp

  28. Yes Chimulirenji will head govt if Peter becomes incapacitated or dies….but doesn’t mean that Chimulirenji is the direct next head of the party because that one is chosen at the party’s convention through voting….if am wrong correct me…. please reporters do not write articles meant to divide or disrupt the unity in DPP…DPP is not a party for the lhomwe pipo..it’s for every right thinking malawian….other parties have chosen their vices…do you mean to say their was uproar when Chakwera chose Mia a non chewa???…..do you mean to say their was uproar when Chilima chose a non ngoni from Mulanje to be his running mate????…..DPP is a party full of unity all times…there is no way those party bigies could know of Chimulirenji’s appointment at the function nooo u r lying …they were told man….osamalemba nkhani mochita kutumidwa but out of ur own research and investigation…be credible

    2. Next time, History, learn to differentiate between ‘their’ and ‘there,’ that is why we condemn picking of Chimulirenji mukutichititsa manyazi anthu inu. No wonder your president peter failed his MSCE. Full grown ups like you kulephera kusiyanitsa “there’ and ‘their”? Hahahahaha you come on this forum and disgrace yourself, why? You are another Chimulirenji indeed.

  30. Ben — chisale – nankhumwa- gòodal–chaponda –mulli’- dausi have accumulated wealth beyond recognition within a short period of time –they need to be investigated now and then confisticate their properties —

  32. Fotseki Alhomwe ! Who told you Malawi belongs to the you dirty tribe ? Koditu mwayamba kutchuka CHIFUKWA cha malemu Bingu. Infact if my memory serves me right, mumapanga manyazi ndikulankula chi lhomwe.
    Kamuzu and Bakili ruled this country and they never promoted their tribes.
    Viva bwana Peter atayeni agalu osayamikawa.

    1. or mutukwane ambwiye Lomwe people will not stop to exist chifukwa mwawanyoza. Iam a Lomwe with a Masters Degree in my house so if you call me dirty does that change anything noo. it just shows how shalow minded you are thinking that belonging to certain tribe makes you clean…FALLACY. i have tried not to write emotional comment because I can be counted to be of your calibre. Hiltler killed Jews saying they were useless people. ndiye za inuzi….muonereni chimutu.

      1. Iwe ndiwe opusa ndi masters yakoyo wat development can you point since u r gogo took over ? Umbava basi

      3. Masters degree is just a peace of paper. What matters is on how you use it. One can be educated but if you cant reason as an educated person, that education is gone down the drain. That’s why ku Malawiko athu wophunzila ambili ndi mbuli, ma savage.

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