Mvula says constituents pen Atupele to drop presidential bid
Malawi’s former ruling UDF party senior official Humphrey Mvula has said the party has a letter from Machinga North East constituents demanding their member of parliament Atupele Muluzi to stop his presidential bid for 2014.
According to a letter, Atupule has been asked to scrap off his interest for the high office in the country and concentrate on developing his area.
The letter that has been copied to leader of UDF in Parliament, secretary general for UDF, speaker of parliament, Inspector General of police, District Commissioner for Machinga and Lilongwe, has been endorsed by over 80 emembers of the constituency and was authorized by senior chief Nyambi.
The authenticity of the letter could not be independently verified.
In the letter the constituents have threatened to hold a vigil against Atupule at the Parliament building during the current meeting of members of parliament if he will not publicly announce his withdraw from the presidential race.
The constituents accused Muluzi for personally expressing interest to contest for the 2014 presidential race without a blessing from the people who ushered him into House.
“We members of United Democratic Front of Machinga North East Constituency have noted with great concern the conduct of you Hon. Atupule Muluzi which, without consulting us people whom you represent in the august House you have come open to declare your interest to contest in 2014 as presidential candidate. We the people of Machinga North East are worried about the decision you have made…,” reads the letter in part.
The letter claims Atupele has failed to achieve any notable development project in the constituency. They argue that apart from Atupele not consulting them on his interest, he has also abandoned all development activities in area to market himself for the hot seat.
They well written letter further accused atupele for being hand-picked by his father former president Bakili Muluzi in 2004 after the then MPThengo Maloya declared not to contest for the parliamentary seat again.
“We people of Machinga North East Constituency whose signatures appear on this letter warn you to stop any activities concerning your ambition to contest as a presidential candidate for 2014 with effect from the date we have issued this warning letter and come back to the constituency to work together with the people of the constituency in developing our constituency.
“ We warn you to stop what you are doing now because it is not a Ngoni chieftaincy whereby when the father dies, a son takes over. You have failed to develop our constituency, how can you manage to run the country.
“If you don’t do that we will take action to embarrass you in front of new Parliament building by holding a vigil at the main gate of Parliament when Parliament convene,” further reads the letter.
Atupule, last month expressed interest to compete in the 2014 presidential elections. He is currently a target by his party UDFfor a dismissal following his declaration.
The son of the former president could not immediately comment but regional governor for south , MacDonald Symon said the letter is part of the “blackmail” which Atupele detractors are using against the MP and his father.
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