Peter Mutharika defends himself, ‘ I’m not yet candidate’
Malawi Foreign Affairs Minister, Arthur Peter Mutharika, has distanced himself from assertions that he is on a campaign trail ahead of the 2014 Presidential Elections, saying he is not officially a presidential candidate.
Peter, who is brother to Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika, told reporters in reaction to an a published article that alleged he was already in campaign mood and that ruling MPs had no access to him as he is already behaving like State President, said that this is not true.
“We have about 30 months to go before the 2014 elections. The country has more serious problems to solve than getting ourselves involved in early politicking before the polls,” he said.
“My door is always open and every MP who would like to meet me is free to do so. People come to see me anytime at my office in Capital Hill without even booking any appointment,” he said.
The minister mentioned in some situations during Parliamentary Sessions, he even misses tea during tea break because some MPs want to meet and have a discussion with him.
“I am busy trying solve some of the country’s main challenges,” he said.
In its publication last weekend, the Weekend Nation quoted some MPs in the ruling DPP MPs as complaining that Mutharika as already behaving as an elected president thereby having his access blocked.
Peter Mutharika has been endorsed by the ruling elite that he will be 2014 Presidential torchbearer.
However, he told reportersthat officially he is not the candidate as a party convention is yet to endorse him as such.