Three-horse race for Malawi presidency: Mutharika front runner, Chakwera and Chilima
The May 21 2019 presidential elections will be a three-horse race between incumbent President Peter Mutharika, leader of opposition Lazarus Chakwera and State Vice-President Saulos Chilima, an analyst has said.
Governance expert and commentator Makhumbi Munthali cited the recent survey conducted by the Zomba-based Institute of Public Opinion and Research (Ipor) between August and September this year which gave Mutharika a narrow lead.
The survey indicated the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of Mutharika have 33 percent of the vote, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of Chakwera has 31 percent and UTM of Chilima had 17 percent while the former governing People’s Party (PP) of Joyce Banda got six percent rating.
Munthali said the race for 2019 Tripartite elections remain open for the three top contenders in Mutharika, Chakwera and Chilima. He ruled out former president Joyce Banda rated by the survey as the “most trusted” political leader in the country.
“It is therefore too early to conclude who will win the 2019 Tripartite elections. While is clear at the moment that DPP seems to have an upperhand over MCP and UTM, the political developments that will characterise the period between now to March 2019 will shape who will win the elections,” said Munthali.
“At least by early March 2019 we will be able to have a clear picture of the top two presidential candidates with the most chances to win the election. For now, these findings should be an eye opener and awake up call to all political parties on the need to do more if Malawians are to trust them with the high office of the President.,” he added.
During the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections, President Peter Mutharika—standing on the DPP ticket with Chilima as his running mate on the ballot paper—won with 1 904 99 votes, representing 36.4 percent while Chakwera polled 27.8 percent, having amassed 1 455 880. Banda, then an incumbent who had ascended to the presidency in line with constitutional order in April 2012, finished a distant third with 1 056 236 votes or 20.2 percent.
In terms of parliamentary representation, during the 2014 elections DPP won 50 seats, MCP 48, PP 26 and independents 52. Erstwhile governing UDF won 14 seats with Aford and the now-defunct Chipani Cha Pfuko getting one seat each.
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The issue about VP’s resignation is not as narrow and myopic as just drawing a salary. Chilima was elected alongside APM in 2014 presumably on a set of promises they made and which the electorate liked. Four years down the line, Chilima jumps ship telling us that the DPP regime, on whose ticket he was elected, is so corrupt that he can no longer be part of them. Effectively , he is telling us that this government is not doing what is promised to do and he can no longer be part of that mess . His mandate comes from… Read more »
54 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE HAS BEEN A MOCKERY AND INSULT TO MALAWIAN PEOPLE –WHY ??? SELFISH –STURBON –CORRUPT
LEADERSHIP
God forbid that Mutharika should be re-elected!!
The study results are very clear on validity. They are only valid if the voting was done in September 2018. We all know that the voting will be in May 2019 therefore this assumption that the vote would take place in September 2018 is all much ado about nothing. This study was just about poverty alleviation full stop.
I’m going to vote this time because I want to decide who my First Lady should be anything else doesn’t matter to me ……………musa thamanga magazi sindinatchule munthu kikikikikikikikikikiki
Are we still basing our facts on a survey that was done in August ?. ( 3 months ago)
eti?
Mmmmmmm Mr Mpunga nanu uthenga wa Chilima apanga musokhano ukuveka paliponse pa Zodiac radio ,Time radio ndi ma TV umenewo ndiwo udolo,ndipo enna ali tulo phwii
about 6.8 million voters have registered to cast their votes in 2019. Out of these about 1, 200 were sample for the survey. We have 193 constituencies in Malawi. Whether you believe the survey or not. Malawians will vote on 21 May 2019. I don’t support DPP, but I have a feeling that they will do all they can to win 2019 elections. So watch out.
In reference to UTM my view point is simple. The study was done soon after it’s foundation and there was a lot of excitement. I am not really sure whether that excitement still exist but I am sure it’s simmering. People are not asking themselves questions when their duly elected Vice President seem to have abdandoned them. The vp thinks he is gaining but he is losing people because he is still expected to tell them why he is paid for doing nothing!!!! And why he did not apologise for not serving as promised in 2014.
I still find people that are blaming Chilima (ostensibly) for pocketing a salary without working. Remember the VPs office is a delegated office. It is Peter Mutharika who should be giving Chilima work to do. Sadly Peter Mutharika is failing to distinguish party issues and government issues. Chilima walked out of the DPP not out of government. If Peter was objective he should have been giving chilima government assignments. Tell me Chlima isnt going to office. If he goes and he is not given work to do then you have no point blaming him.
Is this realistic?
dont waste ur energy answering idiots just give them homework to read delegate in the dictionary and research VP job description!
It is useless to capitalize on refuting peoples, work. If you know that you only trust your ideas why can’t you conduct your own survey?
I agree with you, zitsiru zinazi dzimangokana zilizonse, this is a scientific way of foretelling the future and should not be just trashed. A Blessings Chinsinga, a Dulani, a Mwayi akhala liti a DPP? They just saying basing on facts and figures