Malawi: Mutharika Confirms Call To Presidency Within His Party

By Joseph Dumbula.

Former Malawi President Peter Mutharika has confirmed he will allow members of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party to nominate him for the party’s 2025 general election torchbearer post.

Previously, Mutharika who led Malawi from 2014 to 2020 had only been saying he was consulting. But speaking at a recent meeting Mutharika told party members that he wants the role as he is the only person to take Malawi to greater heights and not the current Lazarus Chakwera led government.

‘’I have said. I will allow to be nominated because I want to take Malawians to prosperity and not poverty as it is now with this leadership. We need to change as a country. So at the convention slated for this month end, I will accept to be nominated for president,’’ he said.

This now means, two people in the party have hinted on sights for the top post.

Days ago, Kondwani Nankhumwa who leads the opposition in parliament told the media he will also challenge Mutharika at the convention so as to take the DPP to a new lease of life.

Nankhumwa had among other things blamed Mutharika for creating subtle divisions within the party.

Apparently, Mutharika has made changes on some roles taken Nankhumwa off the post of Vice President for the Southern Region to that of an Advisor.

Meanwhile, a visibly angry Mutharika has strenuously cautioned party members against speaking ill of the party.

He spoke into the face of one Ken Nsonda who was accused of slamming Mutharika at a recent press briefing.

But Mutharika said the party is ready to make do with any members who do not show commitment as required.

The DPP appears by far the outright competitor for the Malawi Congress Party and UTM- main parties forming the governing Tonse Alliance.