By Chalo Mbanthu
Greedy at its best! Some ‘misguided and greedy’ Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gurus who mercilessly plundered and looted taxpayers money through dubious means have ganged-up to endorse ageing Peter Mutharika as party’s presidential candidate for 2025 presidential polls.
Mutharika will turn 89 in 2025 when the elections are due.
According to some sources within DPP, some party gurus are set to endorse the 86-year-old Mutharika during Blue Night slated for March 11 at Mount Soche in Blantyre.
The source further indicated that, DPP’s ‘madala’ team has empowered and assembled Southern Region Governor Charles Mchacha, Organising Secretary Chimwemwe Chipungu, Mutharika spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba, DPP treasurer Jappie Mhango, DPP’s administrative secretary Francis Mphepo and Northern Region Governor Christopher Mzomera Ngwira to make the endorsement.
However, the development has angered some sectors of the party, who have described the move as a “dark day” in DPP family as APM already announced that he would not stand again considering his age and falling health.
But it is surprising that those who are supposed to be in forefront telling APM to rest are the ones behind the unpopular move.
One senior DPP member said: “ having Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika on the ballot is as good as DPP putting a drunken man to be your house guard. APM has never been a leader. He is always out of place.
Remember, we lost the youths vote in in 2019/20 polls because the youths had no confidence in his leadership and that only insane members would stand up and let APM be our “saviour” when he is supposed only be the “bridge” to a new generation of political leaders.”
Speaking during a rally recently, the former ageing Malawian leader Mutharika indicated some DPP members want him to stand as presidential candidate.
A political analyst from the University of Malawi has since asked Party leadership to consider giving chance to fresh blood as the APM has past his prime time.
“We all know why DPP lost election. It was not about economy but nepotism, corruption, absent leadership among others that did not please them. Now bringing in someone who failed to campaign in fresh 2020 elections due to poor health will be dangerous to the nation and in particular the DPP family, he said who added that President Joe Biden is 80 years but he has embarrassingly fallen three times in two years of his presidency due to poor health and age.
