JB, Peter Mutharika shake hands at prayers event

Malawi President Joyce Banda and President of Democratic Progressive Party, Prof. Peter Mutharika had a rare handshake on Wednesday during special prayers for the nation in Lilongwe.

The prayers were being held under the theme A Nation Seeking God for Good Rainy Season and Blessings.

As the prayers were in progress, one preacher asked the delegates to greet and wish each other good luck and this saw President Banda shaking hands with her political opponent, Professor Mutharika.

Professor Mutharika leads DPP which came out of government after President Bingu wa Mutharika, elder brother to Professor Peter Mutharika, died in April and President Banda, vice then, had to take over with her People’s Party.

Just a few days ago, President Banda mocked Professor Mutharika, who stammers to some extent that is a politician who cannot compete with her because he doesn’t know how to articulate things when speaking.

The hand shake also came a few days after one of the leading daily papers in Malawi, The Nation, said Malawians would vote for Professor Mutharika if polls were held today while President Banda was at distant third with 34 year old Atupele Muluzi of UDF getting the second option.

Speaking at the prayers event, President Banda said the unity displayed at the occasion was crucial to political coexistent.