Mutharika’s 2014 candidacy under doubts

Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s 2014 candidature in the Presidential race for the tripartite elections has been put under doubts with the recent revelations that indeed he holds a green card to the US and is not a citizen as he has always claimed, FaceofMalawi understands.

According to lawyer Justin Dzonzi, one can challenge Mutharika’s aspirations in a court of law for being a holder of the green card for it means that he owes allegiance to another country. The country’s constitution does not allow dual citizenship and bars anyone who is a dual citizen of contesting for a public office.

“The fact that a person holds a green card means that the person owes a certain allegiance to the US such as payment of taxes and maintaining a permanent residence in the US. Having a green card actually is the first step towards becoming a naturalized citizen of the US,” said Dzonzi.

To this end, Dzonzi said that Mutharika’s candidacy can be challenged in a court of law so as to get clarification if he is eligible to stand or not.

Over the weekend, DPP supporters heaved a sigh of relief when the US embassy in Malawi confirmed Mutharika’s claims all along that he is not a citizen of the US but a mere green card holder.

In 2004, former President Bakili Muluzi faced a last minute set-back when the Electoral Commission declared that he was not allowed to contest in the elections for having served as a President for two consecutive terms.