DPP chose Mutharika as president – for better or worse: Malawi presidential candidate 2014

Despite facing treason charges, Peter Mutharika has won a vote as opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president and the party’s torch bearer in next year’s tripartite elections.

Mutharika defeated his challenger, Speaker of Parliament, Henry Chimunthu Banda at a convention underway in commercial capital Blantyre on Thursday.

Before even counting of the votes was finished, Muntharika supporters broke into uncontrollable dancing after noting that their candidate was heading for a landslide victory as counting of the votes was being done in the open and loudly for everyone to hear which vote was for whom.

Returning officer, Willy Kalonga who is Malawi Electoral Commission Chief Elections Officer, declared Mutharika as duly elected.

Kalonga said Electoral Commission declared the elections “free, fair and credible elections.”

Contrary to many people’s fears that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) national convention would turn out chaotic, delegates demonstrated maturity by conducting themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner.

Despite a few scuffles earlier in the day between security personnel and some “illegal” DPP supporters, the meeting and voting went on smoothly.

Party convention chairperson Nicholas Dausi said the results reflect the will of the general party membership.

Mutharika, who won against Chimunthu with a landslide, has led the party since the death of his brother and former President, Bingu, in April last year.