Mutharika itches for Malawi’s 2025 presidential bid

Former President and Democratic Progressive Party  Leader Peter Mutharika has reaffirmed his comment to stand as the Party’s Presidential candidate in the forthcoming 2025 General Elections.

Multiple sources within the party have confirmed that the aging leader is now clinging to the party throne, apparently discrediting other aspirants.

One source who is the party’s front member confirmed to the press that Mutharika is ready to run and appear on the Ballot Paper in 2025.

” The former president is itching to be on the Ballot paper in 205 and he says he is very ready to run. But he prepares, other aspirants feel dejected.

The plan is that in 2023, the president will announce his intention to stand and will justify his decision by saying the party has resolved that he is endorsed. He will rebuke all other aspirants fueling leadership crisis over the years,” he said.

The source went on to reveal that Mutharika’s plan B is to have his wife Gertrude stand on the Ballot in an event that he chicks out in on the eleventh hour.

Meanwhile, three other heavyweights who have already expressed interest to vie for the party’s presidency feel vexed by Mutharika’s plans.

The trio includes ex-ministers Bright Msaka, and Joseph Mwanamveka as well as former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor Dalitso Kabambe.

The former Central Bank Head was introduced into mainstream politics in January 2021 by DPP Regional Governor for South Charles Mchaha.

Then, Mchaha promised that his regional committee would be unveiling other Presidential hopefuls, starting with estranged DPP Vice President for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa.

But one year down the line, that has not happened yet.

In previous interviews, Mchacha also dismissed suggestions that Mutharika had endorsed Kabambe as his successor, saying the former head of State will ensure a level playing field and let the best candidate win at the convention.

At some point, Political Scientist who also teaches at Chancellor College Mustafa Hussain, gave Kabambe 50-50 chances to win at the convention, saying in his role at the Central Bank he was close to DPP party leadership.

But in his personal capacity, Peter Chisi, who works as Director of civil and political rights at Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) opposed Hussein by giving Kabambe just a 20 percent chance to win.

Meanwhile, tongues are wagging among other Presidential hopefuls for the party who have expressed their frustration over Mutharika’s planned move.