Atupele suing Uladi Mussa over age claims

Malawi’s youthful presidential candidate, Atupele Muluzi is suing foul-mouthed Minister of Home Affairs and ruling People’s Party official Uladi Mussa for claiming that Atupele is ineligible to contest for the presidency against President Joyce Banda because of his age.

Atupele, a son of former president Bakili Muluzi, is presidential candidate for opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), said he is suing Uladi for alleged defamation of character.

In an interview monitored on Zodiak Broadcasting Services on Sunday, PP’s Uladi   challenged UDF to bring in the open Muluzi’s original birth certificates to counter his claims that he is underage to run for presidency.

Uladi hinted that there is a government scheme to block Atupele from contesting next year’s presidential elections because of his age.

But Atupele said on Monday he has instructed lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale to commence legal action against Uladi, saying the continued “slanderous statements” could not go unchallenged.

Atupele said the claims by Uladi that he will not have attained 35 years by the time the country will be going to courts were “false and malicious.”

He insisted that he was turning 35 years in August this year and that he has been running  as Member of Parliament for Machinga North East for two-five year terms with same date of birth details that Malawi Electoral Commission has.

Atupele further states that the said words were calculated to disparage and diminish his political ambitions of ascending to the presidency of this country.

Kaphale confirmed that he is handling the matter and that he will be lodging to court his arguments.

“Yes I have received those instructions. We should be putting our papers in order and commence court action this week,” he said.

Kaphale said Uladi’s statement is “tantamount to say someone is lying of his age and that he is deceiving the public, which is not correct.”

When contacted, Uladi said he will only comment when he received the court summons.

He remained defiant that he will continue to talk about the issue “without fear.”