Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Shadric Namalomba says former president Peter Mutharika is set to vigorously campaign for a comeback once the party launches its manifesto and campaign this Sunday.
Mutharika, 85, has not made public appearances since submitting his nomination forms to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on July 25, raising speculation that he was unfit to conduct the campaign.
But in an interview yesterday, Namalomba said Mutharika, who is DPP torchbearer in the September 16 General Election, is in good health and will soon be on the ground campaigning.
He said: “There is no reason why he should do injustice to himself and later on do injustice to the people. People should be assured that his excellency Arthur Peter Mutharika is in good health, he is in good form and he is going to campaign.
“The only reason Mutharika has not been holding campaign rallies is because the DPP manifesto is yet to be launched. He will be out to launch the manifesto and start campaigns guided by the manifesto.”
Namalomba said DPP will launch its manifesto and campaign at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre on Sunday with Mutharika in attendance.
He said before the Njamba launch, DPP will take the manifesto to business captains, the academia and other technical people at an event to be held at Sunbird Mount Soche to be graced by Mutharika’s running mate Jane Ansah.
However, Namalomba said it will not be possible for the presidential candidate to step in each and every constituency, citing time limitations. He added that DPP will use its structures to boost the campaign and reach all corners of the country.
“The campaign is not the responsibility of the president alone. We have 229 constituencies and there is no way a presidential candidate can go to each constituency,” said Namalomba.
Meanwhile, political analyst Wonderful Mkhutche suggested that Mutharika’s age and health is the real reason he will not be able to campaign in each constituency, not the time factor as the party wants people to believe.
He said resources also impact on the number of rallies or movements one can make.
On the DPP appealing to other presidential candidates support for Mutharika’s candidature, Mkhutche said it is too late for the party to make such a call, arguing it missed an opportunity by not opening up for power sharing.
Political analyst George Chaima said the time factor aside, Mutharika’s body language during the presentation of his nomination papers on Friday said a lot about his health and capacity to campaign.
“He lacks that stamina and physical energy to take him to every corner of the country. If I were to advise the DPP leadership, I would have advised DPP to feature another candidate who would have respect for APM while he is taking his retirement,” he said.
Results of a survey by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research that sampled 2 600 people from 27 districts showed Mutharika as the favourite candidate with 43 percent rating.
