Callista supports Chilima for 2019

Former first lady Callista Mutharika has thrown her weight behind Vice-President Saulos Chilima to lead the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as presidential candidate in the 2019 Tripartite Elections “for a better Malawi”.

Her sentiments raise questions about her relationship with her in-law and incumbent President Peter Mutharika who has declared that he will lead the DPP as presidential candidate in the elections.

Callista, the widow of DPP founding president Bingu wa Mutharika, expressed her sentiments through a WhatsApp forum for former members of Parliament (MPs) whose discussion The Nation has seen.

She said Chilima was the country’s hope for a better future.

Wrote Callista: “Honourable members, just to let you know that I, Callista Bingu wa Mutharika, is one member that is supporting and encouraging the Right Honourable Saulos Chilima to represent DPP as a presidential candidate in 2019… Chilima our hope for better Malawi.”

But in her post, Callista told group members that her life was in danger as some people, apparently not amused with her position, were plotting to “finish her off”.

She said: “Right now I hear certain quarters are unhappy with my move and are planning to finish me. I don’t know how. This is for your information. Meanwhile, help watch and see how they will finish me…”

When contacted via telephone yesterday, Callista refused to comment further on what she wrote on WhatsApp, saying: “I cannot comment.”

Office of the Vice-President press aide Pilirani Phiri also refused to comment on the matter.

But chairperson of the forum, Clement Stambuli, confirmed about Callista writing on group.

However, he said the context Callista wrote the said message was to inform the members about the alleged threats she was receiving.

Said Stambuli in a telephone interview: “These are normal postings. From time to time, members express their feelings. The context in which she has said is that she has been threatened that she is supporting a [potential] candidate. She simply wanted members to know that in case somebody attacked or harmed her. She did not disclose who is threatening her.”

Writing on the forum, Stambuli told fellow former MPs that the platform was public and should be considered so because the members were public figures.

He said: “What she [Callista] did was breaking news and let us not consider it a leak. This is a public forum and public it shall remain. Let us move on. The objective of the statement is meant that the statement is in public eye. If you read the statement, she has a concern and wanted us to know her predicament for our information and that of the public. Once again, this forum is public and public it shall remain.”

Other messages The Nation has seen on the group show several members applauding Callista for her courage to come out in the open on the leadership issue in DPP.

One former MP responded: “Chemwali [sister] may the Almighty be with you. That’s the progressive thinking the DPP should embrace, not kuthana! Kuthana lero?”

To this, Callista responded: “Eti achimwene kuthana lero?”

Good Kayira, former Mzuzu City legislator on DPP ticket, also thanked Callista for her the courageous statement.

In a telephone interview on Wednesday, Kayira confirmed writing on the forum, saying he was surprised it was from Callista.

He said: “I have thanked her for her honesty. I did not expect that coming from her being from the Mutharika family.”

However, some members bemoaned the leakage of the discussion to the public while others questioned the originality of the message.

But one former MP who also served as Cabinet minister told the grouping: “It is authentic… I have spoken to her. Hon Callista is the late HE Mutharika’s widow… Can you Hon members observe the timing of the statement!”

Some MPs believed that the leak was good considering that there were some threats, saying: “…this leak is to her advantage… If we sweep the allegations as serious as they are won’t help matters… We all know whatever we say here is no secret at all…

“Now that the world has known the threats it is good news… Those looking for a running mate can press a right button in her… Such courageous people are rare to be found… Thumbs up.”

But presidential press secretary and spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said yesterday Mutharika will lead DPP in the elections.

Commenting on Callista’s sentiments, political analyst Ernest Thindwa said at the onset it should be understood that the former first lady was simply expressing her opinion, probably based on her objective assessment of the situation in the governing party.

He observed that Chilima’s politics was different from that exhibited by most politicians in the country, stating that at the moment, Chilima’s political style was endearing him to the middle class and the youth.

Said Thindwa: “Chilima is a lone voice in the wilderness. He practises politics that attract the growing middle class. His presence is very critical for the Central Region votes which DPP does not have.

“Beyond the Central Region and middle class, Chilima fails to appeal to the larger ethnic and regional politics that is very decisive in Malawi politics. Chilima would be decisive as a running mate.”

He said he does not think the DPP would allow anyone to challenge Mutharika during the convention and that any challenger at the convention would be a mere token because conventions are staged and presidential candidates are decided before the convention.

Mutharika picked Chilima, then Airtel Malawi managing director, as his running mate in February 2014. The pair campaigned from the opposition and wrestled power from then president Joyce Banda and her People’s Party (PP).

Mutharika said he settled for Chilima from a possible list of 40 potential running mates because he was decisive and assertive.

PAC, Treasury differ