Callista’s comments split political minds

Former first lady Callitsa Mutharika’s open support for Vice-President Saulos Chilima to become DPP’s presidential candidate for the 2019 elections has split political minds, with some saying the comments signify deep intra-party problems in the DPP while others said what she said was nothing but a mere opinion.

In a WhatsApp comment on former legislators’ forum on Wednesday Callista openly supported Chilima to become the ruling party’s presidential candidate in 2019, saying he was the only hope for the country despite that President Peter Mutharika declared himself the party’s presidential candidate.

In interviews with Weekend Nation yesterday, several political commentators expressed their opinions on the views of the widow of the former president Bingu wa Mutharika.

In their views, they gave mixed reactions to the impact her statement would have on the  party or future of the party. One DPP insider told Weekend Nation that Callista’s open support for  Chilima would split the party as some members would feel time was ripe for the DPP to change its leadership.

Another DPP member who did not want to be mentioned said DPP never saw this coming. ‘‘The problem is that DPP has made minnows to be the party’s strategists. These minnows have disfranchised the party to the level that people do not believe in the leadership anymore.”

Mzuzu-based political commentator Emily Mkamanga said Callista was free to make her own opinion, which she said could attract negative reactions from other members of the party.

“Her opinion might divide the party somehow,” said Mkamanga.

She, however, said Callista’s opinion might not be significant because Chilima does not hold a position in the party.

Mkamanga also said Callista’s endorsement of Chilima might force the Vice-President to deny his ambitions of becoming the president of Malawi for fear of annoying some people in the party.

Another political commentator Humphrey Mvula observed that Callista was not an ordinary person in the country’s political platform as well as in the DPP. He said for her to use the WhatsApp channel to communicate her views to the leadership means that there is lack of intraparty communication in the party.

“At the moment, DPP is using policies that were formulated during Bingu wa Mutharika’s time. And for someone who was close to Bingu to chose to speak through other channels shows that there is no democracy in the party,” he said.

Mvula said the ‘serious’ problems in DPP were that most positions were filled by people who were just appointed, hence their allegiance was more to the appointing officer than to the party.

“The party is divided because of limited intraparty democracy,” he said.

But Mvula urged Chilima  to  make his position known; otherwise, his style of politics—of putting his cards close to the chest—would put some individuals that have come out to support him at risk.

“He must understand that individuals have taken a risk on his behalf,” he said.

But a member of the Political Scientists Association of Malawi, Patricia Khonje observed that Callista’s opinion has no implication on the DPP leadership because it was only her personal view.

“Her opinion has no scientific basis, so it would be difficult to tell whether her comments would have any impact on the DPP leadership,” she said.

But Khonje said Chilima, like anyone else in the party, stands a chance of leading the party as at the moment it was everybody’s game, since, apart from President Mutharika, no one has come forward to compete against the party president.

Khonje’s sentiments were supported by another member of the Political Scientists Association of Malawi Vincent Kondowe who added that if the party was to select leaders on merit, Chilima stood a better chance.

Kondowe said Callista’s open support for one candidate against another in a party would lead to disunity in the party. He advised Chilima to remain silent on this matter, saying: “It is safe for Chilima to keep quiet.”

In an interview with Capital Radio yesterday, Callista said she believes Chilima has what it takes to lead the DPP.

“I think he [Chilima] has the capacity, is visionary and youthful. He is the right person.Time will come when not just me, but many in the DPP, will support him,” she said.

Asked why she is not supporting President Peter Mutharika, who is her in-law, Callista said: “Should I be supporting somebody just because he is my family?”

But Callista, who said Chilima was the country’s hope for a better future, said she has not him over this matter.

“I have not met him at all, but as I said, I believe he is the right person to lead the party,” she said.

Presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani yesterday maintained that Mutharika will lead the DPP in the elections.

“I do not have a comment, apart from reiterating that President Mutharika will lead the DPP,” he said.n