Mutharika, Jappie set to gounopposed at DPP indaba
Democratic Progressive Party ( D P P ) president Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM) and vice-president (North) Jappie Mhango are set to go unopposed at the party’s elective convention slated for August 17 and 18 2024 in Blantyre.
D P P c o n v e n t i o n chairper son George Chaponda said at a press briefing yesterday that APM is the only one who has submitted nomination papers for the position of party president.
He said Mutharika has already been endorsed by several party members as the DPP presidential candidate for the 2025 General Elections.
“Mutharika has a proven record and we believe that his vision is crucial to our party’s success and the country’s progress,” said Chaponda.
He said the party has received over 100 nominations for various positions and the candidates will be vetted before the announcement of a final list.
From the l i s t of nominations, Mhango has no competition for the position of vice-president for the North.
On the other hand, Chaponda is facing c o m p e t i t i o n f r o m Chiradzulu South legislator Joseph Mwanamvekha for the position of vice-president (South) while Machinga Likwenu legislator Bright Msaka will tussle with Zomba Chingale lawmaker Lonnie Chijere Phiri for the position of vice-president (East).
For vice-president (Centre), incumbent Alfred Gangata is set to battle it out with former DPP presidential hopeful Paul Gadama while the battle for DPP secretary general is between incumbent Clement Mwale and former Police Inspector General Peter Mukhito, who was also Peter Mutharika’s chief of staff during his presidency.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said the party will take deliberate steps to ensure that positions are evenly shared across the four regions and that women are also well-represented in the national governing council.
With Mutharika set to go unopposed, Malawians are set for a rematch with President Lazarus Chakwera who also secured his party’s endorsement at the Malawi Congress Party convention last week without any competition.
Commenting earlier on the prospects of Mutharika not facing competition, political scientist Henry Chingaipe noted that Mutharika did face contenders, but he effectively pushed them out.
He singled out former Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa and former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Dalitso Kabambe as two individuals who were publicly known to have intentions to contest for president of DPP.
“With Nankhumwa and Kabambe out, the other contenders such as incumbent Leader of Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda are so close to APM politically that it really doesn’t matter for them. They will, as before, get to be the pragmatic power holders,” he said.
On his part, University of Malawi political scientist Boniface Dulani said the Chakwera- Mutharika rematch shows how distant the youth are from top political positions even when they constitute a large percentage of voters.
Meanwhile, the budget for the convention—which will be held at Comesa Hall in Blantyre with over 2 600 delegates expected to attend—has been pegged at K500 million.
The DPP has also invited opposition political parties, including UTM Party, Alliance for Democracy and United Democratic Front to the indaba.
