By Jonah Pankuku:
The former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says their leader Peter Mutharika will go unopposed because his capabilities are already tested and proven.
It claims Mutharika possesses the magic wand to transform the country’s economic fortunes.
Friday, chairperson for the party’s convention organising committee, George Chaponda told journalists that preparations ahead of tomorrow’s elective conference at Comesa Hall in Blantyre are almost over.
“Professor Peter Mutharika, our leader will go unopposed because of his previous record. He is the person who will save the people from the current situation. He is the only one who can resuscitate the economy. The only person who can do that is none other than him,” Chaponda said.
Among those to go unopposed include Jappie Mhango on the position of Vice President for the Northern Region, Edgar Tembo on Treasurer General, Chifundo Makande as Campaign Director and Symon Vuwa Kaunda as Director of Logistics.
However, Chaponda, who is the current Vice President of the party in Southern Region, faces competition from former Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha.
Loney Phiri is challenging Bright Msaka on the party’s vice president for the Eastern Region.
The battle for the Central Region vice president post is between incumbent Alfred Gangata and Paul Gadama, who previously harboured presidential ambitions.
Former Inspector General of Police, Peter Mukhitho is challenging Clement Mwale on the secretary general position.
Another battle for power is between Mary Navicha and former Malawi Revenue Authority deputy commissioner general, Rosa Mbilizi who are eyeing the position of national director of women.
The position of director of elections has Nsanje Lalanje MP, Gladys Ganda and former Malawi Electoral Commission commissioner, Jean Mathanga while Chimwemwe Chipungu faces Sameer Suleman on national organising secretary role.
DPP’s Publicity Secretary, Shadric Namalomba indicated that at least K500 million will be used during the convention that will see 2650 delegates in attending.
University of Malawi Department of Politics and Governance associate professor Boniface Dulani said the party to go beyond the convention and rebrand fully with sound economic vision and robust leadership team if it wants to genuinely wrestle power away from the governing Tonse Alliance.
“It is not enough, in my view, for the DPP to think they can win simply because the MCP-led Tonse Alliance has failed in many areas. Given that the DPP itself was booted out for failing, it has to show it is a changed party and that they have learnt the lessons from the mistakes made during their time in office,” Dulani said.
Political scientist Ernest Thindwa said the party should offer Malawians an appealing social economic programme anchored not on mere slogans and widely desirable outcomes but which clearly defines Malawi’s development challenges.
“While certain votes are relatively fixed for both DPP as the biggest opposition party and MCP as an incumbent administration on the basis of chronic and agonising voting patterns informed by parochial identities, a clear and measurable plan of action for the proposed socio-economic programme has the potential to win DPP decisive votes from the neutrals or the undecided,” Thindwa said.
The DPP’s convention comes a week after the governing MCP held its convention at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe as parties gear up for next year’s general elections.
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