By Isaac Salima:
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika Sunday hit out at some of the party’s recently fired members, and those that have left of their own volition, likening them to the biblical Judas Iscariot and Pharisees.
Mutharika said this when he addressed a mammoth crowd at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre.
Few months ago, DPP fired 11 members, including its former vice president for the Southern Region Kondwani Nankhumwa and secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey, accusing them of bringing confusion to the party.
Nankhumwa went on to form his own Peoples Development Party while others, notably Kenneth Msonda, joined the governing Malawi Congress Party.
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In his speech, Mutharika took time to rebuke some of them, saying they were disobedient—just like the Pharisees who criticised Jesus Christ for not obeying Mosaic Law.
“Now the party is united because we got rid of these Pharisees. We do not have camps and the party is poised to win next year’s elections,” Mutharika said.
Mutharika, who arrived at the venue in the company of supporters who had been waiting for him in strategic positions, said the country’s economy is in bad shape.
He pledged to beat it into shape within two years if voted for at the party’s convention and subsequently being elected into power.
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“I will reverse the economy in two years. I did this in 2014, when we came back into power at the time of Cashgate. But now that the problems are huge, I cannot fix them in a year,” he said.
Mutharika also reaffirmed his earlier stand that he would contest at the party’s convention, which is slated for July this year.
“I would like to let you know that I will contest at the July convention and, if I win, I will vie for the presidency in next year’s elections and I will make it [to the State House],” Mutharika said.
He then asked party followers to register for national identity cards so that they can register as voters during the September 2024 Malawi Electoral Commission-facilitated voter registration exercise and vote in the September 16 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
“The party is still strong and nobody has left it. Instead many people have joined us because this government has failed. I told you not to vote for this government but you did not listen to me. Now do not repeat the mistake next year,” he said.
Mutharika also accused the governing Malawi Congress Party of taking Malawians back to the one party era.
“You heard what happened in Lilongwe when some of our members were beaten up. Until now, nobody has been arrested and I ask the President [Lazarus Chakwera] to assure Malawians that everyone is free to campaign anywhere in the country and that those who assaulted our supporters should be arrested,” he said.
Almost all speakers on the day lamented economic challenges that have beset the country.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba later told The Daily Times that Malawians are passing through difficult times and that they cannot vote for the current administration again.
Thyolo Thava Member of Parliament Mary Navicha said they, as parliamentarians, errored by amending electoral laws so that elections could be held next year.
“Malawians are sailing through troubled waters, such that elections should have been held on May 20 this year,” she said.
