The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) National Governing Council (NGC), which met in Mangochi Monday, has endorsed former president Peter Mutharika as torch-bearer in the 2025 presidential election.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba confirmed the development, saying the NGC wants Mutharika to lead them back into government because he has the support of Malawians.
He said those that attended the meeting unanimously endorsed Mutharika as the party’s torchbearer in the 2025 presidential election subject to a nod by the majority of the party’s delegates to its July 2024 elective conference.
“We, as NGC, have given him a nod; it is now our duty to take our decision to party supporters who will vote for him. But as an NGC this is our decision,” Namalomba said.
Commenting on his endorsement by the NGC, Mutharika, who chaired the meeting, told The Daily Times that this is an indication that people within the party are satisfied with how he ruled in the six years he was president of Malawi.
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Mutharika said he will make his decision on the matter known once he finishes consulting his closest allies.
“I am really flattered by the NGC and all other people who want me to bounce back. This is a democratic party and we will make a proper announcement at a proper time. I am happy that all our differences have been buried,” Mutharika said.
The NGC also moved the day for the party’s convention from July this year to next year.
The change, according to Mutharika, has been made to allow the party to adopt some of the constitutional changes that have been made at the NGC meeting.
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Mutharika described deliberations as fruitful, saying meeting organisers managed to bring together all groups which were holding different views.
He said those that attended the meeting agreed with resolutions that were made.
Among other things, Mutharika said the NGC has adopted recommendations made by the High Court for the DPP to have a disciplinary committee to solve party disputes that have inundated the courts.
“The Disciplinary Committee will be chaired by George Chaponda and we have balanced it, in terms of gender and youth representation. This means issues will be addressed within the party without involving the courts,” Mutharika said.
He said the party would, in December this year, hold a high-level political conference involving around 2,000 delegates to review and adopt constitutional changes that have been made regarding the number of delegates to the convention.
He said after the December extraordinary conference, the National Executive Committee of the party will be mandated to set a specific date for the elective conference within the month of July 2025.
Among other changes, DPP said the position of the office-holder of the position of secretary general of the party will no longer be elected at a convention but, rather, be appointed by the party president.
The party has also recommended that people contesting for positions in the NGC must be only those that have been in the party for not less than three years while those contesting for any other position at district, constituency or area level must be members of the party for not less than a month.
People that attended the meeting included Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa, Bright Msaka, George Chaponda, Dalitso Kabambe, Ken Msonda and Joseph Mwanamvekha.
