Joyce Banda to contest in 2019
Former head of State Joyce Banda Sunday said she will contest as presidential candidate for the People’s Party (PP) in the May 21 2019 presidential election.
Banda, popularly known as JB, said this during a political rally held at Nyambadwe Primary School ground in Blantyre.
JB also uttered the remarks at Mpachika Primary School Ground in Zomba-Ntonya Constituency on Saturday.
JB said democracy dictates that the party should hold a convention where she will contest for the position of leader.
She was, however, quick to point out that she would follow what people say.
“When I came back home on April 28 this year, journalists in the country asked me a lot of questions, one of them [questions] being whether I would contest [as presidential candidate] in the May 2019 elections. Here is my answer: I have left it in the hands of you, Malawians. If you vote for me during the forthcoming party convention, then I will contest as PP’s torchbearer in next year’s polls,” JB said.
In April 2012, JB ascended to the high office of president in line with provisions of the country’s Constitution following the death of Bingu wa Mutharika.
However, she lost heavily to the incumbent, who stood on a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket in the May 2014 Tripartite Elections.
Asked about PP’s chances of getting back to the State House, party secretary general, Ibrahim Matola, said divisions rocking the DPP make the political field exciting.
“I cannot exactly tell you the strategies we have put in place [as] that can only be revealed when we launch our manifesto. We closed the 2014 chapter; we are no longer talking about it now [as] we are focused on 2019. The good thing is the cracks and divisions in DPP; many things are being revealed and you are going to hear more and more on how they rigged [the election] and how they assisted [President] Peter Mutharika to ascent to power,” he said.
The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has since described the development as welcome, saying Malawians have a chance to cast their net wide on the issue of leader come 2019.
“We are neither shaken nor surprised; actually, it is a democratic thing to do. We, as MCP, know that we are the only hope for Malawians in regards to the 2019 elections,” said MCP publicity secretary, Reverend Maurice Munthali, Sunday.
Government spokesperson, Nicholas Dausi, Sunday welcomed JB’s candidature.
“I can assure you that DPP is not shaken; there can be as many presidential candidates as they wish. In 2014, we had over 10 contestants and Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika beat them all. This time again, we will beat them fair and square,” he said.
JB’s declaration comes at a time the country is 11 months away from the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
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