‘I know many wanted the position but I can only select one person. Some of you have said lots of things that ‘If I’m not selected this, this and that….’ That’s not the right attitude. Let’s work together with Dr Ansah and myself until we win the coming election. And I’m sure together, we shall win this election because yes, we are going to win.’
By Cathy Maulidi:
Former president Peter Mutharika had a rapturous welcome to Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) Friday as he arrived to present his nomination papers to Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) for the September 16 elections.
However, the emotions got split soon afterwards in the auditorium when he announced former justice and Mec chairperson Jane Ansah as his runningmate.
Standing in the front of the hall, Mutharika announced, “It is my pleasure to announce that my running mate is Dr Jane Ansah.”
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Immediately, some people in the hall roared, stood and clapped in approval.
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But there also was a section that looked downcast, including among the senior ranks in the party.
DPP’s vice president for the central region Alfred Gangata, for Eastern Region Bright Msaka, for Southern Region Joseph Mwanamvekha and for Northern Region Jappie Mhango sat together, APM-branded caps on their heads and almost hiding their fallen faces as they fiddled with their phones.
National Organising Secretary Sameer Suleman sat next to Jappie and looked like he was dozing off.
In his statement after submitting his papers, Mutharika said he had settled for Ansah because she is matured, experienced, educated and a God-fearing woman.
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“She is someone who has experience to assist me in running this country. She is someone who loves this country but also somebody who is God-fearing,” Mutharika said.
He further said Ansah makes the best fit due to her experience as a judge and someone whom he said presided over “a credible election”.
Mutharika further said he has shared a good working relationship with Ansah from back when he worked as minister in the administration of Bingu wa Mutharika (2004 and 2012).
Mutharika acknowledged that some would be unhappy with his decision.
“I know many wanted the position but I can only select one person. Some of you have said lots of things that if ‘I’m not selected this and that…. That’s not the right attitude.
“Let’s work together with Dr Ansah and myself until we win the coming election. And I’m sure together, we shall win this election because yes, we are going to win,” Mutharika said.
On the country’s situation, Mutharika said everyone knows that “Malawi needs to be delivered from evil”.
“This is the evil we feared most. We all know that this country needs to be rescued.
“This suffering of Malawians cannot continue. We cannot be suffering like slaves in our own country,” he said.
He added that: “we must free the people. And yes, I hear God speak from the windows of heaven, ‘Let my people go!’
“You and I are the people to save this country from destruction. If not us, who will do it? If not now, when?” Mutharika said.
After receiving Mutharika’s submission, Mec Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said the papers were approved.
“The papers have been approved but this is just a preliminary scrutiny, a proper scrutiny will be done after the whole process and if the paper will be found wanting, Mec shall communicate,” she said.
Speaking after the event, Gangata said he was in support of Mutharika’s choice.
“I’m not sad at all. We are all DPP; we are one DPP and our enemy is MCP. We have to work together to win this election,” Gangata said.
Pressed whether he was indeed happy or faking it, Gangata said: “Maybe if it was one of the vice presidents [chosen as running mate], I could have questioned why not me but Ansah is a neutral person and I’m okay about it.”
Mwanamvekha also said he approved the choice.
DPP’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba who was also spotted busy on the phone while others were celebrating Ansah’s announcement told Times TV that he was delighted with the decision.
“We are happy as DPP. Jane Ansah is DPP and we feel she is going to help us win this election. DPP will win, mark my word,” Namalomba said.
In his comment, political analyst Wonder Mkutche said since DPP had said it would only pick a running mate from the party, Ansah is a proper fit.
“Peter Mutharika commands huge respect within the ranks of DPP. It is highly unlikely that some will openly rebel against his decision. The party will move forward in unity,” Mkutche said.
However, another political analyst George Phiri has described Ansah as not a good choice.
“With all due respect, Jane Ansah is not generally Malawi’s exciting presidential running mate; hence, not a good decision!
“Division in the DPP is inevitable, and most likely to beginning today. And this has the likelihood to finish the party. The general populace is not ready for Dr. Jane Ansah for Malawi’s high office,” Phiri said.
As Mutharika arrived at the event, thousands of supporters from DPP and also Aford and National Democratic Party (NDP) with whom DPP is in an alliance escorted him to the auditorium.
Mutharika arrived in a tinted vehicle together with former first lady Gertrude Mutharika. He just lowered the window to wave his supporters.
Unlike on the first day of nomination paper presentations, the auditorium was full such that many people remained outside, following the proceedings from big screens placed outside the hall.
Ansah hails from Ntcheu. Boasting over 40 years of experience in the legal field, she was called to the Bar in 1978.
She was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Malawi in 1997 by president Bakili Muluzi.
She served as Malawi’s first and only female Attorney General between 2006 and 2011 on appointment by president Bingu wa Mutharika.
In 2008, she was elevated to the professional status of Senior Counsel.
In 2011, she was promoted and appointed as Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal. Then she was the only serving female Justice of Appeal in the Supreme Court.
She also holds three law degrees: an LLB from the University of Malawi as well as a Masters degree and a doctorate both in international human rights law from University of Nottingham.
She served as Mec chairperson and presided over the May 2019 elections.
It was probably during these elections that Ansah hogged particular limelight.
Against widespread discontent as to the integrity of the elections and demand for her resignation as Mec chair, Ansah insisted that the elections body had delivered credible poll in which Mutharika was declared winner.
Amid protracted protests demanding her resignation, she refused to step down.
However, the Constitutional Court nullified the presidential vote for being marred with irregularities, leading to a rerun in June 2020 that was ultimately won by President Lazarus Chakwera.
