By Isaac Salima:
United Democratic Front (UDF) leader Atupele Muluzi has asked Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential aspirant Peter Mutharika (APM) not to contest in the September 16 Presidential Election, claiming that he is old and should rest.
In the June 23, 2020 court-ordered presidential election, Mutharika’s DPP partnered with UDF’s Atupele, resulting in a marriage of convenience when Mutharika chose Atupele as running mate.
The pair stood against Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera, who is the incumbent State President, and his running mate Saulos Chilima (now deceased) of UTM Party under the banner of the Tonse Alliance.
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However, Muluzi shocked political observers yesterday when, during a whistlestop tour of Ntaja Trading Centre in Machinga District, he called out his former political bedfellow.
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“This is the [right] time and we should not go back. And to Dr Mutharika, who I respect, he is old and should rest. This is time for young people,” Muluzi said amid chants from his supporters.
However, Atupele’s remarks have not gone down well with the DPP, which has warned him against peddling into the affairs of other parties.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba described Muluzi as a “political entrepreneur and spent force”.
“Why is he busy talking about DPP at his rally? He is just a political entrepreneur who only appears during elections to convince people to vote him. He is someone who does not understand what people are going through. He should focus on his party. Where was he when people were suffering in this country?
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“He is someone who abandoned his own party after elections and he now comes and says our leader is old. He does not appreciate people’s plight. Even his own MPs want Mutharika,” Namalomba said.
Last week, Muluzi attended a Saulos Chilima memorial event at Nthungwa in Nkhata Bay District, where Chakwera was in attendance.
However, most opposition parties shunned the event and attended a ceremony which was organised by the Chilima family at Nsipe in Ntcheu District.
Commenting on the development, political analyst Wonderful Mkhutche said this could be an indication that UDF might join forces with MCP ahead of September 16 general elections.
“This particular case may lead some into suggesting that Muluzi or UDF are inclining towards MCP. DPP is one of the main contenders against MCP in the forthcoming elections. “So, if Muluzi is getting into contestation for power and is targeting Mutharika in his speech, then we can conclude that he [Muluzi] is trying to prepare the way for MCP president Lazarus Chakwera,” he said.
In the annulled 2019 Presidential Election, Muluzi contested with Frank Mwenifumbo, who now formed his National Development Party.
