The prospect of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ‘financier’, Sidik Mia, of becoming Malawi Vice President in 2019 are as good as over.
Published reports indicate that MCP President Lazarus Chakwera has been having secret talks with Saulos Chilima’s UTM and Peoples Party (PP) of former Malawi President Joyce Banda.
These talks, confirmed by MCP’s publicity secretary, Maurice Munthali, aim at forging a formidable electoral alliance that could dislodge President Peter Mutharika and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2019 Tripartite Elections.
“Discussions have been taking place where president Chakwera has met leaders of PP and UTM. Although these talks are yet to reach maturity stage, we are currently not ruling out a possible electoral partnership with one or both parties” Munthali told one of the local papers.
Munthali said MCP will discuss the electoral alliance further when the party’s National Executive Committee meets.
The alliance will mark the beginning of an end for Sidik Mia who inside sources claim Chakwera had convinced to join MCP on the prospect being a running mate in 2019 presidential race.
“Sidik Mia’s prospects of becoming Chakwera’s running mate are as good as over as Chakwera himself could end up becoming Saulos Chilima’s running mate if the talks materialize”, said one of the country’s political analysts, Alex Chikanga.
According to Chikanga, Mia can only hope of becoming Deputy Vice President. He, however, said that appointment is at the prerogative of the President and that Mia is not one known to take such a risk.
Chikanga observed that it will be interesting to see how Chakwerab convinces Chilima to become a running mate on MCP’s ticket when Vice President Chilima reportedly ditched the ruling party because he could not accept any position than that of a DPP’s torchbearer for 2019.
Mia, who is reportedly bankrolling MCP and Chakwera’s 2019 electoral campaign, has on several occasions, expressed interests for the the vice presidency.
With these development, Chikanga predicts that cracks are likely to emerge in both MCP and UTM should Chakwera succeed in convincing Chilima or Joyce Banda to join forces and hints at Mia becoming disgruntled where he would end up jumping ships.
Meanwhile, emerging reports indicate that Sidik Mia has already started counting his cards on the prospect of joining DPP where he has reportedly been promised the running mate mantle.
Mia brushed off the claims, saying he was loyal to MCP and Chakwera. But is he? Only time will tell, said Chikanga.
