The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has launched a strong rebuke against United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi, accusing him of attacking the party leadership over his failure to consider him as running mate to Peter Mutharika.
This is on the heels of Muluzi’s recent speech at one of his rallies, where he said the DPP’s presidential running mate, Justice Jane Ansah, is incapable because she has a bad reputation over her handling of the disputed 2019 elections when she served as Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson.
In a statement issued by presidential spokesperson and national publicity secretary Shadric Namalomba, the DPP expressed surprise that Muluzi had chosen to target the opposition party, particularly Ansah rather than hold President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration accountable for what it described as “failures” in governance.
“Dr. Ansah is a distinguished legal scholar and retired judge, who has served with integrity, excellence, and patriotism as a Justice on the Supreme Court of Appeal,” Namalomba stated. “It is a fact that Mr. Atupele Muluzi’s father and former president, Bakili Muluzi, had complete faith in Ansah’s capabilities, appointing her as a High Court Judge. Mr. Muluzi’s attempts to diminish her now are hypocritical and dishonourable, tarnishing the respect and statesmanship his father displayed.”
The DPP believes Muluzi’s hostility stems from frustration after failing to be chosen as running mate to former president Mutharika. I
It is public knowledge that without any notable political achievements of his own, he had hoped to ride to the presidency through being chosen as a running mate to His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. When this aspiration was not fulfilled, he has resorted to a campaign of slander, animosity, and personal attacks,” says the party.
The statement further suggested that Muluzi’s stance may have been influenced by “recent alliance talks” with Chakwera, claiming he now appears to act in the president’s interests despite having, and urged him to stop the “derogatory comments.”
“As for Mr Atupele Muluzi, we specifically request him to immediately stop making derogatory comments towards individuals, particularly our party leaders, based on their age or gender,” it added.
While emphasising respect for former president Bakili Muluzi and the historic ties between the DPP and UDF, Namalomba said the party will continue to focus on solutions to “restore the nation’s pride, economic stability, and prosperity.”
