Malawi: Party Endorses Former President Peter Mutharika As Torchbearer For 2025

The National Governing Council (NGC) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has endorsed former Malawi President Peter Mutharika as the party’s torchbearer in the 2025 presidential elections.

The 82-year-old who ruled Malawi from May 31, 2014 to June 28, 2020 has however said he will be reviewing the calls for him to contest.

It was recommended by the members that Mutharika should be in push for presidency because he can provide solutions to the challenges which Malawians are facing.

‘’I am obviously happy for their stand but I will let the nation know of my decision later on. We are glad that we are now rebuilding because people are tired of the Lazarus Chakwera led government,’’ he said.

Mutharika said the DPP convention has been rescheduled for July next year in order for the party to adopt constitutional changes that have been made during today’s NGC meeting.

In December this year the DPP will hold a high-level political conference to review and adopt the constitutional changes that have been made regarding the number of delegates to the convention.

The said endorsement however comes when about five other people have shown interest to take over the mantle of the party.

They include former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Dalitso Kabambe, Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa, former minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha and Bright Msaka who worked during Mutharika’s leadership as Justice Minister.

The DPP is an offshoot of the United Democratic Front party.  The UDF was formed by Muluzi and came to power in 1994. After Muluzi’s two terms were over, Bingu wa Mutharika (Peter’s brother) succeeded him as head of the party and nation. However, Muluzi remained involved in running the party; therefore, Mutharika formed his own party, the DPP, in early 2005.

Many UDF members defected to the DPP which led before Peter Mutharika won in 2014 two years after Bingu died following a heart attack, a timeframe in which Joyce Banda, then vice President now led the nation through her Peoples Party.