APM dodges public appearance by announcing won’t attend late Annie Muluzi’s funeral
Former President Peter Mutharika says he would not be able to travel to Lilongwe to attend the funeral of former First Lady Anne Muluzi on Thursday.
In a statement, APM announced that the Democratic Progressive Part (DPP) would be represent by George Chapola while the immediate past First Lady Gertrude Mutharika will represent the former President and his family.
Anne Muluzi — wife to former President Bakili Muluzi and mother to the United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi, died of cancer on Tuesday in Nairobi where she went for treatment at Aga Khan Hospital.
The move by the DPP president is seen by observers as APM’s ruse to dodge public appearance as he recently lambasted his predecessor President Lazarus Chakwera’s administration.
He also faces what seemed to be a rebellion in his party in which several members are flighting political posters of late Bingu wa Mutharika, former Head of State and founder of the DPP.
When it came to his notice through the first post that surfaced by DPP’s estranged vice-president for the South, Kondwani Nankhumwa APM quickly issued a statement saying he was aggrieved that Nankhumwa used a picture of his late brother on the poster.
But soon after that statement several other DPP influential members, that include presidential aspirant David Mbewe, Sameer Suleman, Joyce Chitsulo, Charles Nchacha, Nicholas Dausi, secretary-general Gelzeder Jeffrey followed suit.
APM had pleaded that Nankhumwa should retract the poster saying the “purpose of this callous action is to give the impression that the late Bingu would have endorsed this individual’s candidacy”.
“As President of the DPP and head of the Mutharika family, I am distressed by this exploitation of our departed relative. I am therefore asking the individual concerned to withdraw this poster and to never post another one. On behalf of my family, I am asking this individual to respect Bingu’s soul and to let him Rest In Peace.”
Nankhumwa’s poster had a screaming headline ‘Kalikonse Mukaona in 2022’ and quotes Bingu as saying “Power is never given on a silver platter. You must fight for it”.
The other pay tribute to Bingu, saying he was “father and founder of the once mighty DPP” and that “he was a visionary leader, fatherly, God fearing and intelligent” with a hashtag: “may his soul rest in peace
David Mbewe describes himself as ‘the game changer’ saying “Change is Coming”.
The DPP has six presidential aspirants — Nankhumwa, Mbewe, Paul Gadama; Dalitso Kabambe; Bright Msaka and Joseph Mwanamveka whom APM invited for a reconciliatory meeting in November where they were asked to recognize APM’s authority and leadership as party president.
All aspirant are reported to have agreed to shelve their presidential ambitions and to stop any campaign until at a time when the convention would be announced and also to end all camps in the party.
The aspirants’ media teams were encouraged to merged into one team for the party to be led by Shadric Namalomba as the party spokesperson — but all these seemed to now spiraling into total divisions in the party.
Using Bingu’s face on the posters — rather than APM’s — seems to be an indication of these members’ rebellion of their party president, who was touted in the party’s November statement that he would be guiding all business in Parliament through Nankhumwa as Leader of Opposition.
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He has the right to do so. Are you not aware of covid? Dodging who.
Don’t write if you have nothing to say. Ok he is afraid of Nyau thugs
As long as there is Chakwera at the funeral agogo sangapite kumaliro kamba kakuti Chakwera akakhala konko. Vuto losungira mkwiyo
As someone.who is about to retire from politics, APM should try to leave some good legacy. He did the same with the funeral of late Justin Malewezi.If it is indeed due to what he said against the current president recently in Blantyre, then he is a funny character. What he said is what is already in the public domain. Maybe he is ashamed of how he said it. He should always remember that funeral is one of the few gatherings which bring together even enemies ( if he thinks he is an enemy of anyone who will be at this… Read more »
Bingu was and is a public figure. Therefore it is not right to stop people who adore him not to do like wise.
Would like to disagree with the writer biased opinion. There is no need for APM to dodge public appearance because of what other few individuals are doing in the party. We have the same in other parties. Nothing new. If there is any to dodge the public is the Tonse government who made empty promises to people. The evidence is clear pa ground sipali bwino or bio. Many are angry not with APM but the Tonse government. Therefore, APM cannot dodge the public.
It’s his freedom not to attend