Mutharika calls Chilima supporters disgruntled

President Peter Mutharika yesterday took a swipe at DPP members pushing for the candidacy of Vice-President Saulos Chilima in the 2019 elections, calling them disgruntled politicians.

Speaking in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Ntchema in Chiradzulu where he conducted a rally, Mutharika reiterated the claim that the Chilima faction is rising against him either because he did not put some of them in ministerial positions or award them contracts for government projects.

The visibly charged Mutharika challenged those who want to contest against him at the DPP convention planned for this month to avail themselves at the indaba. He reiterated that he will have a landslide victory.

He said: “I know they are rebelling against me because I did not give them ministerial positions while some want to be dubiously awarded government contracts.

“They want me to be giving them money, but I cannot do that. No wonder they now call me a bad person, but I am not worried. When Bingu died in 2012 a lot of people very close to us left, but we survived because of the support we have from the people at the grass roots.”

On the planned DPP convention, Mutharika challenged those interested to contest for positions in the party’s national governing council (NGC) to come forward, adding that all positions will be open for grabs.

Speaking during the rally, both DPP secretary general Greselder Jeffrey and regional governor (South) Charles Mchacha remained unmoved on calls for the two to apologise for their remarks against former first lady Callista Mutharika and Mulanje West parliamentarian Patricia Kaliati respectively.

During a similar meeting in Mulanje last Saturday, the two ridiculed the former first lady, Kaliati and some members of the Chilima Movement, attracting criticism from different quarters.

Earlier, President Mutharika toured construction works at Phalombe District hospital, Chiradzulu Community College and the Zomba-Jail Road.