Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) politician Joseph Mwanamvekha says he has relinquished his presidential ambitions ahead of the September 16 2025 General Election.

He made his position known in an interview yesterday, a day after DPP president Peter Mutharika announced at a rally in Blantyre on Sunday that he would be the party’s torchbearer in the elections.

The Chiradzulu South lawmaker said he had earlier declared interest to stand on the DPP presidential ticket on the basis that Mutharika had previously indicated that he would not contest for the position.

Said Mwanamvekha: “He [Mutharika] is like a father and mentor to me. I am who I am today as Mwanamvekha because of Mutharika. So, I would not want to fight the party president by going against him at the elective convention.”

Mwanamvekha: I will contest for the position of DPP vice-president for the South

The former minister of Finance said instead he would vie for the position of vice-president during the forthcoming convention

“There is a convention that is coming. It is not a secret and I already declared my interest. I will contest for the position of DPP vice-president for the South,” he said.

Mwanamvekha, alongside former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Dalitso Kabambe, businessperson Paul Gadama, Prophet David Mbewe and fired DPP vice-president responsible for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa had expressed interest to vie for the party’s presidency.

Nankhumwa has since formed People’s Development Party as did Mbewe who registered the Liberation for Economic Freedom Party.

DPP vice-president responsible for the Eastern Region Bright Msaka, who had previously also declared his ambitions to take over from Mutharika, yesterday refused to comment, saying he has already given his standing on the matter.

“I will not comment because I already stated my position on this matter in a statement issued about four months ago,” he said.

Gadama and Kabambe did not respond to our calls and questionnaires sent via WhatsApp.

Reacting to the developments, political and governance pundit Victor Chipofya said Mutharika is legally permitted to contest as DPP president but questioned if he is what is best for the country at the moment.

He further said Mwanamvekha also has the right to pull out of the presidential race, but said the development demonstrates a lack of intraparty democracy within the DPP.

Mutharika, who lost the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election in June 2020, told a rally on Sunday in Blantyre that after consulting his family, he has resolved to give another shot at the country’s presidency.

The post Mwanamvekha out of DPP race first appeared on Nation Online.

The post Mwanamvekha out of DPP race appeared first on Nation Online.