Mutharika, Kalirani say DPP won’t be intimidated: Road to Malawi 2014 polls

Interim leader of Malawi opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Peter Mutharika said he will go all the way to seek nomination from his party officials at the forthcoming convention and if elected, he will run for presidency in 2014, saying he will not be intimidated with arrests or any tactics to derail his campaign.

Speaking to supporters in the central region district of Ntchisi and Dowa where he addressed whistle stop rallies, Mutharika who is answering treason charges, said the PP government under the Presidency of Joyce Banda was making him and the DPP stronger and popular by blocking his political meeting through Police orders.

Earlier Police had stopped Mutharika from using his motorcade which had amber light ands siren- priviledges that are used by a Head of State of the Vice President.

But Mutharika said he would not be intimidated by anybody because he was a free man and that PP tactics to destabilize the former ruling party would not work.

Mutharika and Kalirani at Mponela in Dowa

“I can tell you that myself Peter Mutharika, DPP officials and others who are the target of this government, we are more resolved to fight the injustices and dictatorial tendencies being perpetrated by the PP Government,” he said.

Speaking at Mponela, in Dowa, DPP’s vice president Dr Jean Kalilani said PP government is “abusing police” to silence DPP, saying “but they don’t know that they are actually making us stronger and popular”.

The DPP is scheduled to hold its national convention to take place from 17 to 19 April 2013.

Currently, Mutharika and Speaker of Parliament, Henry Chimunthu Banda are the only party’s presidential candidates at the convention.