Former Inspector General of police, Peter Mukhito, who has turned into a professed politician after successfully competing for the position of Secretary General in the recent DPP convention has stunned members of his political party by subconsciously endorsing the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) without apology.
Speaking at a DPP rally at Katoto Ground in Mzuzu city, Mukhito highlighted that MCP is their beloved party, a statement that was quickly inferred as a tongue twist blunder, but people were left shocked when despite a feeder that he had made a blunder and should talk it away, Mukhito lived to his forte of rendering no apology. “Mukhito sapepesa” remarks once spoken by DPP’s founder, Bingu wa Mutharika echoed in people’s minds thereafter transcending into social media comments by spectators of the rally: Mukhito sapepesa, commentators wrote.
The move has left other DPP officials fuming, with many demanding that Mukhito should issue a public apology saying Mukhito’s endorsement of MCP is blatant and huge betrayal of the party. While Mutharika has intimated his running bid for 2025 elections, it remains to be seen whether he will keep Mukhito, who is the DPP’s Secretary General closer to his political tools ahead of the anticipated grueling campaign.
Some DPP officials are drawing parallels between Mukhito’s endorsement of the MCP and that of DPP Member of Parliament Glady’s Ganda who was removed as DPP Campaign Director immediately after endorsing the MCP’s President Lazarus Chakwera some two weeks ago.
They argue that if Ganda was shifted for praising the State President who is the MCP leader and torchbearer in the upcoming 2025 elections, Mukhito should face similar consequences.
Shire Times inhouse political analyst Joseph Masina has argued that the move by two notable DPP officials who have been recently elected at the party’s convention “highlights how President Chakwera’s leadership of the country is prompting embedded admiration in the hearts of the DPP politician whose own party is, despite being in opposition, purging its members with undemocratic and barbaric hammer placed in the hands of the party founder’s brother – Mutharika”.
