By Vincent Gunde

Lilongwe, Malawi – Former President and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has reiterated that his run for the presidency is not for personal benefit or glory, but to “rescue” the nation.

Speaking during a nationwide campaign tour that recently brought him to Lilongwe, Mutharika echoed the sentiment he expressed upon submitting his nomination papers on July 25th. He stated his intention to work with all Malawians to free the country from what he describes as poor leadership that has brought “untold pain and sufferings” to millions.

Writing on his official Facebook page, Mutharika framed his campaign as a quest to liberate Malawi from a slide into a “one-party state and dictatorship.” He pointed to the overwhelming welcome he received in Lilongwe as a sign of the country’s desire for a “great return to proven leadership.”

He advised those with doubts to “put them aside,” urging them to “be on the right side of history” and align with the “winning team” of the DPP.

Mutharika also assured supporters that while his running mate, Justice Dr. Jane Ansah SC, alliance partners, and the party machinery have been running the campaign, he has been equally busy preparing governance measures for deployment upon assuming office.

“Those measures are now ready and in place as we embark on this historic mission of liberating the country from the shackles of MCP dictatorship,” Mutharika wrote.

In a related online commentary, a UTM supporter, Madda Chinguwo, predicted on Facebook that Professor Mutharika would be sworn in on September 20th to take over from incumbent President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.

Chinguwo claimed that while in an ideal world Malawians would vote for Dr. Dalitso Kabambe, they “vote with their hearts,” noting Mutharika’s enduring popularity regardless of his age. He further alleged that the ruling MCP could only cling to power through a “prepared rigging scheme,” and cannot win the September 16th elections “cleanly.”