Muluzi accompanied by his UDF party gurus met Mutharika at the New State House in the capital Lilongwe a meeting which was chaired by former Mozambique President Joachim Chissano appointed by AU.
Deliberations of the meeting were not immediately available but the two main presidential contenders for May polls were due to address a media conference after their meeting. However, the news conference has been deferred to Saturday as the meeting will continue Saturday morning from 10am.
According to Acting Director General for State Residences, Dr. Bruce Munthali, Chissano's mission is to continue discussing peace with leaders in the country.
This is basically a consultative process with His Excellency President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika where they are dialoguing on various issues; it is also to meet other leaders in the country, said Munthali to journalists earlier in the day when Chissano had a courtesy call on Mutharika.
Basically it’s about peace building, as a country we must move forward in various issues, we want to look at issues of development, governance and others, he said.
According to Munthali the short intervals in the consultations are necessary as the country is fast approaching elections.
Earlier Chissano also met Muluzi and those privy to the talks claimed the UDF presidential candidate briefed the AU envoy concerns for lack of level playing field which is for the staging of free and fair elections.
Muluzi and his UDF team which included his running mate Clement Stambuli, George Nga Ntafu, Friday Jumbe, Harry Thomson, Lilian Patel and Jameison laid down what amounted to minimum conditions that must be met for free, fair, peaceful and credible elections.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) also attended the New State House summit. MCP president John Tembo was represented by party secretary-general Christopher Daza.
Tembo is reportedly seeking medical attention in South Africa.
The opposition want Malawi Electoral Commission to conduct and supervise the presidential poll impartially by not taking orders from the ruling party.
They are also seeking to be given equal access to the public media which the Mutharika government has turned into a propaganda tool for the ruling DPP party while demonizing the President's competitors.
Chissano, who is the current chairman of African Forum, a network of former heads of state and governments in Africa noted for upholding democratic principles, insists his missing is to facilitate dialogue and ensure the country hold peaceful general elections.
Mutharika was joined at the talks by DPP troops which included his brother and chief advisor of legal and constitutional matters, Professor Peter Mutharika.
Others were Justice Minister Henry Phoya, DPP secretary-general Henry Chimunthu-Banda and strongman Davis Katsonga.
Nyasa Times
Post published in: Uncategorized