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UDF presidential candidate Bingu Mutharika has reiterated that he will protect President Bakili Muluzi when he leaves the presidency next year.
Mutharika pledged his protection when President Bakili Muluzi introduced the new UDF executive committee at a rally in the populous Ndirande Township in Blantyre on Sunday.
“I will not allow anybody to ill-treat the president. I want Malawi to be an example of a country that respects its former leaders, unlike what it is happening in other countries,” said Mutharika.
Mutharika said he will work very closely with Muluzi when he assumes the state presidency next year.
This is second time Mutharika has pledged to protect Muluzi since he was chosen as next year’s UDF presidential candidate.
After Mutharika’s first statement, Muluzi, however, said he would not require any protection from any quarters when he steps down as president because he has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide.
Speaking earlier during Sunday’s rally, Muluzi advised the new executive to be devoted to the UDF, to work hard and stop backbiting if UDF is to maintain a good image.
“I will deal with anyone who backbites. I am the leader, the national chairman and the president of this country. If you try to undermine that you will be dealt with accordingly,” Muluzi said.
“We have in place a team that will lead the UDF to victory in 2004,” Muluzi said.
Muluzi also announced that the position of secretary general will be a full time job at the party’s national headquarters.
He said 16 more positions are yet to be filled by nominated members from areas that are not represented in the current 30 member national executive team.
At the meeting, Muluzi donated 200 metric tonnes of maize to the people of Ndirande, saying there is poverty too in the cities. He also donated beans and salt.
“I have the maize. It is my maize and I don’t get it from government reserves. It is also only Muluzi who can distribute free maize in Malawi,” Muluzi said.
Muluzi has since said he will next introduce the new executive committee in Kasungu on August 19 and later in Thyolo on August 30.
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