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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 26, 2004

13 vie for Malawi presidency

At least 13 presidential aspirants have started presenting their nomination papers to the independent Malawi Electoral Commission Tuesday ahead of the scheduled May 18 general elections.


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At least 13 presidential aspirants have started presenting their nomination papers to the independent Malawi Electoral Commission Tuesday ahead of the scheduled May 18 general elections.

First to present his papers was economist Bingu wa Mutharika, the joint presidential candidate for the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) and the second opposition Alliance for Democracy (AFORD). He told Xinhua for him victory was not a question of "if" but "when."

"I fell great, this is a big moment and I can smell victory," he said.

But wa Mutharika, whose unilateral appointment by out-going President Bakili Muluzi after failing to secure a further term in office split the ruling party, has to first sell himself to the county's 6 million voters among 12 other presidential candidates before earning his ticket to State House.

Notable among his main challengers will be main opposition Malawi Congress Party President John Tembo, former senior minister Brown Mpinganjira and Gwanda Chakuamba, who is standing as joint coalition president for seven opposition parties.

Mpinganjira, the former senior minister and Muluzi trusted aide who is president of the UDF break-away National Democratic Alliance (NDA), is hopeful his is the winning ticket.

"We are ready for the elections; we know there is a grueling two months ahead of us but we have a program that will see Malawi from a poverty-stricken country to a prosperous one," he said. "Malawians have the right to expect prosperity, better quality of life, food security and higher standards of education. These are things that the NDA has worked on."

Chairman of the independent Malawi Electoral Commission, Supreme Court Judge Justice James Kalaile, called on the presidential aspirants to desist from use of foul language during the grueling two months of campaign, saying foul language leads to violence.

"Political violence does not help anyone; a political party should not be popular for violent acts," he said.

Political analysts the ruling UDF party candidate is likely to carry the day.

Vice President Justin Malewezi, who quit the UDF amid the succession row, has announced he will join the presidential race as an independent presidential candidate.




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