Former Football Association of Malawi (FAM) president Walter Nyamilandu has rebuffed an offer from Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to be his running mate in the upcoming September 16 General Elections.
Sources within the DPP have confirmed that Mutharika approached Nyamilandu in a bid to strengthen its electoral ticket.
However, Nyamilandu, who currently serves as an executive member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa), could not divulge more on Mutharika approaching him but said for now he has opted to stay away from active politics.
“Of course, I harbour political ambitions, but I will make such a decision at the right time. This life is full of opportunities, and as a public figure, I am free to join politics whenever I choose,” Nyamilandu stated in an interview.
He expressed concerns over the internal turmoil within the DPP, saying he dislikes the “political frenzy” surrounding his name. “What I do not like is chisokonezo [chaos], whereby my name is dragged into controversy, as is happening in the DPP now. I prefer order and will never ambush people when I want something.”
Nyamilandu, who previously served on the FIFA Council, clarified that neither CAF nor FIFA restrict their members from pursuing political positions. He cited Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, who serves as Morocco’s Finance Minister while maintaining his role in global football administration.
“It is only FAM statutes that bar its members from politics. Since I hold a position at CAF, I am free to vie for any political position that I fancy, but I will only make such a decision at an appropriate time,” he explained.
Recent reports suggest that Nyamilandu may be considering contesting for a parliamentary seat in his home district of Nsanje. When asked about these speculations, he simply laughed and responded, “I am a free man.”
Football analyst Parry Chinyama weighed in on the matter, suggesting that Nyamilandu’s political engagement is inevitable. “Where there is smoke, there is fire beneath. It is just a matter of time before his political ambitions manifest.”
Some analysts, are looking at Nyamilandu’s rebuff as a heavy blow on the DPP as it is struggling to get an appropriate pair for Mutharika with Vice President (Central) Alfred Gangata being positioned to take that role by one section of the party led by Norman Chisale.
Interestingly, both Gangata and Chisale are primary school drop outs who are answering charges of forging and stealing academic certificates. Chisale’s case is in court while Gangata was recently arrested after it was discovered that he has been using a forged Malawi Schools Certificate of Education (MSCE).
