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But Vice-President Joyce Banda on Friday refused to comment on the matter, insisting that it’s up to the people of Malawi to debate on the issue.

Masangwi was commenting in an interview on Thursday and Friday on two meetings of DPP MPs, constituency and district governors for the South that took place in Blantyre City and endorsed Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Peter Mutharika as the party’s flag carrier during the 2014 elections.

While Masangwi insisted that he was not talking about the VP, he said his personal view is that Malawi is not ready for a woman president.

“I’m not talking about Madam Joyce Banda. She is a woman, that’s correct, but all I’m saying is that Malawi is not ready for a female president. The Vice-President might have had such ambitions, but I’m sorry to say this,” said the Southern Region governor.

Asked to comment on Masangwi’s claims that Malawi is not ready for a female president, Banda said, “No, I think ochita comment ndi anthu. Ine I have no comment. [Let people comment].”

But Masangwi said the endorsement of Mutharika is from the grass roots and, as a party, there is no way DPP can object, arguing these are the same people who vote at the convention.

Asked if Malawi was ready for another Mutharika for a president, Masangwi said they should be because he will take over from his brother who “has performed extremely well and transformed Malawi.”

“We are not saying people should not challenge him. If there are others who want to challenge him at a convention, let them come out. They are free, but should know they can achieve nothing because the professor is qualified enough for the position,” Masangwi said.

Put to him that the ground would not be levelled even if people wanted to challenge Mutharika at the convention because he is already backed by the whole office of the regional governor, Masangwi said his office was not backing him, but was simply implementing views from the grass roots.

“If people want him, and these are the same people that vote, who are we to say no? We have confidence in him and we have no reason to ignore wishes of the people,” he explained.

He said regional party officials are yet to brief Peter Mutharika and the President about their decision. But he was optimistic the two would not reject it, claiming it is what the people want.

But Mutharika was quoted in the media on Friday as saying: “This is not an election time. I am serving the nation as MP and Justice Minister.”

At a meeting of MPs which took place at Blantyre City Assembly on July 15, Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education Kingsley Namakhwa proposed Peter Mutharika as the party’s flag carrier for the 2014 presidential elections and MP for Nsanje South West, Vera Chilewani, seconded the motion.

District and constituency governors from the region also endorsed Peter Mutharika at a meeting held on Tuesday this week at Blantyre Civic Centre.

Namakhwa said he was happy that fellow MPs supported his proposal because Peter Mutharika is a well-respected man worldwide.

“I, for one, is happy that the proposal was accepted,” Namakhwa said. “From here, we shall take the proposal to the people. Malawians are best judges but when making that judgement, they should look at what the man can offer. As we look for development, we cannot bar anyone from standing but looking at Peter Mutharika, we see him as development-conscious.”

Namakhwa said he proposed Peter Mutharika following President Bingu wa Mutharika’s indication that he would not stand for the presidential elections in 2014.

Chilewani said she supported the proposed choice of Peter Mutharika because that is what people in her constituency want.

“I definitely seconded. The reason is straight forward. There are major development projects taking place in my constituency. It worries people in my constituency for development to stop if another leader comes.

“Many people were happy with the choice. What I said came from people of my constituency. It is an exciting thing,” she said.

Constituent governor for Nsanje South West, Gerald Sadya said he too attended the Tuesday meeting and supported the choice of Peter Mutharika.

“We want development to continue,” Sadya said, “People say that Bingu should continue but since he said that he would not, according to our culture [Sena] when a husband performs well, he is given a nthena [another woman from the family] hence our choice for Peter.”

MP for Mwanza West, Paul Chibingu, said when Namakhwa proposed the name and Chilewani seconded, all the MPs supported the idea.

DPP publicity secretary Hetherwick Ntaba said he did not have details of the meetings but added that the party will hold a convention to choose its 2014 presidential candidate.

Ntaba said: “It is an open contest. I do not know people who are interested in the contest.”

But Chancellor College political analyst, Dr Mustapha Hussein, warned that the party may face defections if the process of endorsing Peter is not done democratically.

“I am not sure how democratic the method they are using is. One would expect that such issues should be handled through a convention. We expect people to fully participate in choosing their leaders. Several people who aspire for the leadership should have been [brought forward] and allow people to elect freely,” Hussein said.