Incumbent president Arthur Peter Mutharika has settled for Ntcheu lawmaker and cabinet minister Everton Chimulirenji as he seeks second term in office.

Mutharika unveiled Chimulirenji during the presentation of nomination papers COMESA Hall in Blantyre o Friday.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) torchbearer in the May 21, 2019 tripartite elections, labeled Chimulirenji a party loyalist.

Mutharika also said Chimulirenji “knows the difference between a vice-president and a deputy president.”

“A deputy president sometimes assists the president and the vice is always delegated. There can only be one president at a time,” he said.

Chimulirenji, 56, is a member of Parliament for Ntcheu North East Constituency.

He is currently serving as Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development.

He served as deputy minister for Defence before the latest Cabinet reshuffle took him to his present portfolio.

Chimulirenji is also DPP’s National Campaign Director, a position he was elected to at the party’s National Convention last year.

A total of ten candidates have presented their nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

These are Dr Joyce Hilda Mtila Banda of Peoples Party (PP), Dr Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Mr Peter DSD Kuwani of Mbakuwaku Movement for Development (MMD) and Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima of UTM party,

Others are Dr Cassim Chilumpha of Tikonze Peoples Movement (TPM) , Professor John Chisi of Umodzi Party, Mr Loudon Malingamoyo Phiri, National Salvation Front (NASAF) Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the independent candidate Mr Reverend Kaliya.

Three presidential nomination papers were deferred by MEC due to failure to fulfil requirements.

According to MEC, seven presidential nomination papers were collected by independents but only one was submitted.