Speaker of Malawi parliament Chimunthu Banda, poised to challenge Professor Peter Mutharika for the Democratic Progressive Party presidency during convention, last week hosted about 63 MPs to a luncheon at his house in Area 43, Lilongwe.

An MP who attended the luncheon confirmed that the Speaker invited the lawmakers to thank them for their loyalty to the party.

“He invited everyone including Professor Peter Mutharika but he did not come including Dr. (George) Chaponda and others we think are close to the professor,” said the source.

The source said Chimunthu Banda did not say anything on his ambition to contest “but we could all see that the invitation was a political statement.”

Our source said after the luncheon Chimunthu Banda gave each lawmaker K50, 000 to top up for fuel as they were returning home since the house had adjourned sine die.

The luncheon with the MPs comes at a time when reports indicate that some MPs in DPP have formed a task team to press the Speaker to contest at the party’s convention slated for April 19, 2013.

Currently Professor Peter Mutharika, brother to the founding president of the party late Bingu wa Mutharika, is the interim president of the party and has confirmed will stand at the convention.

Professor Mutharika has however said he is not scared with the prospect that Chimunthu Banda will challenge him at the convention.