Well-known business tycoon Thom Mpinganjira has said that late Paramount Chief Ngolongoliwa approached him on March 30 2018 to take up leadership of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

He said during a meeting that was set up with the late chief, he was told to take up the party leadership since Mutharika was going to be serving his last term after the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

Mpinganjira also told the court that in the first place, he was offered a running mate position, however, he says he turned down the suggestion.

He has also told the court that on September 24 2019, he was visited by current State House director of State Residences Prince Kapondamgaga asking him to be running mate to MCP President Lazarus Chakwera in the fresh presidential election.

He, however, told Kapondamgaga that he was focused on running his business empire; hence, he didn’t want to involve himself in politics in such a manner.