BLANTYRE--Political pundits in Malawi Friday said an "inner circle" of the ruling party had emerged to block the ascendency of Vice President Joyce Banda to the presidency after the death of Pres Bingu wa Mutharika.

"The inner circle of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party has been meeting secretly to thwart Joyce Banda from becoming president," a source close to the Democratic Progressive Party told MaraPost.

"They want to push forward the name of Peter Mutharika as acting president until 2014," the source added.

The person said this was why the government has delayed to announce the death of Mutharika, who was flown to South Africa after he died on Thursday morning following a cardiac arrest.

"The idea of flying his remains to South Africa was to buy time, for embalming and for a dignified funeral as he will come back in a very expensive casket," the political analyst said.

Banda was booted out of the DPP after she was accused for establishing parallel structures and following the handpicking of Peter Mutharika as the party's presidential candidate for 2014 elections.

Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo is said to have told the "inner circle" that not giving power to Banda would be a "coup".
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgment