Mars Group chief executive Mwalimu Mati said the decision of who should be running mate should be informed by whether he or she is capable of running the country.
Mati cited the 2008 US presidential election in which Republican candidate John McCain picked Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as running mate only to be criticised over her inexperience.
In Malawi Vice-President Joyce Banda took over the presidency after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Ms Banda had fallen out with the President and had even been sidelined from the party, but the president could not fire her since the Constitution does not allow so.
Mati added: “The process of identifying a running mate is far more important than even the single decision to run for president.”
He says though the scenario of a deputy succeeding the president automatically has worked in other places, it’s not proper and should not have been provided in the constitution.
The Constitution also provides that if the President dies or vacates office for any other reasons after being sworn in the Deputy President shall serve for the remainder of the term. Only if the Deputy President was unable to take up the office would a by-election be held within 60 days after the seat falls vacant.
