DPP ‘Parallel Structure’ demands convention

BY: DRAXON MALOYA

Just a day after Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Shadric Namalomba warned party members against holding engagements with the media without permission from party leader Peter Mutharika, a sprinter group in the northern region defied the order on Monday.

The group, led by former regional governor for the North Kenneth Sanga, drummed up support for the candidature of Kondwani Nankhumwa as party president, calling the act of gagging them as undemocratic and uncalled for.

During the meeting in Mzuzu, Sanga stressed that divisions on endorsements should not confuse people, calling for a convention by July this year so that new office bearers are elected.

“There are few people confusing Mutharika because what we want is simply the date for the elective convention. f Mutharika wants to stand let him compete, we will meet there,” Sanga said.

DPP Director of Research and Training, Ken Msonda said it was sad that Namalomba wants to block the wheels of democracy.

The presser was in sharp contrast with an earlier announcement made by the party’s regional office that party structures in the region had endorsed Mutharika as their 2025 torch bearer.

Meanwhile, DPP north governor, Reverend Christopher Mzomera Ngwira, speaking in an interview from New Delhi, India, cautioned Nankhumwa against abusing his parliamentary authority to be using legislators as his campaign tools.

“What honourable Nankhumwa has done should be condemned in strongest terms, all those who were delegated to conduct that press briefing in the city of Mzuzu will be summoned before the disciplinary Committee,” Mzomera said.

Adding weight to Mzomera’s remarks, DPP Director of Operations, Joe Thomas Nyirongo expressed disappointment with the manner in which the meeting was held.

“Conducting such a meeting without following the proper procedures is a clear demonstration of indiscipline and hunger for power.

“If the regional party leadership was not consulted then surely those who led that briefing were in breach of protocol,” Nyirongo said.

Recently, Mutharika’s spokesperson, Shadric Namalomba while confirming that the former Malawi leader is still consulting on his candidature, challenged other contestants to get endorsements if they can.

Parliamentarians who were present at Monday indaba are Raymond Nkhata for Mzimba South-West, Welani Chilenga of Chitipa South, Mungasulwa Mwambande of Karonga North and Julius Chione Mwase of Nkhata-Bay North-West.