Activist Chiza Mkandawire not to run for DPP post
Human rights activist and fierce critic of President Joyce Banda, Ben Chiza Mkandawire, has denied harboring intentions of contesting for leadership position in opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Mkandawire, who was quoted recently, that he was considering running for DPP vice president post at the party’s forthcoming convention, said on Wednesday that he is not joining the party.
Speaking to Nyasa Times in an interview in London, England, Mkandawire who was a bitter critic of DPP regime under late Bingu wa Mutharika said he remains a loyal Malawian who believes in a true and tolerant democracy.
“Although I encourage the youth to participate in politics, am yet to join a party that meets people’s expectations,” Chiza Mkandawire said.
He said he will join a party that “focus on issues not individuals.”
“I will join a party that puts people first,” he added.“Malawians must move on from political smears and personal attacks and focus on building intra party democracy that will reflect on building the democratic principles needed to progress as a nation,” said Chiza Mkandawire.
Since his arrival in London this week, Chiza Mkandawire has been using social media platforms to criticize the Joyce Banda administration.
He posted on Facebook, saying President Joyce Banda “has failed.”
“Any Government that fails to take its people out of an economic crisis is not a good government,” he said.
“Malawi is being run from a conveyor belt. Those who know what this means will agree. It’s time to change leadership. When you run a country from a conveyor belt you expect everything to happen automatically without your efforts as a leader,” said the outspoken activist.
He however on Wednesday appealed to critics of government who use social media to desist from attacking “Joyce Banda the woman.”
“Remember she is a mother, a wife, and a human being with feelings, I saw a comment that was inappropriate. Let’s avoid that and focus on issues. Malawi is a country for all of us, let us debate and discuss the issues affecting our progress more than we do discussing personalities,” he appealed in a post on his Facebook page.
Mkandawire also ruled out possibility of joining United Democratic Front (UDF) of youthful presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi, saying he realized in the party “there were still things deeply embedded that do not reflect the views of Malawians.”
The activist was arrested in January last year by the DPP regime on allegations that he was inciting vendors to demonstrate.
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