DPP yet to meet K60m budget for convention
Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) is yet to raise enough funds for the national convention slated for April 17 to 19, but the organizing chairperson Nicholas Dausi says the party will still hold the indaba with the available resources.
The party needs about K60 million to successfully hold its first ever convention to elect leaders since it was formed in 2005 by former president late Bingu wa Mutharika.
“We are yet to reach the target budget of K60 million. We are hoping that well wishers will help the party to meet its budget.
“In the event that the target is not reached, the party will still go ahead to hold the convention with the available resources,” said Dausi, who is also the party’s publicity secretary.
However, the party has so far managed to pay for the venue, Comesa Hall in the commercial city of Blantyre where its acting President Peter Mutharika will battle it out with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Henry Chimunthu-Banda for the presidency.
The candidates will pay a non-refundable fee of K500,000 for president, K250,000 for secretary general while those vying for publicity secretary and organizing secretary positions will have to pay K150,000 each.
Collection of nomination forms started after some party officials refused proposals that Mutharika should not be challenged during the convention.
Mutharika is also on record to have said that “no matter what” he will represent the party in 2014 tripartite elections.
University of Malawi political analyst Dr Mustafa Hussein observed that the remarks were a clear demonstration that the young Mutharika is desperate for power.
