Malawi ruling PP wants one-party state – SG Chibwana
The ruling Peoples Party (PP) of President Joyce Banda has hinted that it is its wish to see the country going back to a one-party state.
Addressing party supporters in Lilongwe where two Members of Parliament, Agnes Penumulungu for Lilongwe City South East and Fredrick Kamwangala for Lilongwe North West, were formally welcomed, PP Secretary General Henry Chibwana claimed Malawi can be better off with a single party.
“It is not appropriate just to have a hoard of opposition political parties which are there only for the sake of opposing whatever government is doing,” said Chibwana.
“Going back to one party state would not be a big issue provided that the one party ruling is doing all the best for the people,” said the ruling PP secretary-general.
“I am not apologizing to anyone for these sentiments,” he added.
Chibwana claimed the PP has achieved a lot by bringing back donors, improved tobacco prices, an end to the shortage of fuel and foreign currency, the Safe Motherhood Initiative and the Presidential Initiative on Poverty Reduction and Hunger.
The two MPs came into Parliament on a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket. Penemulungu grabbed the headlines last year as she was the last person to interact with President Bingu Wa Mutharika at the State House before he died on April 5, 2012 following a heart attack.
Malawi adopted the multiparty system of government after 63 percent of Malawians voted yes in the 1993 referendum. This ended 31 years of MCP dictatorial rule that that saw massive human rights abuses that included mysterious deaths of three Cabinet ministers and one MP in 1983.
Other opponents of founding president the late Kamuzu Banda were forced into exile for opposing his dictatorship.
Chibwana has not been short of controversy when he takes to the political podium. During the President’s rally in Mangochi recently, also made a statement calling on the Inspector General of Police to arrest all politicians who will be found using a convoy.
The call was later followed by the detention of DPP interim president Peter Mutharika in Ntchisi on accusation that he was using an overhead flashlight on one of his security vehicles.
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