DPP external wing formed in Zimbabwe

Malawians and people of Malawi origin resident in Zimbabwe have formed an external wing of ruling DPP.

In a statement made available to Nyasa Times, secretary of the wing, Cuthbert Kachale said DPP vice president Khumbo Kachale encouraged the formation.

"Following Hon Khumbo Kachali's 28 December 2007 directive, Malawians and people of Malawi origin resident in Zimbabwe, met at Kings Hall, 163 Kwame Nkrumah Avenue (formerly Union Avenue-- close to the CCAP Secretariat) in Harare on 2 February 2008.

"At the meeting, the Malawi community present, elected Roderick Chikapa Phiri to be National Chairman of DPP Zimbabwe Chapter. They also gave him the mandate to appoint an Interim Executive that would function until national elections are held in due course," said Kachale in a statement.

Kachale said Chikapa Phiri was a founding member of the MCP in 1959.

He explained that the external wing will be looking at the welfare of the six million Malawians in Zimbabwe from "a non-governmental point of view".

Kachale also said they will "augment" the programs of the DPP led government at home.

" For example there is a lot of human capital of Malawians in Zimbabwe that could be deployed at home in such areas as mining engineers, mining metallurgists, highly skilled artisans who have the technical know-how in various areas of the manufacturing sector," he said in a statement.

Kachale said members are also rasing money for the wing and they have managed to raise about US$500.

"We have so far raised over Z$2.5 billion dollars as donations from our own pockets. Given the current hardships in Zimbabwe, this is no mean feat," he said.

Mrs. Olive Mhone who works at Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe was appointed purse keeper of the wing.