DPP forms task force on primaries

A group calling itself DPP Zomba Task Force says it will fight any manoeuvres by the party to maintain Mussa as its candidate.

"We have noted with sadness the tactics government is playing to protect Hon Yunus Mussa as a DPP candidate for Zomba Central Constituency. As a task force we will fight for the democratic process of electing a candidate through primaries and a level playing field otherwise we warn DPP that it risks losing the seat," said a statement from the task force made available to Nyasa Times.

The statement, jointly signed by Mr. Jika, Mr. Francis Macheso and Ms. Roselyn Nkwate, claimed government has moved a potential contender, Mr. Bisika, from his working place, Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb), to Capital Hill, in Lilongwe.

"We suspect the transfer of Mr. Bisika was not in good faith and that it is intended to distract him away from canvassing for his support within the rank and file of DPP in Zomba ahead of the primaries," said the statement.

In a telephone interview from Zomba, Macheso said they have formed a task force to fight for undemocratic tendencies applied by the ruling party in imposing Mussa as their candidate.

"We want all aspiring candidates to compete fairly and squarely," said Macheso.

He disclosed that many people in the DPP were in favour of Sudi Adak Sulaimana, a convict, to contest for the party in the constituency.

"Sulaimana is popular here in Zomba but the party is blocking his candidature claiming he is a former convict. That argument does not make any sense because Yunus Mussa is also a former convict," said Macheso.

Mussa was convicted during the Kamuzu Banda regime for theft.

He was found in possession of property belonging to State House which he was selling at his then famous shop Alekeni Anene. He served six months jail time at Zomba Maximum Prison.

Nkwate added: "The mere fact that Mussa changed his name from Valentine to Yunuss does not erase his criminal past. Sulaimana is equally a fair candidate, moreover he is better educated than Valentine Yunus Mussa who presented a fake MSCE to Malawi Electoral Commission."

She challenged that she was prepared to provide evidence of her claims if Mussa wants to dispute them.

"Yunus joined government because he was pressed on the fake MSCE. He was scared to go down the route of Lucius Banda," she said.

Mussa, who is also a deputy minister in Mutharika's cabinet, was not immediately available for comment.

However, Maneb officials confirmed that Bisika has been moved from the statutory corporation to the civil service.

DPP Publicity Secretary Nicholas Dausi said there was no reason for party officials to worry as he claimed that there would be "fair" primary elections.

The DPP has been courting problems in the way it is supporting its parliamentary candidates.

In a related development, DPP aspiring candidates in Mzimba North East Constituency say they will contest as independents because the party gurus have thrown their full weight to one aspirant, Catherine Gotani Mkandawire.

The other aspirants claim that the DPP brass is favouring Mkandawire because she is pumping money in the party and that her cousin, Harry Mkandawire, is regional governor in the north.

The regional governor denies the claims but declares that Gotani will be the party's candidate in the constituency "whether someone likes it or not."

Information and Civic Education Minister, Patricia Kaliati, has already endorsed Gotani-Mkandawire as DPP candidate for the area.

Speaking when she addressed a meeting at Enyezini, Kaliati said as Deputy Director of women in DPP, her support goes to a women aspirant and declared Gotani as a candidate, even before the primaries.

"Let's support women and see what they can do," said Kaliati, who assured the people of Mzimba North East constituency that they will get more fertiliser coupons during the next rainy season to ensure that everyone had access to subsidised farm inputs.

"But", she warned, "You have to do what the DPP brass is urging you, otherwise forget it," she warned severely.