Phoya’s move MCP gateway to South, analyst
Former Malawi’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) senior politician Henry Duncan Phoya (HDP) decision to join the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) might have surprised many but one political analyst feels the move was expected and is a plus for MCP.
The analyst, Dr Augustine Magolowondo, thinks the decision by Phoya to be part of the MCP camp ahead of the 2014 general elections is politically sound and a ploy for the main opposition to woe more support for the party.
“The decision Honourable Phoya has taken is politically logical. Actually it is not surprising because in Malawi it has proved to be difficult to make a career in politics as an independent politician or Member of Parliament,” observed Magolowondo.
The political commentator noted that Phoya’s decision to join a party other than stay independently since his dismissal from the ruling party in July 2011 only shows that the Blantyre Rural East legislator seriously thinks about his political future.
Magolowondo also said Phoya’s move is a big windfall for the Malawi Congress Party to woe more support from the southern region where the party is not that popular.
Strategic
“This is a strategic move considering that he comes from a region where MCP is not quite popular …so he will have a strong bargaining position,” he said.
While Phoya said he was not joining MCP for position, Magolowondo feels it will be very difficult to see a person of his political stature just becoming an ordinary member of the party.
He said as the country nears the 2014 polls, Malawians must expect a lot of political fluidity on the scene.
The new MCP catch said his membership to the country’s main opposition was with effect from January 1, 2012 following a series of mature and productive meetings with the party’s leadership.
He told journalists, among his major tasks are to help the party win the 2014 presidential and parliamentarian polls and also engage more youth to change their mindsets about the party, which many people believe has obsolete ideologies.
Phoya fell out of grace with the ruling Party after he openly criticised the Injunction Bill which he labeled as an oppressive law not fit in a democratic state.
A lawyer by profession, Phoya is a founding member of the DPP and served government in various cabinet portfolios both during the previous regime of United Democratic Front and the DPP.
He said from now until 2014, he now wants to be referred to as an MCP member of parliament.
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