PP deputy elections director Chambo resigns
It never rains but pours for the President Joyce Banda’s Peoples Party (PP) as its second deputy Director of Elections, Benedicto Chambo joins team of officials resigning from the party.
Chambo becomes latest top official to walk out of the ruling party and has since declared to contest as independent candidate after was forced to concede defeat to Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola during for Mangochi North constituency primary elections earlier this month.
Other top officials, who have resigned from the party, just four months before the much anticipated May 20th tripartite elections, include vice-party president for Central Region, Dr. Casim Chilumpha and vice-party president for the Southern Region, Sidik Mia as well as district governor for Mulanje.
“I have resigned from the party with immediate effect. The party’s acting Secretary General, Paul Maulidi is already informed about my latest political stand. My decision is based on wide and decisive consultations with constituents in Mangochi North. I appreciate the party’s support but time has come for me to call it quit,” Chambo told Nyasa Times in an interview.
Chambo said his decision to resign from the party largely hinged on the call by constituents for him to contest as independent Parliamentary candidate as well as the party’s decision to force him to forfeit his triumph against Matola inorder to save it’s image.
He explained: “I wish could remain in the party but it’s difficult to contest as independent while still affiliating to the political grouping. It is with pain to tender my resignation considering the time and effort I have invested in putting up party’s structures Mangochi North constituency though somehow I strongly feel the party seemed not to appreciate it”.
Mauldi could not answer his phone on several attempts but PP’s deputy Publicity Secretary, Ken Msonda while bemoaning the recent resignations of top officials, said those quitting the party were merely exercising their Constitutional rights.
Msonda said: “It is unfortunate that those who lost primary elections have decided to follow that route (of quitting the party). We would have loved if everyone remained in the party; one’s political life does not begin or end by becoming Member of Parliament.”
Msonda said there was a lot those who lost in primary elections could contribute to ensure the party emerged stronger in the forthcoming elections by supporting its presidential candidate Joyce Banda and the endorsed Parliamentary candidates and Councillors.
Asked if it was a wake-up call for PP to put its house in order and reconsider its stand towards disgruntled members, Msonda said “Most of these people are merely influenced by political greed. As a party we are not moved or having heart-attacks, as matter of fact the resignations are just making us to be stronger than before”.
The party’s top officials in an impromptu crisis meeting at Sun and Sand Hotel in Mangochi earlier this month told Chambo who beat Matola to concede defeat as they could not hold re-runs due to financial constraints while describing Matola as a thug.
The party however promised Chambo among others who lost primary elections diplomatic positions to avoid massive defection from the party.
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