PP governor trashes Assani, pledges support for Chilumpha
Malawi’s governing People’s Party (PP) Governor for Nkhotakota District Kennedy Njakama has trashed Justice Minister Fahad Assani’s claims that he commands support in the district.
Assani had been quoted in the media claiming he has support in the district a development he alleged resulted in the resignation of Dr Cassim Chilumpha as the party’s vice president responsible for Central Province.
The minister who is also the country’s former Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) is challenging Chilumpha in Nkhotakota South for a parliamentary seat where the latter is the incumbent.
But Njakama has described Assani as “a total failure” who can in no way replace Chilumpha in the area.
“We have just heard from the media that he [Dr Chilumpha] has resigned, as people who love him most, we are waiting to be told what we should do next.
“We always look at Dr Chilumpha as a father of this district, there is no way we can substitute him with Assani who is a total failure,” said Njakama.
He said party members were yet to be informed by Chilumpha about his intention to resign and the way forward.
Told that Assani claims he has enough support to unseat Dr Chilumpha, Njakama challenged the minister saying 2014 elections will prove him.
“Ask him, in 2009 when the United Democratic Front (UDF) endorsed him at the expense of Dr Chilumpha, how did he fare? He came fourth, so if PP does that again next year, Assani will not win,” he said.
Reports have been rife that President Joyce Banda is rallying behind Assani, a former close ally of Chilumpha since college days.
The ruling party has since said President Banda is “deeply shocked” with the resignation of her deputy which comes a few months after its Secretary General Henry Chibwana also stepped down.
The former State Vice President resigned from his position Thursday and also withdrew his membership from the PP after the party’s Deputy National Director of Annie Chidewa told a public meeting President Banda had endorsed Assani as the party’s candidate for Nkhotakota South.
“Our president has been telling us that she wants Assani to stand on a PP ticket not Dr Chilumpha, so as the party we will make sure that her wish is fulfilled,” she said.
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