Thyolo not home of DPP, declares Mpinganjira
Seasoned politician Brown Mpinganjira aka BJ has asked President Joyce Banda not to neglect the district of Thyolo because of the notion that the area is the home of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), saying the district never benefitted from the party’s 8-year rule under the late President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Speaking during the official joint elevation ceremony of Senior Chiefs Chimaliro and Thomas of the district presided over by President Banda at Thyolo Community Centre Ground on Monday, Mpinganjira said if Thyolo was the home of the DPP it would not have the problems and challenges it is experiencing.
“The notion that Thyolo is the home of the DPP is unfounded and a sordid lie. How can this place be said to be the home of that party as if it received any development during its rule?” wondered Mpinganjira, who is Minister of Irrigation and Water Development.
“Thyolo never received any development under that administration. Let me prove this. We are receiving invitations to go and address meetings in Thekerani, but the road is impassable,” said Mpinganjira.
“The DPP has no claim of development in this area,” he emphasized. “If there is any development, then probably it is at Ndata for obvious reasons – it is where the former President constructed his retirement home and resting place.”
He said people in many parts of the district are looking up to President Joyce Banda as they find hope and fulfillment of their aspirations in her leadership.
“You have demonstrated that you don’t play lip-service. You have shown that you are an action-oriented leader. You have revealed that you are a leader full of zeal and enthusiasm to better the lives of the people,” he said.
He condemned DPP parliamentarians for not raising the problem of land pressure in the district while their party was in power.
“They never raised this matter because they do not regard the problems of the people affected as important. May the elections in 2014 resolve this gap of leadership in this district,” he said.
He praised the Malawi leader for insisting on prudent use of public resources and stringent fiscal measures, a tough stand, he said, has delivered the economic recovery.
“We are grateful that you are not selfish and wasteful like your predecessor who accumulated for himself K61 billion, an amount that could run the University of Malawi for 30 years, or build a total of 244 hospitals across Malawi,” said Mpinganjira.
Minister of Gender, Women and Child Development, Anita Kalinde, emphasized that Thyolo district is simply a victim of a development stereotype having been the home of the immediate past President of Malawi.
“Development only took place in one constituency belonging to Peter Mutharika (current leader of the DPP) because he was directly related to the former President. But all of us were ignored,” she lamented.
Kalinde, who is parliamentarian for Thyolo North, said that had they had the hope of winning in next year’s elections, MPs who are clinging to the DPP would have joined the current governing People’s Party.
“Not that they don’t know that the People’s Party has come to stay. They do. But they know they will not bring any value to this party because, come next year, they will lose elections,” she said.
Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Uladi Mussa, encouraged the people in Thyolo to vote on the basis of merit not nepotism, proximity or compassion.
“The fact that somebody’s brother died last year should not be a qualification for voting Peter Mutharika and DPP into office,” he advised.
Local Government and Rural Development Minister, Grace Maseko, expressed gratitude to the Malawi leader for continuing to reward traditional leaders that are development-conscious.
