Lucius Banda denies joining PP: Only UDF MP who can’t work with DPP
United Democratic Front (UDF) parliamentarian for Balaka North, Lucius Banda says he never joined the People’s Party (PP) in 2012 soon after Joyce Banda became President of Malawi after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika.
Banda , who has been vehemently opposing UDF ‘s working relationship with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) told Capital Radio on Thursday during a Straight Talk program that he has always been UDF and was only invited to join PP by its leader, Joyce Banda but refused.
But Straight Talk host Rhodes Nsonkho reminded the UDF legislator that he called him to inform him about switch to the PP which was enjoying massive popularity then.
However, Banda changed his tune saying he was only associating with PP because he thought UDF and PP were going to merge into one party.
” I did not join the PP. I only associated with it because UDF and PP were working together,” claimed Banda
Apparently, during the said time Banda was not a member of the UDF after resigning from politics to concentrate on his music career.
Nyasa Times can confirm that Banda had joined the PP and the story was posted on our news site. He also confirmed the development.
His joining of the PP signalled his bouncing back into active politics.
However, his attempt to stand on the PP’s tickets was frustrated by former PP member Leonard Ngalande and then rejected by chiefs led by Group Village Head man Kachenga then who advised him to stand on a UDF ticket if he was to get their support.
It is said that when the party held its convetion in 2012 which elected Atupele Muluzi as its president ,Banda was still with PP and was only coopted as an ordinary member of the National Executive months after the convention.
During the radio interview, Lucius Banda also known as Soldier in the music circles which is his main occupation. said he thinks it is high time the UDF party disengaged from government and concentrated on rebuilding the party.
However, UDF spokesperson, Ken Ndanga without mentioning Banda said any members of the UDF should avoid taking internal party issues to the media especially when they can discuss them internally.
He said the party is prepared to render it’s ears to any member as long as he follows the right procedure of channelling such concerns.
” We are ready to listen to any concerns raised by members but not through the media. Even if when the concerns do not make sense they will be heard because this is democrac,” said Ndanga.
He however said the party becomes suspicious when senior members take issues to the media ” vilifying and undermining the leadership”, saying “ those who seek equity must come with clean hands “.
He added that the party led by its president Atupele Austin (AA) Muluzi has been conducting public rallies and called all UDF members to participate in the public rallies.
Banda is the only UDF parliamentarian who refused to relocate to the government side in the National Assembly when all UDF members shifted last year.
Surprising the party has not reprimanded him.
His political career was threaten by his conviction after he was found guilty of submitting a forged Malawi School Certificate of Education to the Electoral Commission during the 2004 general election.
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Let him be freeway
Lucious banda ngakhale atachita bwanji alibe mphavu yogwetsa Atupele Muluzi,come 2019 UDF will scoop all parliamentery seats in the eastern region
It is true indeed that Lucius Banda once joined PP. But he came back home to UDF after realising his mistake. The issue here is not about PP. Lets not divert. Its abt UDF working with DPP. UDF indeed controls the Eastern Region and can easily garner more than a million votes in a presidential election. But who shld we work with to give those million votes. I would rather worj with Chakwera and MCP. All wat MCP needs to win a presidential election is 300,000 votes from the South. And that can be provided by UDF. UDF cant win… Read more »
Nkhani si ya certificate tu apa.
Malawi Politics at its best
IT IS NOT CLEAR WHTHER HE NOW HAS THE MSCE CERIFICATE OR STILL USING THE FORGED ONE – KUMAMALIZA NKHANI A NYASATIMES!!!