Ben Phiri’s DPP campaign in central region sends MCP in panic mode: Party on fire fighting mission
The opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has reacted with panic to a marathon of whistle stops ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Elections, Ben Phiri, has been conducting in its stronghold rural areas of central region.
In the past days, Phiri, commonly referred to as “Field Marshal” by party followers, has conducted 18 whistle stop rallies in rural areas of Lilongwe, Dowa and Mchinji districts where he drummed up support for the DPP presidential candidate, Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika, and aspiring Parliamentary and local government candidates.
Contrary to long-held political beliefs, the rallies have been attracting mammoth crowds despite central region being regarded as the home of MCP.
Reacting to the political shockwaves in its backyard, MCP has since deployed its front line troops to visit all areas Phiri has been to so far in a bid to quench the fire.
A programme released by MCP headquarters and seen by Nyasa Times, the party has unleashed its heavyweights namely Richard Chimwendo Banda, Moses Kunkuyu, Ken Kandodo, Jean Sendeza, Juliana Kaduya, Juliana Lunguzi, Peter Dimba, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Sam Kawale and Kusamba Dzonzi to water down the invasion.
On Saturday the 10 MCP senior officials will be in Richard Chimwendo’s Dowa East constituency at Nalunga school where DPP’s Phiri and Kutsaila got tumultuous welcome from jubilant supporters on Tuesday.
But observers bemoaned MCP’s stance as reactive at a time the party needs to do the opposite.
“I followed Phiri’s rallies in central region, they were well patronized considering the fact that this is MCP stronghold. However, I am shocked with MCP’s response. Why deploying 10 NEC members? This will be interpreted by DPP as a sign of fear. They have overreacted,”remarked Albert Chiutsi.
Meanwhile, after causing havoc in Lilongwe, Mchinji and Dowa rural, Phiri is heading to Kasungu central on Saturday and Champhira in Mzimba South before visiting all constituencies in Rumphi, Mzimba, Karonga, Chitipa and Nkhatabay.
Speaking to Nyasa Times after Lilongwe Mpenu rally, Phiri said his goal is to promote the Mutharika brand in all the 193 constituencies.
He further added that Prof. Peter Mutharika will go down in history as only President who inherited an economy whose inflation was at staggering 36 per cent and managed to reduce it to 7.9 per cent within five years.
Phiri further said Malawians will remember APM as only leader who brought state-of-the-art dual carriage roads in all the three cities of Malawi.
“These are unprecedented developments in the history of Malawi. Apart from that, he is the only President to have not arrested his predecessor despite all the evidence of Cashgate pointing to Dr. Joyce Banda.
APM is not a vengeance politician. If truth is to be told he has tried his best hence deserves second term of office,” said Phiri.
After 2014 elections, Phiri continued serving Mutharika as close aide until 2016 when he threw in the towel citing personal reasons.
His re-emergence on the political scene has excited many party supporters who believe he has been the missing link between the party and its grass root supporters and that he has enough political stamina to contribute to the DPP’s collective effort of giving President Mutharika second term of office.
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Inu alipo amene ati akavotere president wa 80 years? Alaa, tiri ku Algeria?
Panic?????? Panic for What? DPP??? No way
Of all the names listed from MCP, I do not see any heavy weight. Heavy weights in MCP like Njovuyalema, Dzoole Mwale were sidelined by the failed leadership in MCP. There is no heavy weight remaining in that party. They are all cashgate partakers under the tutelage of Joyce Banda.
paja pitala akadali mukichini will bring a well prepared PLATTER. pakamwa mpa boma
kapamba uyu.
Hahahaha U must be joking
Mumva pen a Tambala wa biiiiiiiiii
Pliz its not panic mode they have to campaign too. Munthu akapanga msonkhano muli akuopa ujayu sichoncho abale
Who ever is sying people turning up is a sign of votes is a liar.u ont know that in malawi theres no entertainment and people go just to see and listen??if u dont know over half of registred voters have around three to four tshirts or ndlu za zipani zopikisana just to get katundu waulele.so ntchito ilipo the voters will make decisions who to vote for.winatu azagwa ndi BP.koma kukhala ndi nthu ambiri pa msonkhano si kutanthauza ma voye ayi
Why panic when you know most people love to spectate with nothing to do especially in the rural settings. MCP Central Region base is solely there’s to take if stay focus of managing expectations.
GEORGE KAWAWA mwandiyankhulira bwino kwabasi. Having more people at the rally it doesnt mean that all will vote for you! People are lacking entertainment…. In addition they go there just to see kuti akaone munthu amene akumutchukitsayo…..BUT NOT NECESSARILY LIKING THE PARTY
This thief is wasting his time. His formula won’t work. The minds are already made up.
Apparently, he was one of the strategists who helped Mutharika win in 2014. So, if he was able (with others) to defeat ruling PP and win from outside government – the opposition will ignore him at their own peril. That’s why MCP is reacting with panic because they know him very well.
Parties do what they must in order to win votes. Crowds turn up to hear the messages and in hope of hand outs. If you have no prospect of giving hope is messages or hand outs no one comes to hear you.
OMG! Is this worthy reading? Dpp is panicking. North and Centre don’t want you guys. To hell with your dying president.
Don’t underestimate the power of incumbency. They have the resources to do nationwide campaign. Do not write the obituary of DPP yet, these guys know how to campaign. Right now the opposition parties have exhausted most of their resources and we will see a gradual reduction in volume as they fade away into oblivion. DPP is set to rule beyond 2019, whether by a marginal win or landslide. It’s clear for all to see that they have grassroot support especially in rural areas where the majority of voters are.
Time and energy wasting on DPP’S side.
Go go chimwendo awo ndi ana sangamake Dowa tikuidziwandife akakhala jean kalirani akupakira ulendo uno no mercy MCP patsogolo
Mbava singandisuthe palichilungamo ine voti yanga indi MCP BASI
DPP &UTM MWATIZUZA MOKWANA ife anthu akudowa simungatinyengere ataa mwatibera mbewu potigula mtengo wotchipa lero muziti ife ife ife hahahah mukunama chakwera akudziva zimenezi adzakoza
State of the art what??? Kikikikikiiiii
Tikamati “Za ziiiiii” we mean things like this. Mwangopanga wear out ma keys apa keyboard for nothing
MWAUPONDA INU A DPP NDINU MBAVA SIMUNGAWINE KU DOWA EVIN MP MMODZI KUDOWA SIMUPEZA NGAKHALE COUNCOLLOR NG’OOOOOOOOOO MWAUPONDA LET DR CHAKWERA ALAMULIRE
DPP isachedwe ndi central region. MUNGOTAYA nthawi ndi ma resources
MWAIWALA INU ABENI PHIRI KUTI KUMENEKU NKUCHIPINDA ALIYESE AMABISA MALISECHE NDIYE IFEYO A MCP KUMENEKO SITINGAKUPATSENI CHANCE MCP WOYEEEEEEE CHIMWENDO WOYEEEEEEEE
Maliseche a anthu achipeta wakwera joisi… kkkkkkkkkk
Zosatheka simungamake kudowa inu a DPP pamodzi UTM mukunama kumenekuja ndi kwa Duboza CHIMWENDO MUBETSA NDALAMA KUMENEKO TINGOKUDYERANI KKKKKKK TIPATSENI NDALAMAZO
ACHEWA satheka makani kwina. MCP pa central simungayithe
Look at the pictures most are under aged children who will not vote. Secondly DPP hires bands to sing at their functions. That is why they pull the crowd- the pompous ceremony glamour and glory. Central region isn’t like the north where people are easily swayed with a rotting rat on a stick. Ben should ask Muluzi. His meetings were crowd pullers but none voted for him. People of Mchinji especially have nothing to show from this Government yet they pay more taxes than people from Thyolo, Mulanje and Chiradzulo combined. Their eyes are wide open and minds alert. Wait for 19th May!
Amaliseche Angawuze Chani Anthu Awa..
DURING THE VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE YOU FOOLED US THAT PEOPLE IN CENTRAL REGION ARE SHUNNING THE VOTER EXERCISE….BUT AFTER THE WHOLE EXERCISE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT CENRAL RIGION HAS MORE REGISTERED VOTERS THAN ANY OTHER REGION …..SHOULD WE KEEP ON TRUSTING YOU…..!!!
Learn from the past …is this the first time DPP …has large mamorth crowds in central region … go to the file footages of 2014 elections…see joice banda, atupele …then tabulate your mamorth crowds and compare with the electral results
Kkkk, somebody trying to boost Ben Phiri’s status with this story. There’s never been a more divisive cadet in DPP than Ben Phiri.
Indeed cadet no 1, I don’t know this guy called Ben and the writer has tried his best to market this guy I don’t know.
Indeed cadet no 1, I don’t know this guy called Ben and the writer has tried his best to market this guy I don’t know.
I think u can do better than this.
Palibe chomwe angamake kuno ku central region mbava atifune lero podyandalamaza zakubazo amadyawokhakkkkkkkkkkkkkk
mukunamizana hvy inu DPP & UTM central region tidayambwira MCP KKKK mwauponda kunoko yayi
Kkkkkkk, after calling his boss Maliseche he went into hibernation. When Nankhumwa asked all the senior members in DPP to either campaign or quit, all thieves are coming back. I am yet to see the Maize Chapo.
Central region can not be shaken by this Mafiya. People just flock to see those people who are making them poorer. Mark my words his influence here is almost zero