Another shake-up in DPP politburo: Vuwa, Masebo replaced by Goodall, Jappie

Hardly four months after the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) removed some top office-bearers including the Secretary General and Publicity Secretary, another ‘shake-up’ has taken place.

The ‘shake-up’ follows a DPP politburo meeting held on Monday, February 9, 2015, at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Goodall Gondwe has been appointed DPP Vice President responsible for the North, replacing former legislator Nick Masebo.

The ‘shake-up’ has also seen the departure of Vuwa Kaunda as the DPP National Campaign Director. The new Campaign Director is Deputy Defence Minister, Jappie Mhango, according to DPP’s publicist, Francis Kasaila.

Kasaila has said the reasons for replacing Masebo and Kaunda is that the two are “presidential advisors” and that therefore they dedicate little time to party matters.

“It is a question of separation of powers. Doubling as party office-bearers and advisors to the President may bring conflict of interest,” claimed Kasaila in an interview with Nyasa Times on Monday.

Political scientist, Augustine Titani Magolowondo has quashed the reasons for the changes, saying there are others serving in government positions but also hold DPP positions, particularly ministers.

Commenting on the ‘shake-up’, Magolowondo said ministers are also “essentially advisors to the President” and that therefore Kasaila’s claim about the two advisors “does not hold water”.

He cited the case of DPP Director of Women , Patricia Kaliati, Treasurer General, Henry Mussa, Dr. George Chaponda, the new appointees, Gondwe and Mhango, as being cabinet ministers who double as party office-bearers.

He, nonetheless, applauded the governing DPP “for attempting to draw a line between party politics and government”.