Chief Ngolongoliwa speaks out on DPP civil war: ‘I meddle in politics when my tribe is quarrelling’

May 22, 2018 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 28 Comments

Paramount chief Ngolongoliwa says he cannot fail to settle political disputes involving politicians from his Lhomwe  tribe in fear that he could be contravening the chiefs Act.

Lhomwe Paramount Chief Ngolongoliwa

In a rare interview to the media, Ngolongoliwa conceded he intervened in the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) political squabbles, saying “the son”, Vice-President Saulos Chilima was quarrelling with his “father” President Peter Mutharika.

“If politicians in my tribe are quarrelling, you expect me to stand aside. We the Lhomwes are peaceful, we believe in peaceful settlement of disputes,” said the chief.

Ngolongoliwa, who  is one chief close to the President, convened a meeting last week at Sanjija Palace in Blantyre in order to reach out to Mulanje West member of Parliament (MP) Patricia Kaliati who is also DPP national director of women, Blantyre City East MP Noel Masangwi and national director of youth Louis Ngalande who are supporting leadership change in the party.

President Mutharika attended the meeting but Chilima was to present at which ended in stalemate as Ngolongoliwa pleaded with the trio to make a public statement indicating their support for Mutharika, but the trio refused.

Mulanje South legislator Bon Kalindo and Blantyre City South MP Allan Ngumuya are among DPP functionaries who have openly spoken in support of Chilima’s candidacy.

Mutharika, 79, is facing an unprecedented resistance for an incumbent—eligible for a second term as per the Malawi Constitution—from some DPP members canvassing for the candidacy of Chilima, 45. In the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections, Mutharika picked Chilima as his running mate from the private sector where he served as Airtel Malawi managing director.

Ngolongoliwa speaking from his Mtunda Wosema headquarters in Thyolo , said he is personally in support of a Mutharika-Chilima pai, arguing that it is a good pair because Chilima knows it was Mutharika who chose and settled for him and likewise, Mutharika knows he made it with support from Chilima.

Former first lady Callista Mutharika—widow of DPP founding president and the incumbent President’s elder brother, Bingu wa Mutharika—sparked the succession debate weeks ago when she said her in-law should pave the way for the comparatively youthful and energetic Chilima widely seen as a hands-on and results-oriented leader after he vibrantly led the Public Sector Reforms Programme that has lost steam since it was moved from his domain.

The Lhomwe Paramount Chief disclosed that a week before Callista Mutharika came out in public to urge President Mutharika to step aside and pave the way for Chilima as a presidential candidate in the 2019 polls, he had talks with her.

Callista bashed the governing DPP, claiming there are “beasts of prey” and thieves that surround President Mutharika and she said she was airing her views to protect her in-law.

Ngolongoliwa said he urged the President and his deputy during last year’s memorial service for the late president Bingu wa Mutharika at Ndata Farm not to allow people that have surrounded them to divide them.

“I repeatedly said this that they should not allow to be divided, but they must work together to develop Malawi. You always have bad people around and that is why Lucifer, an angel, was chased from heaven.

“This is what I exactly meant. I foresee this coming that some people are not always happy to see a good pair working together and yielding results. Malawi is developing and you can see that for yourself and, obviously, some people are not happy,” the Paramount chief said.

Mutharika has declared he will lead DPP in the elections while Chilima has remained silent on calls for him to vie for the presidency.

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28 replies on “Chief Ngolongoliwa speaks out on DPP civil war: ‘I meddle in politics when my tribe is quarrelling’”

  2. Where did Ngongoliwa get Paramountship? In my books there was no such Chief or TA Ngongoliwa. Where are the likes of Mkhumba, Nazombe, Chiwalo, & some Lhomwe Chiefs in Mulanje & Thyolo? The fact that he is a neighbour of the Mutharikas, then he must be a Paramount????

  3. Vindicating total leadership failure in DPP which has destroyed this country because there is no one in DPP to give direction to this mother Malawi. Everybody can just wake up and say whatever without following protocol. I cry for Beloved Malawi. Mutharika sakulamuriradi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. Just to advise DPP strategists that allowing Chiefs to speak to the public on matters like these is self-defeating. I think that this article is a PR disaster for DPP as a political party. I think that some PR standards have to be followed when dealing with sensitive matters like this one. They should not just allow anybody to speak to the public on their internal issues anyhow. Otherwise, I wish the party well as it works hard to resolve these critical issues. Malawi needs strong and united parties for democracy, which we opted for in 1993, to thrive. As a nation, we should not allow any of our parties to disintegrate. My fear is that DPP will split into two or completely die if current leaders don’t handle this matter with care. One way of preventing this from happening is to keep chiefs away from the public eye. Much as DPP may hold Chief Ngolongoliwa in high esteem they need to realize, however, that the authority of his chieftaincy shall always be contested by Mang’anja Chiefs and people from other tribes within the DPP. My 2 tambala advice to the DPP is to keep him away from party matters. Let the DPP NGC handle wrangles in the party. If they want chiefs to help them in any way they should use a group of chiefs that includes chiefs from other tribes e.g. Yaos, Ngonis, Nkhondes, etc. DPP needs to remember that politics is 99% perception and 1% facts. This is the only way DPP will ensure peace in the party.

    Kent Y.G. Mphepo – Blantyre (0888435629)

  6. This chief should be assured that once regime change (If MCP or the Movement win) he will be demoted to where he belongs, that Village headman Ngongoliwa

  7. The Chief has said it in black and white; DPP is Lhomwe party. No wonder this government can easily qualify to be the government led by a Lhomwe for the Lhomwes. The million dollar question is: what will happen when a non Lhomwe will occupy Sanjika?……….khaya zanu izo!

  8. This chief is stupid, munthali snd chilima akuti son and father… nde akuti sangakhsle phe anthu amudera lske aku kangana… wosango ndine wa DPP bwanji komaso mulhomwe…. your days are numbered 2019 is nay

  9. This is politics – Chilima will eventually realise anyamata amuyenda masamu. Whoever is advising him should be careful.

  10. 1. So sanjika yasanduka bwalo la Mfumu.
    2. According to Ngolongoliwa show we say Dpp = Lomwe?
    3. Son Chilima is quarreling with his father. Has chilima made any statement?

    I admire Tanzania where chiefs were shown their proper place. Our chiefs are a disgrace. Dyera too much. Unfortunately they are political puppets so amavina mmene aimvelera

  11. I now believe there is some serious secret which SKC is holding which is making the DPP big mouths trade with care when they comment on the matter. This could be something to do with the rigging of last elections. The way I know the DPP fanatics, they would have gone flat out on Chilima as they usually do with dissenting views but in this case, the reaction is well measured and candid as if they have already resigned to the SKC candidacy

  13. So paramount Ngolongoliwa equates DPP issues to tribal battle. Which means DPP is Pomwe not other tribes. Pathetic kkkkkk.

  14. MALAWIANS ARE USED TO POVERTY AND SUFFERING —POVERTY /SUFFERING IS IN THEIR DNA —YOUTHS DINING /DRINKING AT STATE HOUSE LIKE NOBODY’S BUSINESS —FORGETTING THAT THEY ARE WITHOUT JOBS —THAT’S WHAT WE CALL SELLING ONES
    BIRTHRIGHT WITH COINS OF SILVER AND A PINT OF JANG’ALA —
    REGRETTABLE –‘

    1. ‘Mukufunsa chinyezi kubafa!’
      In fact opepela ndi mafumu enawa, led by Lundu, Kyungu, Lukwa, etc. Mfumu ya nzeru singasiye mtundu wake nayamba kumalubwalubwa ndiza pa mtundu wa eniake. Kupepela basi! Izi nzakuchipindat.
      Other T/As wake up!!! Ngongoliwa is riding on your back! TIMBA MBALAME YOCHENJERA KUMANGA CHITSA.
      Kugona eehh???

  16. Wanunkha Malawi. Ndarama yakwacha omwe akuyinjoya ndi amfumu Ngongoliwa okha basi.

  18. Politics is dynamic. Chilima is gone flat out & simukwanitsa kumubweza. Lets accept this is the Chilimas political time & give them a platform

      1. Nkhani siyoyambisa chipani Loma Democracy yikufunika muzipani just go to convention, I have know today that DPP is for the Lomwe tribe party, so you want to use other tribes as tissue paper,

  20. to end this Chilima should speak something, but nothing good I see in this both people. people who are fighting for this are like dogs fighting for bare bones.
    Chaponda and Kaliati are the best and Malawi can develop with this pair

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