Chimunthu back in DPP fold, considered for running mate in 2019 polls

Former National Assembly Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda is back in the fold of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) after taking a back seat in active politics since he was defeated  by President Peter Mutharika at the first ever party convention in April 2013.

Chimunthu Banda has re-appared on the scene
Chimunthu Banda has reappeared on the scene and is said to be considered as Mutharika’s running mate for 2019 elections

Chimunthu lost to Mutharika 73 to 1 266 votes but said despite facing “intimidation” and other setbacks, he contested for the party presidency to “see democracy work both inside and outside the party.”

After the convention in 2013, Chimunthu Banda went into political hibernation but now the party has reached out to him and is back in the frontline politics.

Chimunthu, a generally respected figure, has been seen in public recently attending Mutharika’s events.

“Viewed as a clean and sober, he hails from Central Region. Many think his appearance a signal that he may become running mate for Mutharika in the next elections, with the aim of countering the MCP’s Reverend Lazarus Chakwera, who is currently dominate in the Central Region,” Africa Confidential reports on the matter.

The influential governance publication reported that DPP has “officially dumped” Vice President Saulos Chilima, citing President’s spin doctor Bright Molande openly telling colleagues that Chilima was “hired for consultancy and paid as Vice-President for five years.”

Chilima, described by Africa Confidential as “a popular figure”, has seen his office budget cut and Public Service Reform removed from his portfolio and returned to Mutharika’s office where a close ally Seodi White is in-charge.

“DPP officials accuse Chilima of having ambitions to take over from Mutharika, a position they expect a Lhomwe to fill,” reports Africa Confidential.

Until Chimunthu re-appeared on the scene, the conventional wisdom was that Mutharika would pair with United Democratic Front (UDF) president Atupele Muluzi who is Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in the Mutharika 20-member cabinet, as his running mate in the 2019 polls.

Now, however,  Muluzi has been addressing UDF political rallies touting to make the party which ruled Malawu from 1994 to 2005 great again but maintains his agenda for ‘Malawi First’ with his slogan ’ Dzuka Malawi, Dzuka.’

During the DPP indaba in 2013 Chimunthu Banda was attacked by a Blue Revolution, a four-page publication distributed to all delegates at the start of the convention, blamed the former  Speaker for “indecisiveness”, alleging that he was nowhere near the party at the time people were deserting it.

“He hid in the sanctuary of the neutrality of the Speaker Office yet his predecessors, honourables Louis Chimango, Sam Mpasu and the late Rodwell Munyenyembe used to identify themselves with their parties outside Parliament…,” the publication said.

DPP spokesman Francis Kasaila said he could not comment on the issue of running mate, saying it was a prerogative of a presidential candidate to choose a preferred deputy.

Kasaila said the re-appearing of Chimunthu Banda indicates that DPP remains popular and still attracting political gurus.

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Mndambala boy
Mndambala boy
7 years ago

Do you want to tell me that Chimunthu Banda sakudziwa kuti DPP just want to use him? Why we people from Central timakonda kugwiritsidwa ntchito? Chimunthu are your serious? Mutu waukulu ngati Dzungu sumaganiza eti? Aaaaàaaaaah Chimunthu chilibe zeru ntchito eti? Umphawi Kodi? What’s wrong with you? Malawi is not for only you guys!!!! Enough of these fools, Young men and women let’s not allow this stupid spirit in our Country, why the same people running our Country like they are the only ones in this country? No no no no no! Nkhalamba izi zikapume, zipume ndipo zisabwereso . Chimunthu… Read more »

bentby
7 years ago

Hello Ada foster chimunthu Banda, ini nge mubali winu waku kaongozi, ndikupemphani chondi kusele DPP chaaa, kumbi mukondwa ndi unkhungu apanga alhomwe awa, kumbi mukondwa ndi masuzgu ngo tikumana nangu? Magesi kubuka usiku peee, apenja kukugwirisani waka ntchitu nge po apangiya ndi grace chiumia, kumuumiliza kuti wakambi ndi wanthu akumupoto kuti asamusiyeku refugee camp. Saniyani chipani chinyaki not Devilish progressive party.

winston msowoya
winston msowoya
7 years ago

Chimunthu Banda,you have dipped your whole head in hot water and that is your tragic and foolish end.Why in towards the end of your brilliant political standing,you opted to align yourself with the most hopeless and hated Head of State Peter Muthalika? Chimunthu,you have lost your personality standing and the wide range of respect you commanded throughout the country,politically,you are done.To Malawians,you are another thief and a tribalist that they will never again trust you.AFORD has many capable people who can navigate the Party to a sweep in Northern Region and negociate with the MCP to form a UNITED FRONT.Time… Read more »

Dzimwale wamkulu
Dzimwale wamkulu
7 years ago

Chimunthu by coming back to SUPPORT the party that has made him what he is today is a good and wise decision; and that is healthy for our mighty DPP and Malawi. So saying he could have form his own party or join these king maker groupings of the north is a laughing matter, coz the so called gurus of north lined up are such just on paper, inu just support the winning parties and dont ever dream of any party in north taking all parliamentary seats, no! NEVER!

Joseph
Joseph
7 years ago

I am also coming from south but do not be fooled that if u pair with khumbo,kamlepo,Uladi,sidick,manganya nd chakwera can make it mmmmm.Remember the more u agree to defeat Dpp,the greater the chance of winning for the Dpp bcz u cant expect Uladi , Mia nd kamlepo or khumbo to speak with one voice so craks will be there then people wont believe their mission.Let mcp nd Dpp fight in 2019 nd see which party wins.Chimunthu is good but he wont chabge anything the best will be Atupele nd Chilima.

KAONGOZI
7 years ago

WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST AS YOU ARE GOING TO THE MIGHTY PARTY. GOD BLESS YOU.YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Mukanya
Mukanya
7 years ago

No MCP IN 2019. GOD FORBID. DZIKO LAKE LITI. ZAYAMBA KALE KUONEKAZI TIDZALIRE KUPOSA PANO. AYI NDITHU. ONCE OUT OF GOVERNMENT BASI WATULUKA OSABWERERANSO.
NGATI MUKUGANIZA ZOWINA 2019 AYI NDITHU REBRAND YOUR PARTY. NOT MCP.

ellias
ellias
7 years ago
Reply to  Mukanya

@ Makanya, you are right!

kukhala
kukhala
7 years ago

CHIMUTHU BANDA HAS NOTHING TO DO IN LIFE. HE IS GREED AND DOES NOT EVEN WANT TO GIVE ROOM TO YOUNG GENERATIONS

mtete
mtete
7 years ago

it’s nice to know Chimunthu is back in DPP because he, as a minister responsible at the time,will assist with investigations into how Malawi was short changed on royalties during Kayerekera negotiations. If you ask me, he will be dumped soon after elections just like Chilumpha, Joyce Banda and, recently, Chilima .This is if, and a big If, they win in 2019. Can’t Chimunthu see DPP just wants to use him? Remember APM’s remark during the run up to DPP leadership? ‘He is Mtonga’

chakwira
chakwira
7 years ago

i support your point #chibalo if hon chakwera can take nkhumbo am telling you hon chakwera will win and chakwera has my support already #mcp 2019 boma

Yahya Jammeh
7 years ago

So, Atupele is as daft as a chicken which will eat its own eggs when it is hungry? What does he mean by “Malawi first ” as if there is any country outside that benefits from Malawi’s assistance. Why not not say “Kapoloma first” to sound rational? The young man must be original and be creative. When Trump keeps saying America first, he means that America must be prioritized to enjoy their own resources before sharing them with poor countries like Malawi that ends up stealing those resources. To talk about Chimunthu counterring Chakwera, that could be a very misplaced… Read more »

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