Convention only solution to DPP civil war — Commentators
Political commentators say an elective conference is the only solution for the political problems rocking the former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which turned ugly on Friday.
DPP is facing political upheavals since the party was ousted from power at the ballot box on June 23, 2020.
The intraparty in fighting led to a fracas that happened last Friday in Lilongwe where some senior DPP officials including the party’s interim spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira held a press conference.
Mpinganjira and his colleagues were physically assaulted by thugs who invaded the room for allegedly trying to dent the image of the party’s Vice President for the South Kondwani Nakhumwa.
DPP regional governors from four regions have given i Nankhumwa seven days to apologise for allegedly sponsoring acts of violence against Mpinganjira.
But Nankhumwa has denied any involvement in the Mpinganjira assault, describing the claims as defamation and character assassination.
Nankhumwa denied hiring thugs to disrupt the Lilongwe meeting.
A political science lecturer at the Blantyre International University-BIU, Sherif Kaisi, believes an elective convention would help to resolve the divisions.
Another political scientist Wonderful Mkuche echoes Kaisi, adding that it is important for the party to work on putting its house in order.
University of Malawi’s Chancellor College political science lecturer Mustafa Hussein has said the developments in DPP have exposed the party’s lack of intra-party democracy.
He said in quotes reported by The Nation newspaper that there is too much political intolerance within the party which is limiting any space for dialogue.
Said Hussein: “The feuds that are there between Nankhumwa and the party could have been resolved a long time ago had the party embraced contact and dialogue. Failure by the leaders to discuss their differences amicably will just kill the party. They need to resolve the infighting and hasten the convention.”
On his part, another Chancellor College political and administrative studies Professor Happy Kayuni also told the paper that a convention would solve all the current squabbles. also said a convention would solve
He said: “There are some stakeholders within the DPP that fear that with a convention, they may lose their positions; hence, delaying the process. Some feel that the party will break apart, but it’s better to disagree now than when they are close to elections.”
Meanwhile, DPP spokesperson Mpinganjira has disclosed that the party has decided to hold the convention in 2023 to allow time for resolving outstanding issues such as filling vacant posts within party structures.
He said DPP has “some groundwork” to do before a meaningful convention is held.
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Phokoso basi koma convention kuti ipangike lero titha kuwona kuti ndi anthu ochepa omwe apereke ndalama kuti convention itheke. Mukufuna anthu adzipereka ndalama koma mudziwanyoza akati alamulire chipanicho.
May be by that time Nankhumba will have lost the belly fat and sorted out his school certificates, ………
Only idiots hold a convention 5 years before elections. What’s the rush?
Nankhumwa is causing all these chaos DPP is facing.He was the one sponsoring the thugs to oppress opposition parties and DPP were happy with it and now he is turning to them.H e groom the likes of Jomo and others and now the DPP is reaping what they sowed.
The number one confusionist in DPP is no other than the current leader, APM. Why on earth is he sponsoring an individual instead of letting members freely make a choice. It’s obvious that he hates certain individuals, perhaps because he knows they will not protect ill-gotten millions once his time is up.
It would be folly to hold a convention 5 years before elections. Then come 2024 what will they do?
I don’t think convention is the only solution. We have precedence in Malawi’s political where convention didn’t solve. If the people in DPP believes that some people are not abiding by what party stand for, then let them go.
With the chaos currently going on in the party you can’t set 2023 as date for convention. That’s burying your head in the sand or simply enjoying seeing the party crumbling. It will be in pieces by 2023. First of all there is no official announcement on the retirement of Mutharika. Convention is needed yesterday.
Nankhumwa should take the DPP in any way, and hit them hard so that Madala team should be off.Peter should not cling to the part as if he knows about its formation. Let him go to America and see where is he going to settle. Kondwani is the rightful candidate for DPP and not anyone else you might think of.Ena aja kulankhula ngati kamwana keni keni.He is not a sounding president. Mtenje you will meet his lawyers soon as they are putting papers in order.
Kicking out rebels is also a solution. Remember mcp kicked out its vice president and secretary General Richard msowoya and Gustav kaliwo before without holding convention. It the administration of discipline which solves problems and steadies a party. Convention can wait