Crisis brew in Malawi’s ruling DPP

Two legislators in Phalombe are asking the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to discipline the party district governor who has allegedly been holding meetings with traditional leaders to switch off their allegiance to the members of parliament.

Denis Namachekecha and Amos Mailosi are alleging the DPP district governor Reuben Makata is telling traditional leaders that the two MPs had defected to the main opposition, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), an allegation they say is totally false.

“This is not the first time the district governor has been causing problems. This has negative impact in our development agenda in our respective areas,” said Namachekecha.

Mailosi on the other hand asked the party leadership to intervene on the matter as soon as they can, saying the situation has potential of dividing the party.

Namachekecha and Maiosi won the 2014 parliamentary elections as indepedent candidates having floored DPP candidates in their respective areas.

The district governor Makata could neither confirm nor deny the allegations levelled against him by the two legislators.

Party regional governor for the south Charles Mchacha said the party is aware of such political problems in some areas including Phalombe and would soon deal with the issues decisively at an appropriate time.

DPP secretary general Ecklen Kudotoni downplayed the issue, saying “ it will be resolved.”

The differences in the DPP come at a time when the former ruling party, the People’s Party is also sailing through turbulent waters as power struggle continues.

The situation is similar in MCP where some regional chairmen are accusing party leader Lazarus Chakwera of high level nepotism.

The United Democratic Front (UDF)  is struggling to deal with dissent in the party following the firing of party vice president Iqbal Omar and some officials.