Divisions split Malawi opposition to two factions: DPP-Mutharika and DPP-Nankhumwa
Disunity and squabbles within main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has split the party into two factions with one led by the country’s immediate past president Peter Mutharika (DPP-Mutharika) and the other led by leader of opposition in parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa (DPP-Nankhumwa).
The DPP secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey, who is aligning with the DPP-Nankhumwa, has since called for an emergency National Governing Council (NGC) meeting in Lilongwe on Saturday to map the way forward for the party following the political turmoil.
But DPP-Mutharika’s spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira has since said the party has not sanctioned nor called for any NGC meeting “either Saturday October 3 or any time in the next few days.”
Mpinganjira said DPP has already announced plans to hold an NGC meeting after the Functional Review Committee has completed its task and presented its findings and recommendations to the Central Committee at the end of October.
“The power to call for an NGC meeting does not lie in any particular individual, however high their station in life might be. Rather, such powers lie in the institutions of the party,” said Mpinganjira in a statement seen by Nyasa Times.
He added: “The Central Committee of the party, chaired by the party president, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, will normally determine when such a meeting will take place. Thereafter, the Secretary General, after consulting the party president, would inform all NGC members of the planned meeting.
“Any announcement of an NGC meeting that has not evolved from this process is merely aimed at sowing seeds of confusion among the rank and file of the party.”
But Jeffrey remained defiant that DPP executive members should attend the emergency meeting and that if they form a quorum they will proceed.
Meanwhile, Parliament has upheld the election of Nankhumwa as Leader of Opposition. Speaker Catherine Gotani Hara officially announced in the House on Friday that the election process of Nankhumwa by the DPP party met all requirements of Parliamentary standing orders.
But Mpinganjira said DPP will be taking “corrective measures.”
He did not elaborate. But Nyasa Times sources within DPP indicate that the party wants to expel Nankhumwa.
“Very soon the party will make its position on the matter clear. We are very aware of the requirement of the law,” said Mpinganjira, a former lawmaker.
If DPP expels Nankhumwa, he is likely to be followed by legislators led by chairperson of the backbenchers Victor Musowa.
Musowa told Nyasa Times that they want to fight for good governance from within to restore support from the electorate in the run-up to the next general election.
The MPs, who claim the alliance now has 40 parliamentarians, argued that Nankhumwa has the support of the various leaders within the party.
“Most of the DPP youth are supporting Nankhumwa, who himself is 42-years-old,” said Musowa, “So they see him as the future of the DPP. The other camp [DPP-Mutharika] has people in their 60s and 80s.”
DPP-Mutharika has in their camp Mpinganjira, Francis Mphepo, Bright Msaka, Francis Kasaila, Goodall Gondwe, Jean Kalirani, Samuel Tembenu, Everton Chimulirenji and George Chaponda.
Political and governance commentators have warned DPP against transforming in a fiefdom of Mutharika, saying the party was headed for disaster if the leadership does not properly look into the issues.
Governance expert Makhumbo Munthali told Nyasa Times that the decision to call for NGC meeting is welcome if the purpose of doing such a review is indeed to improve how the party is governed as part of the broader project of restoring its lost glory.
However, Munthali observed a Special Committee which is led by Msaka may not have been sanctioned by the NGC but instead by the party president Mutharika and inner circle in the process raising suspicion on the motives of such a review.
“Some would view such a process as merely aimed at advancing the narrow selfish interests of the party president and his inner circle (perhaps to target or reward certain individuals) and then use the NGC forum to simply rubber stamp the decision,” said Munthali.
He said the Special Committee if it gets NGC nod would enhance acceptance and recognition of its work and subsequent recommendations report.
“ In the ideal situation DPP should have adhered to its party Constitution and democratic tenets by first convening a National Governing Council to agree whether there was need to have a functional review or not and then come up with a special committee to do that job.
“To put it in other words, the people to do the functional review need to have mandate from NGC or a Convention, and the very question to do a functional review must have the blessings of the NGC not just few people within Mutharika inner circle,” said Munthali.
Political analyst Humphrey Mvula observed the events in DPP reflected a toxic relationship among party members. He warned that intimidating each other within the party will be counterproductive and the party maybe relegated into the dustbin of political history.
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DPP CLOSE TO THE FINAL RESTING INCLUDING THE FORMER TOP BOSS MATHANYULA.THIS IS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF MALAWI EXPECTED. MUTHALIKA WAS SURRUONDED BY ROUGUES IN THE NAMES OF MPINGANJIRA,B.J. CHAPONDA,BRIGHT MSAKA,NANKHUMWA,
DPP needs to get rid of Mntharika in any way possible. He will constitute a poison that will finish DPP. He has serves and he is done period
Nankhumwa , don’t play around within DPP. If you feel that you are a powerful leader this is the time to form your own party because what you are doing it shows that you can’t stand on your own.
Uteleku Bwana Gondwe amakatani Ku meetingko? Such a spent cartridge!
Call Nankhumwa all sorts of names but the truth is that he is a force to reckon with and blame him for the mess in DPP. My finger points at APM, BJ, Chaponda and difficult to believe, Gert. In the event Nankhumwa forms his own party, this will be the end of DPP. Signs are all there. Election of Nankhumwa as leader of opposition says it all.
GETRUDE MUTHARIKA LIKELY TO BE APPOINTED ACTING PRESIDENT OF DPP
Mbuli Nankhumwa musamuchemerere. He is a confusionist. Muthalika was stupid to trust mbuli. Muthalika thought he was fortifying the Lomwe belt and now you see?
dpp is the offshoot of udf. PP is the offshoot of dpp. UTM is the offshoot of dpp. FP is the offshoot of PP. MCP is still intact. Musova.
a cimwenji afela za eni .yao ndi njuga awa ndi kutukwana komwe kuja.
anazolowera kuyan’ganila anthu okumba miseu ya DRIMP kumanya cimanga coocha ndi mizimbe mmakwalalamu. lelo angoti buuli. koma nde yaaa. waku dambwe padera
madoda okhaokha. gudo gondwe yemwe anazimwaza ndalama za Vision 2020. uyu.kungomufinya afa ndi bp.mark my words
komadi pakamwa mpa bomadi. mau amalenga.
Ndizawanyenyanyenya eyyyyy
ndizyawasokonezya eyyyyyyyyu
ndizyawaphwanyaphwanya eyyyyyy
ndizyawazyunguza eyyyyyyy
azyalila kuti waaaaaaasa eyyyyy
n goma kuti bhitibhiti bhitibhiti
Elson muluzi akuti ”olo atindithula dumu nkamwa sindingavotele dpp” ndapenga!!!!!!!! lyolyolyolyo.
pitala ameneyo wangocita tsoka nguluwe zinatha ku mangoci.
mamuna ozisaka kucoka mu bedsitter ku South Bend kuzafikila mu mansion. with Clueless idea ya leadership. Anazolowera copy and paste. kick his ass out
Which youth is siding with Nakhumwa I beg. Everything that was wrong with DPP is on the functioning side of Nakhumwa, the jomos, the happy’s the Jeffrey’s, so for anyone to say that Nakhumwa is a right candidate to lead this party is just a lie and an tonse propaganda to destroy it. The sooner these guys are removed the better.
The mistake Peter made is putting these fringe politician, that Bingu kept on a distance, into cabinet and decision making position. Now that there is no power and govt money he is clearly seeing them now. Good riddance
Now you can see property, looted money blinded you. The Prince of thieves had a very clear agenda himself and his appointment of cabinet, CEOs in parastals, kuiyika anthu osaphunzila in positions of influence, lhomelisation of the civil service, using Chisale to steal, etc. Lonse lija linali dala. Greed and total centralization of power to himself.
Now that money is no longer there it has backfired. The Prince of thieves is evil and he has to pay the prize, physically or psychologically
Ife tiri duuuuuu kuyendetsa dziko
Where does this leave Atupele and UDF??? They have been left hanging kikikikikikiki
Ndiye Ellison Bakili Muluzi akuti chiyani panopa? M’dala opusa zedi amene uja, opanda nzeru
The Old vs The Young
Apa ndiye zadziwikilatu Kuti Muluzi amasangalala akamatipusitsa ife a Chawa anzakefe. Nanga lero akuti chiyani, akamawona a Lhomwe akupindilana ndevu nkamwa? AChawa tulo basi kuzolowela sadaka, uji
It’s now clear that people like Nankhumwa, Jappie, Grezielda etc pretended to be be solidly behind Muthalika because of money. Now that APM is toothless they have nothing to do with him. No matter what happens this is the end of dpp. MCP went through this when the likes of Charles Kamphulusa, Lida Magaga etc left the party. That was however different because udf used money to cause confusion. Dpp’s confusion is from within. Udf stole Press Corporation from MCP. MCP survived all these temptations. Will dpp survive the civil war?
We are just watching while on VIP stand when things are unfolding in DPP.
This is another blessing to SKC and UTM as a whole coz the end of DPP is fast approaching .
By the year 2025 DPP will be history and it’s a sudden death for this party which used to be a force to reckon with.
This has come due to poor leadership style by its leader called Peter Muntharika or its due to old age.
Mr Muntharika , plz learn to let go things u can not control otherwise expect high blood pressure . At your age leave politics to young ones and enjoy your last days by being a leader of the church.
Am afraid, I can’t be one of your church member with this attitude of yours coz it swems u might lead your members to the Grave.
Madam speaker, I reckon that is the third time you are declaring nankhumwa as leader of opposition. And its only three months of chakwera’s reign.
The architect of all the squabbles in DPP is Brown Mpinganjira. Open your eyes Peter. You are killing the party.
Koma Mbuzi za tonse, how can the election meet parliamentary standing orders when the sponsoring party is refusing? The mere fact that the current leadership of the dpp is refusing means prof nankhumwa is only acting leader of opposition until the mess is resolved.
What does tonse alliance gain by manoeuvring to elect their favourite candidate for Loo?
Ankolo I think you are blind, was tonse alliance available when APM and his folks decided to fire the Nakhumwaz, and secondly please pangani follow parliament proceedings where you will see that its actually a Dpp mp from Mulanje who rose and asked the Speaker to allow them to vote for the Leader of opposition other than being dictated by muntharika.
You can hate Tonse alliance but on this one you got it wrong ankolo kumapanga follow ngini before writing.
Mess imeneyi ndiyakumtundu wa Dpp Osati blame game mukuyambayi
If i were APM I would tell the Nankhumwa camp that my mandate as DPP president expires in 2023 and I will have the birthright to seek re-election and be the party’s 2025 presidential candidate. Those who want Nankhumwa as president let them start their own party.
Chipani sitichita cholanda ai, mukuthamangira kuti or mukufuna kubisa chani mukautenga mpandowu.
Kunali anzanu kuMCP a Gwanda ataona kuti MCP executive was behind JZU he left and started is own Republican Party, omufanayo analondola.
Abwana Nankhumwa ngati muli dolo ngat Chilima kayambeni chipani chanu nda Grezeder wanuyo. DPP panopa ndi ya APM kaya imufera mmanja ndiyake.
Anaonetsa udolo atasankha Chilima as runningmate and brought back DPP to power in 2014, aipe lero?
Kunali UDF, AFORD, PP, etc aeniakewo zinaafera mmanja ife tinanyenyeka.
BJ and friends tieni nawo awa, expel them kaya titsalamo anthu 1000 tizaimitsa presidential candidate wanthu pamene enawa akuufuna mpandowu to be Chilima’s running mate. What a load of shit!
Dpp mmesa analandanso mbava Bingu from UDF nkuiveka chinyau?
It might help to tell people the composition of DPP, NGC,rather than giving yourselves dubious titles of Political analysts.
List the council Jeffrey will tell you if you ask her,or get a copy of the constitution.
Don’t give people far fetched tinted opinions based on where your bread buttered.
Today it’s when you recognize APM and folks to be over 60 and 80 years. Positions and brown envelopes made you look at this people as young
CHIPASUPASU CHA ANGONI PA MATENGO.