DPP appoints Msaka as VP for Eastern Malawi

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has appointed Minister of Energy, Natural Resources and Environment, Bright Msaka as party vice president for the eastern region ousting long serving Yunus Mussa.

National governing council member Jappie Mhango backed the appointment of Msaka, saying he is a loyal party member.

He said Mussa has been assigned other duties which he did not specify.

Msaka and other DPP members who were arrested along with President Peter Mutharika by Joyce Banda, the former head of state for their reluctance to hand over power to her after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika, are now the president’s inner circle.

These include Henry Mussa, Kondwani Nankhumwa, and Patricia Kaliati who are all cabinet ministers and Nicholas Dausi, a trusted intelligence chief.

Chancellor College political scientist expressed surprise at the appointment of Msaka for the senior political appointment in the party, saying the lawyer cum politician is more of a technocrat than a political activist.

“I am not sure how effective he will be in political mobilisation,” said Chunga.

He described his appointment as political appeasement, a system that has killed parties in the past.

“You don’t expect these positions to be filled with accomplices,” said Chunga.

Msaka, who comes from Machinga, will have to drum support for the party from Zomba, Machinga, Balaka and Mangochi competing with the party bedfellow, the United Democratic Front which has a political base in the region.

DPP insiders say Msaka, Henry Mussa and Foreign Affairs Minister George Chaponda are all aspiring to succeed President Peter Mutharika when he retires.