DPP belittles Mcheka Chilenje, says she a spent force

Officials from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are playing down the defection to the ruling party of one of the party senior members, Esther Mcheka Chilenje, saying it has no impact.

DPP spokesperson Shadreck Namalomba said the defection of M’cheka Chilenje, who has joined the governing MCP, will not in any way impact its popularity.

“She stood on a DPP ticket as an MP and lost, meaning she wasn’t a force to reckon with. She is a spent force for the politics of this generation. She should have just retired,” said Namalomba.

Namalomba said the DPP respects M’cheka Chilenje’s decision, stating that she has exercised her freedom of association.

M’cheka Chilenje, who once served as the first deputy speaker and also as the lawmaker for Nsanje North constituency, was welcomed into the MCP fold by President Chakwera at a public function in Mwanza yesterday.