DPP goes to town on Sidik Mia

Malawi’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says it would turn down former cabinet minister Sidik Mia to rejoin the party, stating he dumped DPP when the party needed him most soon after the death of former president Bingu wa Mutharika.

DPP spokesperson Francis Kasaila said in an interview claims by Mia published in a local newspaper that the Peter Mutharika party were courting him were baseless.

“Why should we lose sleep over him when we are already in government? We won the election without him. He is no longer relevant to us,” said Kasaila.

Kasaila said the party has vivid memories of how Mia dumped the party upon the sudden death of Mutharika, stating he defected to People’s Party even before the body of the former head of state was repatriated from South Africa.

Mutharika died of heart attack in April at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe triggering mass exodus of his cabinet ministers from DPP to Joyce Banda’s PP soon after she was sworn in as president.

Kasaila said Mia is “no longer relevant”.

Analysts view Kasaila’s remarks as “battle for Lower Shire” as the two belong to that part of he country where they wield political influence. Mia is a political giant in that area.

Mia dumped PP just before the election after the PP allegedly rebuffed his moves to make him running mate to Banda who came third in the presidential race.

He then backed UDF, a party that is in political working relationship with the DPP in parliament.

Mia said he is “switched off” to politics and is surprised with people dragging his name into front-line politics.

“My focus is on my farming business. I am out of touch with politics,” he told Nyasa Times.

“I had my time in politics, as of now let me do my business ,” he said.