Harry Mkandawire rejects political whore tag: ‘DPP and PP share same UDF root’

Harry Mkandawire who recently resigned as vice-president for the People’s Party (PP) has dismissed his critics who accuse him of sleeping in one party today and wakes up in another one tomorrow – at will – for self-serving purpose.

Mkandawire has been criticised of being an opportunist who is out to simply jump at the slightest opportunity that appears in any ruling party for him to realise his ambition.

But Mkandawire has clarified that his resignation from PP founded by former president Joyce Banda, was not in preparation for a return to the Democratic Progressive Party(DPP) which he dumped after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012.

Previously, Mkandawire also served as United Democratic Front (UDF) regional governor (North) before joining DPP.

“I am not going anywhere else. I am a member of the PP and as of now I remain so,” said Mkandawire in an interview published by Weekend Nation newspaper.

Asked if he can be trusted as a politician as people have known him to be a “ political vagabond”, Mkandawire said: “No, I am not a political prostitute or vagabond as you put it.

“Look at most of the politicians, without mentioning names, they have been to all the parties you have mentioned and if you look at these three parties, their genesis is the same; they all came from the UDF. Really there’s no difference and in as far as I am concerned DPP and PP are one and share the same root. The PP president came from DPP and UDF and I don’t know what’s the issue is here.”

Despite resigning as PP vice president (northern region), Mkandawire said he will still serve the party as its MP and “ just an ordinary member”.

He said: “I am comfortable with being like any other PP supporter out there in the village.”

Mkandawire explained that he resigned from PP leadership because the party hasn’t been forthcoming on Cashgate allegations levelled against some top leaders.

Asked that Cashgate was exposed about two years ago, why he didn’t resign then, Mkandawire said: “No, I couldn’t resign then. What I wanted to know was the element of truth and when I saw that some people had started getting arrested I knew this thing is for real.”

Last week DPP secretary general Ecklen Kudontoni said DPP will not leave its door to nomadic politicians to join its rank and file, saying most of them are simply looking for sympathy and favours from the current administration.

His remarks well deemed to be targeting at politicians like Mkandawire.

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