Independents have not joined DPP, some agree to be toeing ruling party line
Some of the independent legislators who met President Peter Mutharika on 1 June 2019 at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre, where they were lure to join his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Parliament have clarified they have not joined the governing party’s fold but will be in support.
Some members who attended the Sanjika meeting were also said to have met leader of oppositition Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and pledged their support to the opposition benches for checks and balances.
“At Sanjika Palace the DPP was coaxing us as an independent block to support them during the elections of Speaker but as a block we can meet anyone even if Dr Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party wants us today we are ready to see him,” said one of the legislators from central region.
He said the Sanjika meeting was purely for Parliamentary business.
The legislator added that the members will make personal choices with their areas and Constituency committees on whether to join DPP or MCP, saying the decision is personal.
The presidential press secretary Mgeme Kalilani confirmed that the President met 30 of the newly-elected independent members of Parliament (MPs) at the presidential palace.
He said the Independents who came to Sanjika “ would want to work with government.”
And DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi, in a separate interview, said the governing party has an open-door policy and will welcome all those seeking to work with it.
“Politics is dynamic and the DPP has an open-door policy. All those that want to serve people are welcome to join us. People are elected to serve, it is a service to the community,” he said.
The independents who met Mutharika include Joseph Nomale who floored long-time legislator and ex-Cabinet minister Henry Mussa in Chiradzulu East, Ephraim Abele Kayembe of Dowa West and Mzimba West’s Billy Kaunda.
Mzimba Luwerezi’s Sam Chirwa, who did not attend the Saturday meeting, also declared his interest to work with government.
The newly-elected legislator, who is husband to former Cabinet minister Grace Chiumia, said he was the first to express interest to work with government.
In the parliamentary race in the May 21 Tripartite Elections, DPP won 62 seats in the 193-seat National Assembly while Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and independents got 55 each. The other seats were shared as follows: United Democratic Front (UDF) 10 seats, People’s Party (PP) five, UTM Party four and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) one. Elections were held in 192 constituencies.
Parliament has set June 17 and 18 as dates for swearing in the 2019-2019 cohort of legislators.
Clerk of Parliament Fiona Kalemba said in a statement that the legislators’ oath of office will be followed by election of the House’s Speaker, First Deputy Speaker and Second Deputy Speaker.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
The problem is the people who voted for him. This is a man who was rejected in Blantyre because of poor performance. He is someone who can hardly articulate issues in the national assembly and yet people voted for him. This is missed opportunity for the people who voted for him.Alas
MCP plus PP means a stinking deal for northerners. Alhomwe siosewela nao. We have the numbers. We will rule this country as long as we want. In 2024 tikuwinanso. How can a party with the highest number of parliamentary seats fail to win the presidency? Even an immediately discharged person from mental hospital will know that its impossible.
How many times did Chakwera win assemblies of God elections as the president of the church? Was he rigging the election? Just accept defeat.
BILLY KAUNDA !!!!!!! CHIGOLO CHAKO CHA NDALAMA CHAMKUKUPELEKA KUTALI.Brother Kaunda,why betraying the Northerners for your own-agrandisiment? Are you not ashamed of your shameful betrayal of your own people? YUDA ESKALIOT,you will not go farther with your present domain,because not only Northerners are the victims of this regime,but also an overwhelming Malawians are living in fear and in difficult life as if Malawi belongs to the LOMWES alone.Billy,you have lost your SOUL Shame.
Shame Billy kaunda he does not know that Chakufwa Chihana his political career was finished because he joine UDF shame on you see you in 2024
Even if the led gvt goes to wrong direction,they will support it,no prinscipled politichans in malawi…(a kwapita mphepo)
Pali kusiyana Bwanji Kuphatikana ndi Oyipayo ndi kugwira Ntchito zacheke Zogawanisa ndi Kubera Mtundu wa Amalawi. These People should Realise that the Political Climate is no longer the Same …Change Golo Politics Sizikuthandizani: Majority of Malawians 1.Want 50+1 President 2.Independent ACB 3.Independent Electoral Commission. 4Access to Information. Ngati Mutofuna kukhala ma Condom a DPP all the Best..
Any difference in supporting and joining?
Dyera ndilime lamanga nthenje pa Malawi. Dziko ili silingatukuke kamba kamchitidwe uwu. Chifukwa ninji the whole tippex government calling for independent MPs. Useless.
ADYETSENI MA INDIPENDENT MPs MA MABANZI NDI CHOLINGA CHOTI ZOFUNA ZANU MU PARLIAMENT ZIZIKADUTSA, MIND YU THOUGH YU CAN DO THAT YU MU AWARE THAT GOD IS ANGRY WITH YOUR FOOLISH PLANS
Mesa mmati they joined DPP? FAKE NEWS
Shameless little people from a shameless little country.
Umphawi a malawi ukupangitsa zonsezi
I don’t blame Esau for selling his birth rite.
Did I hear someone say Sanjika meeting was a purely parliamentary business? Shame
I feel sorry for my brother Billy Kaunda. Brother you better remain independent you are don’t be too hungry with money. I bet you udya zomwezi next time you will be gone for good. Udziwe kuti DPP yakoyi anthu sakuyifuna and ikamapita ukachita masewera upita nayo limodzi. And to the rest of you independents plz put the welfare of your electorates at heart not only your family affair. Why joining these killers. You mean anthu awa simukuwadziwa kuti they are evil. Shame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
Billy Kaunda,don’t join dipipi.Ngati ukufuna kuti uzawineso 2024,usalowe chipanicho.Dipipi ndiyankhaza,pliz Honourable Billy Kaunda.Pangani xotukula Mzimba West Constituency.