Jumbe not bitter with MCP demotion: Chakwera shakes up politburo

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) lawmaker Felix Jumbe has displayed sheer modesty when he pledged to support party president Lazarous Chakwera despite being demoted from position of Director of Campaign in the executive committee to second deputy director of strategic planning.

Jumbe also stressed that he is not bitter with Chakwera’s move to drop him from Campaign post, saying he will support and campaign for MCP.

“ I am not bitter for having been dropped as campaign director,” Jumbe, who is Salima Central MP, told Nyasa Times.

“I will now concentrate doing my business and finish my PHD studies in entrepreneurship by 2018,” said Jumbe.

The MP, however, felt Chakwera has “dumped” him and Njobvuyalema.

Jumbe, recently reported to have fallen out of favour, has been replaced with Vitus Dzoole Mwale who is deputised by Mirriam Mzanda.

The former deputy at campaign directorate, Joseph Njobvuyalema, now deputises Tony Kandiyero at internal affairs where former diplomat John Chikago has also been roped in as the second deputy.

Lingson Berekanyama, who was director of research, has also been dropped.

Chakwera’s reshuffle of MCP national executive committee (NEC) has maintained vice-presidents Richard Msowoya and Mac Lombola as well as maintaining publicity secretary Jessie Kabwira and a youthful parliamentarian Ezekiel Ching’oma have as her deputy.

The MCP leader did not draft in party returnees Abel Kayembe, Sosten Gwengwe, George Zulu and Kalazi Mbewe.

Chakwera, who is also leader of opposition in Parliament, has drafted former speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango as legal adviser to replace Lewis Chakhwantha who has since been moved to head the youth committee, replacing Lobin Lowe who is now the party’s organising secretary.

New faces introduced into the NEC include former deputy minister of Finance Dr Cornelius Mwalwanda and former Blantyre City Central member of Parliament (MP) Eunice Makangala who served in Cabinets of former presidents Bingu wa Mutharika (deceased) and Joyce Banda under the banners of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and People’s Party (PP).

The party has also roped in Chenda Mkandawire from Alliance for democracy (AFORD) for the position of Second deputy director of elections.

The party has also elevated the senior veterans, Foloma Mwale, Mai Dinala, Mr Chisenga and Mai Nyachunga as NEC advisors to President.