Jumbe rules out joining DPP: ‘I remain MP for Malawi Congress Party’

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) executive member Felix Jumbe has played down reports that he wants to dump the party that  sponsored him into parliament for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Jumbe made the remarks after some members of the MCP openly attacked him on social media, describing him as a “sale out” after he made complimentary remarks to President Peter Mutharika when he visited his constituency on April 15 to launch a water project.

He said although he is a member of parliament, who won the elections on MCP ticket, he can interact with the government on professional issues.

“This type of politics can derail development. I am a member of parliament for the MCP and for the government too. We ask development projects in parliament from government so we cannot avoid interacting with the government officials,” he said.

He said those who think he could not have attended the official launch of the water project by the President in Salima Central constituency where he is MP are myopic.

“I have never talked to the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) privately. I talk to them on professional issues,” he said.

Jumbe angered his party leadership and followers when during the water project launch, he said there was enough maize in the country and no one died of hunger.

This was in sharp contrast to the view of the MCP which maintained there were acute food shortages in the country that led to deaths, a view trashed by Mutharika and his DPP led government.

Jumbe said he was insulted after the statement by some MCP zealots especially on Facebook but maintained his relationship with the MCP president Lazarus Chakwera and other party leaders is still intact and talks to the party president when there was need to do so.

He said he was grateful to the government that the farm input subsidy program went on extremely well in his constituency.

“Actually we had fertilizer more than what we needed, some bags had to be returned,” said Jumbe.

He also said he secures easily some government contracts on seeds and other farming activities.