Kabambe for politics of service to common good: Ex Reserve Bank of Malawi governor joins DPP  as party moves to replace Mutharika

The former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) governor Dalitso Kabambe has joined mainstream politics  by  registering his membership with erstwhile ruing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and is being touted to run for the party’s president at the yet to be announced elective convention.

Kabambe, a holder of  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD ) in economics, a technocrat who has served in public sector for 23 years in different roles including as Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  announced his entry to frontline politics  at DPP Southern Region headquarters in Sunnyside, Blantyre on Thursday, December 31 2020.

Cutting his teeth to political oratory, Kabambe  said he was making a first move to “register  as DPP member and work with politicians in offering roadmap to politics  of service  to the common good rather than as a power grab.”

He refused to be drawn on contesting for leadership of the party, saying he was making political baby steps as new entrant.

Kabambe said  he would offer his input to coming up with  economic policies that help the poor people.

“After being removed as Reserve Bank governor [by the Tonse Alliance administration],I decided to find people to work with because I am not garbage, hence, my joining DPP,” said Kabambe speaking fluently in local lingua Chichewa.

In his speech,  that marked by sharp oratory laced with humour, Kabambe said he could have decided to go into private sector to work but wants to help DPP rebuild and could serve the nation from frontline politics.

“ I still have a lot to offer the nation and I could do it from the political front,” Kabambe said as hundreds of DPP supporters  heard his speech in rapt attention.

On running for presidency, Kabambe  said it was “too early to comment on the matter” as 2025, when the next election would be held in the country, was four years away.

But he stressed that  “it is important for DPP to re-organise.”

Some DPP youths were seen wearing T-shirts with Kabambe’s portrait emblazoned on the chest and a caption ‘DK2025’  apparently standing for Daliso Kabambe 2025.

DPP regional governor for the south, Charles Mchacha said the coming in of Kabambe will make the presidential contest more competitive to fill the leadership shoes of the country’s immediate-past president Peter Mutharika.

Party sources have  mentioned  DPP vice-president (Southern Region) Kondwani Nankhumwa,  DPP vice-president (Eastern Region) Bright Msaka,  former ministers Joseph Mwanamvekha and  George Chaponda as the other aspirants.

Mchacha said  Mutharika resolved that people were free to express interest to contest at a convention whose date would be announced.

Nankhumwa, who has long been touted as one of the frontrunners to succeed Mutharika and is currently Leader of Opposition in Parliament, could not immediately comment and was not available to welcome Kabambe.

On the other hand, Msaka, who is chairing DPP’s Functional Review Committee, could not be reached for comment.

DPP lost in the June 23 2020 Fresh Presidential Election to the nine-party Tonse Alliance led by MCP president Lazarus Chakwera who partnered Mutharika’s then estranged Vice-President Saulos Chilima of UTM Party on the presidential ticket.

Peter Mutharika took over the leadership of DPP after the death of his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012, propelling the party to victory in the 2014 Tripartite Elections.

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