Kabwila ‘demoted’ as Malawi Congress Party reshuffle frontbench in Parliament

Wanga Gwede –Nyasa Times

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP)leadership of Lazarus Chakwera is plunged into chaos— as he carried out a disastrous frontbench reshuffle  moving maverick Salima North West Parliamentarian  Dr Jessie Kabwila to the backbench.

Kabwila, who is also spokeswoman for MCP, has of late been overshadowed in the party.

MCP appointed another lawmaker Alekeni Menyani as Public Relations Officer of the party, effectively acting a bigger role of prolocutor of the party instead of Kabwila.

Kabwila has been moved to the six row on the party benches in the House, a clear parliamentary demotion.

Also moved is party ‘rebel’ Felix Jumbe. The Salima central lawmaker has joined Kabwila in the six row from fourth row.

Kasungu South East member, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has relocated to the front bench.

The relocation of MPs in parliament is said to have caused tension within the rank and file of MCP.

But MCP deputy secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka downplayed the reshuffled, saying the party continue reinventing its image.

In August last year Chakwera reshuffled the MCP politburo by moving around some old faces and roping in new ones.

New faces introduced into the NEC then included former deputy minister of Finance Cornelius Mwalwanda and former Blantyre City Central MP Eunice Makangala who served in Cabinets of former presidents Bingu wa Mutharika (deceased) and Joyce Banda under the banners of DPP and PP.

Chakwera, who is also leader of opposition in Parliament, spared his vice-presidents Richard Msowoya and Mac Lombola.

The MCP leader also drafted into the NEC former speaker of parliament Louis Chimango as legal adviser to replace Lewis Chakhwantha who was moved to head the youth committee and replaced Lobin Lowe who is now the organising secretary.

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