Mai Chiponda expresses regrets for sticking with DPP when they oppressed JB
Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leading campaigner for the 2009 polls, Mai Margaret Chiponda, has expressed regret for not joining President Joyce Banda and her team immediately they were fired from the party.
Chiponda, the brain behind the 2009 DPP campaign hit single ‘Angwazi Senderani’ said she could have followed President Banda and her Vice Khumbo Kachali had she known it was the making of their presidency.
The former DPP Deputy Director of Women grieved over her action Monday in the central district of Kasungu during President Banda’s rally.
The President had a political rally in Kasungu on her to way to the Northern Region where she has lined up several official engagements.
Chiponda, who was also an advisor on women affairs to late President Bingu wa Mutharika, defected from DPP and joined the ruling People’s Party (PP) in September last year, some five months after Banda took over office.
And commenting on Mai Chiponda’s sentiments, the President assured the former DPP member to feel at home while in PP.
Making no direct reference to individuals, President Banda appealed to PP founding members to accommodate everyone and desist from practicing politics of ‘ndife nkhala-kale’ (we are the first pioneers).
For the first time, President Banda publicly admitted that the current PP support base was not strong enough to guarantee her triumph in the 2014 presidential race.
She told her party members: “If you really love me, you will see the need of opening our doors wider for more people to enter because you are not even enough to give me the presidency.”
