Maulidi blasts ministers, asks for PP campaign money donation
With exactly eight months before Malawi goes for the 2014 tripartite elections the ruling People’s Party has upped its stakes by asking cabinet ministers to support it financially and materially, reminding them that their continued stay at the job will depend on their support for the party.
The party’s acting Secretary General Paul Maulidi said this during the official opening of PP northern region provisional offices at Mapale Residential Suburbs in Mzuzu city on Monday.
Maulidi said those Ministers that do not support the party are “questionable”.
“Our supporters lack transport, food and party regalia and yet we have so many Ministers. I would want to remind our Ministers that PP is for us all and that for us to be Ministers today it is because of PP hence lets render our support,” said Maulidi.
But some ministers and deputies who spoke to Nyasa Times on condition of anonymity described the party’s ‘forced donations/support’ as naive and archaic.
“Support and donations should be earned or based on empathy, sympathy or love and not coerced. This is not fair,” said a Cabinet Minister.
Maulidi’s trumpet call for support came following revelations that Minister of Justice Ralph Kasambara had donated one desktop computer to northern region office.
“Some Ministers have never set foot in our offices or seen our party Headquarters. Even at the headquarters (in Blantyre) we do not have a computer. If Ministers can support the party then this could lessen the pressure on our President Dr Joyce Banda who has been supporting the party since its formation,” Maulidi said.
Apart from Kasambara’s donation, Vice President’s Khumbo Kachali donated two desktop computers’, the party’s Treasurer General Harry Mkandawire’s donated an electric cooker.
Other donations include Mk100,000 from Professor Eta Banda, MK50,000 from Professor David Mphande and an undisclosed number of maize bags from a Mrs Malopa Gondwe.
Kasambara, who is also PP’s National Director of legal Affairs, received plaudits from Maulidi and PP’s Provincial Chairperson for the north Frank Mwenifumbo for voluntarily supporting the party with either cash or materials.
“If all Ministers could be like Honourable Kasambara then PP would be well off than now. He came for other duties but decided to come and witness the opening of the provincial office.
“Many ministers come to the north but do not want to involve themselves with party work,” Mwenifumbo said.
Last month the PP in the northern region demanded fuel from aspirants so that it establishes new committees after dissolving the old ones.
Mwenifumbo defended the move, saying Mwenifumbo saying the party is not a profit making organization hence needs support.
“There is nothing wrong with that. Party members must be able to support the party. It also reflects party ownership,” he said.
