Mayoral polls divide Malawi ruling DPP: Ngalande says Nankhumwa instructed councillors to vote for Ndipo

Officials from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are pointing fingers and calling names on each other following the dramatic and drastic fall in the Blantyre City mayoral elections of powerful Lewis Ngalande.

Ngalande has already pointed a finger at Local government minister Kondwani Nankhumwa for orchestrating his loss.

“The minister was busy calling councillors not to vote for me, telling them I am a very difficult person,” said Ngalande.

He however said this issue will be tabled at a party meeting behind closed doors.

“As a party, we meet and we will discuss this issue,” he said.

Ngalande said he intends to stand as member of parliament in 2019.

However, Nankhumwa dismissed Ngalande’s allegations, denying he ever called anyone in the matter. Deputy mayor Wild Ndipo (DPP) won the elections by 17 votes beating mayor Noel Chalamanda who got two votes and Ngalande got three votes.

Regional chairman of the DPP for the south Charles Mchacha accused Ngalande, who is the party national youth director, of failing to understand what democracy is all about

. “His fellow councillors have spoken, they want Mr Ndipo as mayor therefore Mr Ngalande should accept this,” he said.

Nankhumwa is the national director of elections in DPP.

DPP agreed to remove Noel Chalamanda as mayor and rallied behind Ndipo.

Political anaylst Boniface Dulani said what has come out of the elections is that the party is divided.

“We have seen that many councillors who are DPP vied for the elections instead of the party endorsing one person,” he said.

Ngalande has held various positions in the party and is also known for his violence and ruthless character, beating up and harassing and intimidating those who are not DPP.

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