MCP officials, women plead with Sidik Mia to join party

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) officials in southern region and women clad in party attire accorded former cabinet minister Sidik Mia a red carpet welcome at a constituency function in Chikhwawa and voiceferously pleaded with him to join the party.

This proved speculation that the former Democratic Progressive Party treasurer general was set to joining the opposition MCP having ditched the United Democratic Front he helped to campaign in the run up to the 2014 polls having earlier quit the Peoples Party.

MCP southern region chairman Peter Simbi welcomed Mia and sat next to each other at a function where Chikhwawa south MP Elias Karim, a relationship to Mia, was launching a K3.5 million sports trophy.

Women, clad in MCP attire sang and danced for Mia who waved affectionately to them in recognition of their songs and dances.

In an interview, Mia said there was no harm for his bouncing back into politics, saying he left it with clean record.

“, I am free to go back to politics,” he said.

Mia, however,e said he no longer eyes for the positions of MP or cabinet ministers, he did not elaborate.

Deputy secretary general of the MCP Eisenhower Mkaka told a radio station on Sunday that Mia was free to join the MCP.

Reports say MCP president Lazarus Chakwera already reached out to Mia to lure him into the party in readiness for 2019 polls.

Embattled party secretary general Gustave Kaliwo accused Mia of rooting out established party structures in the south and replacing them with his own.

But Mia said he has listened to calls for him to join MCP and return to frontline politics, saying he will take a well measured consideration.

“I have listened to the calls but I will consider them. It is my passion to serve the people and if returning to frontline politics will be serving the people better, that will be considered,” he said.

Political analysts believe Mia will be a big catch for MCP and would add the much needed vote away from the party’s stronghold of central region.