Members quitting PP because of uncertainty –analyst

A political scientist has said the mass exodus from the former ruling Peoples Party (PP) is a result of uncertainty in the party.

Joseph Chunga of Chancellor College, the University of Malawi told a radio station that PP officials are uncertain of the direction the party is taking and its leadership.

“The uncertainty is forcing these people to leave the party. They don’t want to risk their political career, they think their political career is at risk,” said Chunga.

In a space of a week, two influential people have since resigned from the party; Moses Kunkuyu, deputy publicity secretary of the party and probably the most trusted cabinet minister in the Joyce Banda two year administration and Tony Ngalande, deputy director of social services of the party.

Ken Msonda, the PP spokesman,  said the party was going through a metamorphosis change, likening it to trees that shed off leaves in summer but come spring, all leaves are back, greeny and beautiful.

“It is sad that some people have to leave the party but that is normal in democracy, they are exercising their right.

Kunkuyu and Ngalande resigned just weeks after the appointment of Uladi Mussa as acting president of the party and Kamlepo Kalua as third vice president, an indication that members are not happy with the new leadership structure.

Party president and founder Joyce Banda has been in self imposed exile since President Peter Mutharika was elected president in 2014 polls and she became a distant third after Malawi Congress Party’s Lazarus Chakwera.