Mia factor hits Lower Shire: Scores join MCP, PP governor leads exodus

After supporters of opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) asked former minister Sidik Mia to join the party, a lot of pary leaders in in the Lower Shire districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa are defecting to MCP citing leadership failures in their respective parties.

The supporters says they are joing MCP also to give solidarity to the Lower Shire political giant, Mia, so that he should  consider getting back to the front line politics through Lazarous Chakwera’s led party.

Mia is said to be engaging people on one-on-one to consult them on the calls to join MCP.

According to Mia, he would only be motivated to return to frontline politics if he will be given space to contribute to  promoting“ people-driven policies”.

Meanwhile, in Chikwawa 23 committees of former ruling Peoples Party (PP) defected to MCP led by District Governor Philemon Thom.

They announced their defection on Wednesday at Ngabu in Chikwawa in the presence of MCP’s Regional Executive committee.

Thom said he decided to leave PP due to lack of leadership as their founder is nowhere to be seen.

MCP Regional Chairperson for the south, Peter Simbi welcomed the new members asking them to display their capacities in supporting the party.

Despite this development, MCP is also currently facing serious leadership wrangles with a lot of in-house fighting taking place in the party.

A number of executive members were suspended from the party and the battles have now moved to the courts.

There was no immediate response from PP’s leadership on the defections.