Mpinganjira bury presidential ambitions, say no PP rebellion

A senior ruling People’s Party (PP) official, Brown Mpinganjira, has said he buried his presidential ambitions and would not contest for the party’s top leadership at the convention.

Mpinganjira also denied that PP gurus are disenfranchised because they were sidelined in the cabinet.

Speaking on Capital FM Straight Talk programme hosted by Rhodes Msonkho, Mpinganjira said he dropped  his aspirations to run as presidential candidate.

“I am not contesting the presidency at the party’s convention,” responded Mpinganjira when Msonkho asked him if he still harbours presidential ambitions.

Mpinganjira: Living in God's time

Mpinganjira served several ministerial positions in the United Democratic Front (UDF) government.

He left UDF after disagreeing with former president Bakili Muluzi’s attempt to amend the constitution to allow him seek a third term and formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

Mpinganjira contested for presidency in 2004 under the banner of NDA . He later dissolved the party and rejoined the UDF.

In the 2009 elections, he was a joint UDF and Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  vice presidential candidate . And later ditched UDF again for PP.

“Merely because you choose to compete once at that level does not mean that every single day you are having sleepless nights thinking about that position.  That is not correct,” said Mpinganjira.

“My life has transformed, I am completely different person. I now fully understand the role of God in my life and in the life of every human being,” the firebrand politician who is also an evangelist said.

He said “positions are given by God” and that if God has not given you, no matter what one can do, there could be no success.

“Let me serve God, let me be satisfied with what God has given me today, period. I should not worry about tomorrow, that’s God’s responsibility,” said Mpinganjira, adding “I am living in God’s time.”

No rebellion

Mpinganjira also downplayed reports making rounds  that its membership including most members of its National Executive Committee (NEC) are not pleased that they were left out in the cabinet of President Joyce Banda, as they claimed to have played a crucial role in the formation of the PP.

But Mpinganjira said all is well in the PP.

“There is unity in the party. No rebellion. I do not know any single person in the party that is disgruntled,” said Mpinganjira.

He said the cabinet was hired as a strategy by President Banda to have the much needed numbers in the National Assembly so that business should go on smoothly.

“It is our plight to see the party in government doing fine,” he said.

“I am quite happy, quite comfortable to be working as Treasurer  General of PP,” he said.

“Our focus was on 2014 . All our activities were geared over 2014. This was a bonus and you don’t scramble over a bonus,” he said referring to ascendancy to power of President Banda on April 7 following the sudden death of her predecessor late Bingu wa Mutharika.

“Here we are not talking about personalities. The issue is PP has formed government and we are quite happy to sit back in the party to strengthen the party for 2014 [elections] that’s where the battle is,” he added.

Mpinganjira also rebutted reports that  President Banda appointed him to be Malawi’s new ambassador to China but that he declined.

“There was never a time when Her Excellency appointed me ambassador to China and I turned,” he said, attributing the stories to the party’s detractors.

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