Msonda says ‘time to eat’, off to meet Mutharika in America: DPP lures MP Jooma

The ruling  Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)— desperate to annihilate its rivals at the next elections in 2019,  has dangled a carrot in front of  former outspoken spokesperson of Peoples Party Ken Msonda and is now luring the party’s spokesperson on finance, Ralph Jooma.

Msonda, who resigned from PP two weeks ago, has since left Malawi destined to United States to meet on President Mutharika and other DPP officials to seal his next political move as ruling party operative.

Government handed Msonda with air tickets and allowances for his trip to New York as he has been added among the private delegates to UN General Assembly which the Malawi leader attended last week.

The DPP wants to assign Msonda a political mercenary role to fight PP and its leadership.

Msonda was captured aboard Ethiopian Airways plane in economy class, seat number 13J on Sunday through Chileka International Airport at 14:42, ticket number 0712115681513 on his was to New York.

The trip was arranged after meeting DPP vice-president (North) Goodall Gondwe in Lilongwe recently before he tendered his resignation.

Msonda reportedly told Gondwe, who is Finance, Economic Planning and Development minister, that he was ready to work on any assignment DPP will give him “as long as there is eating”.

Gondwe promised Msonda that the President will meet him.

He said Msonda indicated to him that may be joining DPP.

Msonda, however, denied meeting Gondwe, saying the Finance Minister was peddling lies.

He, nonetheless, said time has come “to eat” and not just be a “foot soldier”.

“The fact is after I quit PP, the ruling DPP approached me and asked me to join them.

“I did not know I have this value in Malawi politics until I quit PP,” said Msonda.

Msonda, who often times accused DPP leadership of shielding its officials allegedly involved in the plunder of public funds at Capital Hill widely known as Cashgate, joined PP in January 2012 after he quit the United Democratic Front (UDF), which he joined after being lured from National Democratic Alliance.

He is seen in the position of a drowning man who can clutch at a straw in a desperate bid to enhance his fortunes.

Meanwhile, impeccable sources revealed to Nyasa Times that Jooma is now featuring prominently on DPP’s shopping list of opposition politicians whom it wants to win over to reboot its political fortunes ahead of 2019 elections.

DPP secretary-general Ecklen Kudontoni said Jooma would be welcome to join the party, saying after all he was previously a DPP member.
“It is natural that we would welcome him back. We have always said that we are an inclusive party, a progressive party,” said Kudontoni.

Jooma could not immediately comment.