Mutharika courts opposition MPs: Mzomera, Menyani, and Mkandawire
President Peter Mutharika and his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has engaged on poaching exercise from opposition camps, luring Malawi Congress Party (MCP) lawmaker Alekeni Menyani and People’s Party (PP) MPs Harry Mkandawire and Rev Christopher Mzomera Ngwira.
DPP insiders say Mutharika had cast his net wider to woo more lawmakers to his party, a scheme which has seen him netting Leonard Njikho to join DPP. He was elected as an independent MP from Mzuzu City.
Another independent MP from Karonga central Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo is also said to be lured to rejoin the DPP.
Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) legislators have already joined government benches.
Sources say Mutharika is luring MCP’s Menyani with a cabinet post to work with DPP.
And he met Mzimba West legislator Harry Mkandawire and Mzomera to entice them for a PP rebellion.
Mkandawire has since resigned from PP claiming he could not continue serving a party under whose watch the plunder of billions of kwacha in public funds at Capital Hill were exposed.
However, Mkandawire has clarified that his resignation from PP founded by Mutharika’s predecessor, former president Joyce Banda, was not in preparation for a return to the party he dumped after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012.
Previously, Mkandawire also served as United Democratic Front (UDF) regional governor (North) before joining DPP.
“Me joining DPP ?… I did not quit PP to join DPP,” said Mkandawire.
The President wants to silence Mzomera who has been advocating for a federal system of government.
DPP spokesman Francis Kasaila denied that Mutharika was on poaching spree, saying he has no information of the meeting with opposition lawmakers.
But he said the President could meet any MP to discuss development in their constituencies and how best they can collaborate with Government on other matters.
He said Mutharika’s doors remained open to all parliamentarians wishing to engage Government on issues concerning their areas and people they represented.
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Nothing wrong PP survived on poached Mps as caretaker Government
TANGOBWERANI KU DPP MUSAMACHITE KUYENDA MOZEMBA INU, NGATI MUKAJOINA DPP MUMANGIDWA?
Here dpp is showing that it is incompetent, it is failing to trust its own mps. Take them and go out in politics togather with them come 2019. voting for was wastage of my time
Malawi walero
There are several ways of dealing with people who have dissenting views from yours if you are not competent enough to deal with those dissenting views. One of them is to bring them under your arm-pits so that they no longer hold those dissenting views. The alleged move by Prof. Peter Mutharika’s administration may entail that the administration would like to silence the dissenting views. This is another way of killing democracy. For example, look at the CSO members who have been given lucrative positions under the current administration. Are they talking the same stuff they used to talk before… Read more »
Dpp, you will be very hypocritical if you start taking these zig zagging mps. What for? Is federalism so frightening to you dpp people as vote recounting?
Nothing new here. Typical Malawian politics which is like prostitution. Always go where the grass is greener no morals and princiipals
APM plz dont panic with those fulambwez. Federalism was an issue raised out of frustrations after PPs miserable loss. Mzomerayo panopo anatha fasho. Ndizinyalala mfunazo.
If this is true then APM is useless, these are the pipo who talked il things about ur late bro so what is pleasing u to call them back to DPP? Inutu tsoka likukusatani koma mukatengera malangizo amfumu Ngongoliwa tsogolo laulamuliro wanu lidzakhala lowala.
If this is true then APM is useless so beware of these recycled politicians.