Nankhumwa says has no presidential ambitions: Denies becoming Malawi’s powerful politician

Local government minister Kondwani Nankhumwa  as said he has no ambitions to be president, saying he is just a servant of the people serving under President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika although analysts believe he remains a strong youthful politician to succeed the incumbent in the party.

Nankhumwa:I have not become very powerful

Nankhumwa, 40,  was recently elected as the party’s vice president responsible for southern region.

In an exclusive interview published in the Malawi News edition of Saturday, September 22, 2018, Nankhumwa also denies that he “has steadily become very powerful” because when the President left for China recently, events at the airport portrayed him being left in charge of the country.

“I don’t agree with you that I have become very powerful. What I know is that as a servant of the people serving under President Professor Mutharika, I make sure that I perform the roles I have to the best of my ability.

“When the President leaves the country, he appoints a senior government official to officially see him off. It is that official who also dismisses the military guard of honour at the airport after the President has flown off. In the absence of other deserving senior cabinet members or government officials, I was privileged to perform that role. It is the prerogative of His Excellency the President to choose who performs that role as he leaves the country,” he told the weekend publication, explaining that the President is always in-charge of the affairs of state even when he is outside the country.

Nankhumwa, who is also MP for Mulanje central and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, explained that his vision is to foster “unity of purpose” among members of DPP in the region to ensure that DPP wins all 54 constituencies, all wards and that President Professor Mutharika wins the presidential race in 2019 with maximum votes.

“I have been meeting regional, district and constituency committee members to discuss how to outgrow our various frustrations and regroup as one entity. My overriding preoccupation as VP shall be to ensure party cohesion in the southern region,” said Nankhumwa.

He said the DPP in southern region was not shaken by the newly formed United Transformation Movement (UTM), which is led by state Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima.

Said Nankhumwa: “New movements and other opposition parties are promising Malawians the moon. This has created some euphoria among the people. However, I am certain that when the dust finally settles, in the not-too-distant future, it will be evident that it is only the DPP and its leadership who pursue pro-poor growth policies to sustainably reduce poverty and inequality across the country.

“DPP has made tremendous strides in fulfilling our manifesto pledges since 2014.  We have remained faithful to our pledges such as the 20 member cabinet; consistent fuel supply; and fuel price stabilization. The economy has been growing steadily since 2014, achieving single digit inflation rate and stable exchange rate. We have also recorded good performance in implementing other programmes such as the FISP, the establishment of community technical colleges and improved roads and other infrastructure development. DPP’s track record speaks for itself; we have been tried and tested,” said Nankhumwa.

He added that “these are some of the reasons the DPP shall always be a dominant political party not only in the southern region but the entire Malawi”.

Nankhumwa  denied suggestions that he was too young for his present position, saying he is capable of carrying out the responsibilities that the position entails, having served as Mulanje central MP for two consecutive terms, DPP director of elections, cabinet minister and Leader of the House.

“These are no lesser positions,” said Nankhumwa.

Nankhumwa acknowledges the “critical role” media plays in the social, economic and political development of any nation, adding the media is also a vital tool for creating awareness about the electoral process.

“In the run-up to the 2019 elections, I wish to encourage my fellow politicians to avoid either abusing journalists for their selfish interests or attacking them physically or otherwise. President Mutharika is a firm believer in media freedom.

“Journalists must work in a free environment as long as they do so within the bounds of professional ethics and the law,” he concluded.

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che nnungu
5 years ago

George Malemia ukufuna kuamiza ndani

MA D7 MA D6
5 years ago

THIS GEORGE MALEMIA GUY
HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED ON
MASSIVE WEALTH ACQUIRED FROM NOWHERE WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME –SECONDLY ON ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS ACQUIRED FRAUDERANTLY –LUCIUS BANDA SPENT YEARS IN JAIL THE SAME GAUGE SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THIS MAN —

Shitholes Diarrhoea Progressive Party

George Malemia bodza.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago

Remember fellow Malawians that DPP is a personal estate established by Bingu. In the absence of any credible Mutharika taking over, the state will be run by a Lhomwe as a custodian for the Mutharika family.

Chilungamo
Chilungamo
5 years ago

Lest we start misplacing facts. The only reason why Kondwani has become so prominent and powerful is because he is Lhomwe. Nothing to do with performance, education or any other conventional merits, nooh!
That’s today’s Malawi, being Muhlankho is EVERYTHING on one’s resume/CV. In some ministries the ratio of Lhomwes to all other tribes combined is 1:10. Take stock/ audit of the UNGA “lean” delegation which has accompanied the president to New York. How many Muhlankhos/ at least cronies?
SHAME!!!

Maunits
Maunits
5 years ago

DPP is finished. End your term on the 20 May, 2019 by the morning of 21 May 2019 we are ashering Reverend Dr Lazarus Chakwera to state house to transform this country. We don’t want thieves any more in this country. DPP+UTM = Thieves.

Hard Truth
Hard Truth
5 years ago
Reply to  Maunits

Hahahaha maloto a chumba awa

MAbvuto akula
MAbvuto akula
5 years ago
Reply to  Hard Truth

A thieves will not accept that times will change. There are still hoping that they will continue stealing. Even after 145 million was found in an account which the principle thief is sole signatory that’s nothing to talk about. It is ok. The hard truth is that thieves will not be moved by any hard truth.

#DzukaniAmalawi
#DzukaniAmalawi
5 years ago
Reply to  Maunits

Keep dreaming and wake up from your slumber in May 2019. Who,st many people would like DPP to lose come 2019 but I can assure you that it ain’t going to happen. 37% of Malawian voters will usher DPP into power to rule for another 5 years. Remember that as of now DPP is in power with the same 37% of the votes; meaning that 67% of the people didn’t want DPP to win. I can assure you that the same scenario will be at play in 2019. There’s no way UTM would amass anything beyond 25% of the votes… Read more »

Chabuka
Chabuka
5 years ago
Reply to  Maunits

Awo nde ai!

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