New party DEPECO courts Daza for presidency

Members of the newly formed political party called Democratic People’s Congress, shortened as ‘DePeCo’ are calling for politician-cum-evangelist  Chris Daza to return to Malawi from South Africa  to lead the party, ahead of 2019 elections.

Daza is former secretary general of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and served in that position for five years. During the period he dragged former MCP president John Tembo to court after the latter fired him for challenging his authority.

He then joined People’s Party (PP) when its founder Joyce Banda was Head of State where Daza was appointed Minister of State responsible for Governance.

Daza is also the Senior Fellow of Geneva Institute of Leadership and Public Policy. Currently the Founding President of Eldabar Africa Global Leadership Enterprise, a South African institution training leaders across the SADC region.

DEPECO members have been in serious discussion with Daza, requesting him to return to Malawi to lead the party which he was instrumental in forming.

The members feel Daza has the magnetic magic for the youth who take a large share of the countries votes.

Daza could not comment on the matter, saying he will respond to the party leadership on their request.

“I will make a decision about that and respond to the party,” he said.

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) through its legal advisor Charles Mhango obtained a court injunction against DEPECO on the use of name and symbols.

The DPP use a maize cob (christened as Chaponda) as its symbol while the new party has a shrub like a maize cob as a symbol.

There are over 50 political parties registered in Malawi but the Malawi Electoral Commission says a handful participate in elections.