PP casualties claim not ‘bitter’ but extremely cross
Major casualties in Malawi’s ruling People’s Party convention have claimed to have no ill feelings after failing to win top positions but were conspicuously cross with the defeats.
Casualties at the convention held in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre on Monday, were the party’s old guards, Brown Mpinganjira and Clement Stambuli, defeated by new comers on the position of second and third vice president.
Mpinganjira, who was treasurer general since PP formation, said he was not bitter with the loss to Minister of Transport and Public Works Sidik Mia as vice president for the Southern Region (administrative).
He said there are no losers and winners because all the participating candidates belong to the same family – PP.
“The big winner is PP,” Mpinganjira said but visibly looking out of sorts and dejected.
Mpinganjira supporters took his loss badly, with some shouting “’Sitilola!” [ we will not accept the results].
Former Maravi People’s Party leader Uladi Mussa who lost to Cassim Chilumpha on PP’s vice president for the Central Region (political affairs) admitted defeat reluctantly.
“The winner is not always the right person to occupy the post but we have demonstrated that there is democracy in PP,” Mussa said with a grumpy face.
Stambuli who was also running on the PP vice president post said he was not bitter with the results because in any election, there has to be winners and losers.
“Chilumpha has won,” he admitted defeat.
“I am not bitter because I went into the party to serve and I will continue to serve in any capacity,” he added.
President Joyce Banda and Vice-President Khumbo Kachali went through unopposed.
The PP is the only party in recent years to hold a party conference and formally elect its officials.
President Joyce Banda, when she opened the convention, dared other parties to follow PP example to hold conventions.
“The power should be in the people,” she said.
