PP-DPP power sharing deal flopped -report
Nearly two months after the death of Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi’s third president since independence, details have emerged of how the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) tried its best to remain in power by luring President Mrs. Joyce Banda’s Peoples Party (PP) to go into power sharing government.
In an exclusive report by Malawi’s flagship daily newspaper, The Nation n, it has been established the two rival parties nearly reached an agreement just days after the death of Mutharika.
According to the paper, a draft working agreement shows that the alliance would have resulted in a 50-50 power sharing deal in both the National Assembly and Executive branches of government.
The records further indicate that the DPP had on its delegation the likes of George Chaponda, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, Henry Mussa and Rev. Christopher Ngwira, while the PP had Vice President Khumbo Kachali, Henry Chibwana, Brown Mpinganjira, Clara Makungwa and Lwarence Mpofu as part of its delegation.
Meanwhile, in the report, it has emerged how the former ruling DPP is now feeling duped and has vowed to fight back.
“The PP asked us to spell out our expectations and submit a proposal. When we submitted the proposal we were waiting to hear their side after which we could have signed an MOU,” said Kamanga.
Meanwhile, the report has also unravelled more details to an extent that the DPP is pushing for the law that regulates MPs from crossing the floor -Section 65 -as part of vengeance. It is also vowing to cripple the Banda administration governing ability as it is feeling cheated.
“That is why they will face more and more problems. If we were in coalition, we could not have invoked Section 65. Instead, we could have opted to critique them objectively both in and outside the Parliament,” added Kamanga.
On his part, PP Secretary General Chibwana confirmed about the meetings they held with the DPP.
He however, defended his party’s non compliance with disenchanted former ruling party saying, “There were meetings with all other parties. What they are talking now sounds like sour grapes. The selection of the Cabinet brought out the best at the time Malawi needed them and we left out the worst.”
Chibwana, a former Malawi Polytechnic Principal, therefore accused the DPP of practicing what he called “political greed.”
Warned Chibwana: “Let them go ahead, if they believe that by creating problems for the PP led government will be in best interest of Malawians, let the whole country then pass judgment.”
The DPP petitioned speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda to declare vacant seats of over 40 DPP MPs who defected to PP.
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