PP welcomes Zikhale, Gotani, Mwenefumbo from DPP
Former President Bingu wa Mutharika’s right hand man Dr Ken Zikhale Ng’oma was among a group of six politicians that officially joined the People’s Party on Thursday in Mzuzu.
Zikhale, a self-styled political strategist, even predicted that PP will get 98 percent of the seats in Parliament in the 2014 general elections.
“I know all the secrets of DPP. I will use that information to make a SWOT analysis so that we trounce DPP once and for all come 2014,” flamboyant Zikhale said.
The others are former DPP regional governor for the north Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo, former DPP regional treasure for the north Swankie Ibrahim, William Chizaso Chinula , Aford member and former MP for Mzimba South Godfrey Zulu and Boniface Mkandawire, aka Gotani wa Gotani.
The six announced their defection during a media briefing held in Mzuzu where they pledged their total support and commitment to help the growth and popularity of PP.
JB insipiring
Mwenefumbo told Nyasa Times that he has been inspired by the leadership of President Mrs Joyce Banda.
“The President had demonstrated that she is keen in promoting the democratic culture in the country and ensure development to all parts of Malawi,” said Mwenefumbo.
PP’s deputy Secretary General Harry Mkandawire, Northern provincial Chairperson Reverend brown Soko and other senior party officials officially welcomed the new entrants.
Mkandawire asked the new members to work with the existing structures in PP and should desist from causing conflicts because of lack of leadership positions.
DPP reaction
The defection appears to be a crack in DPP but the party spokesman Nicholous Dausi said “it is better off remaining with a few committed members than having a large number of disloyal members.”
Dausi said the members were exercising their constitutional right to a freedom of choice and association.
On whether the DPP remains intact with the spate of defections of big wigs, Dausi said: “Well I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
Meanwhile, the DPP said it is welcoming back five members of parliament from Ntcheu districts who had joined DPP.—(Additional reporting by Thom Chiumia, Nyasa Times)
