Shanil, Makande unveiled as PP members at JB Zomba rally

President Joyce Banda on Saturday called on Malawians to work together without regard to political affiliations, urging her governing People’s Party (PP) to keep its doors open for members of the other parties willing to join to do so without any hindrance.

Speaking to a mammoth crowd that gathered at Songani Ground in Zomba to attend a “Development Rally”, President Banda recalled that she had been sidelined during the Democratic Progressive Reign despite that she was State Vice President and that she endured a lot of insults and demonization at the hands of that regime.

“But today look at my cabinet; I appointed 19 members of the DPP as cabinet ministers or deputies. As a leader, I have the responsibility to unite and reconcile all Malawians because at the end of the day, what matters is the situation that the people are. This country can only develop if we put aside our political differences and work together as members of the same family,” said President Banda to a deafening applause.

The President urged members of the PP in the area to work with former DPP parliamentarian Anderson Undani but also urged him to avoid dismantling PP structures.

“We have discussed at length the position of PP office-bearers in the light of the MP’s defection to the PP. I am glad to inform my fellow PP members in the constituency that your positions are secure and that the joining DPP members will only have to be co-opted and put in positions that were vacant and then life has got to go on,” the Head of State said.

PP Provincial Governor in the Eastern Region, Samson Msosa said the party must welcome members from other parties as numbers will be very crucial when the 2014 national polls are due.

“We can win the elections alone; we need people from other parties to join us. Hon. Yunus Mussa (former Labour Minister in the DPP regime) wherever you are, be informed that you are welcome should you wish to join the PP today,” said Msosa.

The Provincial Governor said the ascension to the presidency of President Banda (following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika) “was just a bonus” and that the real “litmus test for the PP is in 2014”. He therefore called for vigilance among PP senior as well as rank and file members to ensure a landslide victory in 2014.

The climax of the meeting was the introduction of the former First Lady, Dr. Patricia Shanil Muluzi who has since joined the PP. Former UDF Secretary General Hophmally Makande was also introduced including former Maravi people’s Party (MPP) President Uladi Mussa who is now Home Affairs Minister in President Banda’s administration.

Zomba-Malosa MP, Undani,  speaking amidst boos from the audience, asked President Banda to forgive him reminding her  what she had said on her swearing in ceremony that there will be no retribution.

Development

Earlier in the morning, President Banda presided over the handover ceremony of Msigalira Free Secondary School Project at Domasi in Zomba.

The Japanese Government gave a grant of over 400,000 US Dollars to the Joyce Banda Foundation for the construction of school blocks, a dining hall and a dormitory for girls.

President Banda said she introduced the school in the year 2000 to cater for orphaned and other underprivileged children.

Managing Director and Director of the Joyce Banda, Edith Akridge and Roy Kachale-Banda, respectively hailed President Banda for her vision to help disadvantaged children. They also hailed the government and the people of Japan for their support to the Foundation and education sector in the country at large.

Education, Science and Technology Minister Eunice Kazembe also hailed both President Banda and the Japanese Government for their “valuable contribution” to raising education standards in the country.

President Banda with PP women and former First lady Shanil Muluzi. Photo by Martin Kalima/Nyasa Times
President Banda (L), Samukawa (C) and Kazembe in one of the classrooms. Photo by Martin Kalima/Nyasa Times
One of the Classrooms
Part of the crowd at Songani. Photo by Martin Kalima/Nyasa Times

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