Tembo denies joining PP: ‘Over my dead body, I’m MCP for life’
Former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo has categorically dispelled rumours circulating on social media that he was heading to ruling People’s Party (PP), saying he remains loyal to MCP and its new leader Dr Lazarous Chakwera.
The veteran conviction politician said there is no way he can quit the party he led as president and join PP and let alone any other party.
“I am John Tembo, a member of MCP until I die. I am supporting the party which I have led and supported all along,” said Tembo.
He said this in an interview monitored on Zodiak radio on Tuesday.
The veteran politician was asked to comment on rumours on social media that he was defecting to PP.
“I am John Tembo, I am in Malawi Congress Party and I will never quit Malawi Congress Party,” said Tembo, who remains leader of opposition in parliament.
He also downplayed the defections of former secretary-general of MCP, Chris Daza to PP, saying it is not surprising but noted that the fabric of MCP remains intact and that the party is also going through a regeneration.
“ Daza is interested for a future for himself,” noted Tembo.
He said Elia Katola phiri -step father of Minister Enock Kotola Chihana- has not been an active politician since the time he left MCP or join UDF.
“They are free to join any party they like.”
On former party leader Gwanda Chakuamba joining PP, Tembo said it was not strange.
Tembo once described Chakuamba as a political vagabond and traitor.
Chakuamba was jailed by late Kamuzu Banda for his attempt to kill him with a pen-pistol. He was released during the dawn of multiparty democracy and joined UDF.
He then re-joined the MCP where he led it to 1999 elections but later fell out with Tembo forcing him to resign and form his Republican Party.
Under his Republican Party, Chakuamba was one of the hottest presidential candidates during the May 2004 elections.
He declared himself president before the official results were announced, leading to demonstrations in the commercial capital Blantyre that led to the killing of several people by police.
The veteran politician then quit the Republican Party and joined the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) where he was first vice president.
He continued with his nomadic political life after he ditched the DPP after the then President Bingu wa Mutharika sacked him from his cabinet following a corruption row. He was accused of buying a luxury sedan with World Bank cash.
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