By Linda Kwanjana
Anguish and disappointments awaits the likes of Kondwani, Nankhumwa, Dalitso Kabambe, Bright Msaka, Joseph Mwanamvekha and probably Gadama-the notable front runners for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership race.
It has emerged that party President Peter Mutharika is going to declare his interest to be the DPP candidate in 2025 at a rally scheduled to take place at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe on 12 November.
According to the reaction by some of the prominent DPP youth cadres on an internal memo issued by the DPP National Organising Secretary, Chimwemwe Chipungu, it is clear that the Mutharika camp is poised to declare Mutharika the DPP torchbearer against the spirit of their own constitution and indeed the aspirations of many DPP staunch supporters who have been waiting for a day the party leadership will change hands from the Mutharikas completely.
That is not happening soon as long as Mutharika is around. From the look of things, Peter Mutharika is determined to cling to power and he will not let go of their priced asset-DPP. It appears that the reason the 83 year old former Head of State is staying on is that he can’t fathom the idea of handing over power to someone he doesn’t want, like Nankhumwa who seems to be the more likely person to replace him.
The invitation to the Masintha rally by Chipungu says: “Team DPP. Tikhala ndi rally pa Masintha on 12th November 2023 ya H.E Prof APM.Nonse mukuitanidwa”.
Reacting to the story, one of the pro-change enthusiast, Greyson Chapita sounded dejected and rather resigned to the thought that they will have to live with the fact that there won’t be change after all in the DPP by any stretch of imagination.
He said: “Koma ayimanso basi. Lets move on. Those that are against APM lets find other things to do. The sooner we make peace with the fact that m’boma sitikulowanso the better. DPP politics has let us down.”
However, looking at the trends in the past three years, if it indeed come to pass that the madala team make Mutharika the torchbearer, we should expect more trouble, divisions and chaos in the already troubled party. It is apparent that people like Nankhumwa will not take the decision lightly and he is likely to challenge the decision in court as he has always done with other contentious issues in the party he does not agree with.
…){kind=link}