The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is smoothly and steadily transitioning to become a very popular drama group in Malawi. I thought I could rest writing about the former ruling party this week, but I have failed to resist the temptation.
For starters, it is important to contextualise issues. Malawi Congress Party (MCP) ruled this country for about 31 years before Dr. Bakili Muluzi won the first democratic elections in 1994.
During his time as president of this country, Muluzi used to mock MCP saying the party will end like curtains because the United Democratic Front (UDF) will rule Malawi for many years.
History is well documented that because of greed by some leaders in UDF, the party’s rule ended after Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika “stole” the government from them and formed his own DPP to become the new ruling party through the back door of course.
Unfortunately, that was the beginning of the end for the UDF while MCP which according to Muluzi would end like curtains was still intact and a formidable opposition.
Fate be it, Mutharika died while in office (may his soul continue to rest in peace) which like the way DPP became the ruling party, the death meant that Joyce Banda who had formed her People Party (PP) would ascend to the throne and automatically make her party the ruling one.
However, PP’s stint in government was short lived as JB lost presidential elections to DPP’s Peter Mutharika in 2014. Sadly, that also put the PP on death bed.
Surprisingly, MCP which Muluzi had declared doom against it, that it will end like curtains, remained a strong opposition party both in the National Assembly and outside.
Since Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera’s triumph in the constitutional court sanctioned presidential elections in 2020, the country has seen more drama from DPP than its new role as the opposition party.
Chakwera’s win shocked APM who had vowed and swore that Malawi Congress Party will never rule this country “over my dead body.” At least, we know that he is still alive at Page House while MCP is in government.
In fact, they have even failed to agree on who will be the Leader of the Opposition to the extent that courts were involved. Not only that, even sitting plan in Parliament has been subjected to courts’ decisions.
Three years down the line, the DPP had degenerated into a flip-flop grouping with members behaving like headless chickens. Instead of providing checks and balances to the government, they are fighting daily.
Several camps have emerged in the once mighty DPP and press releases and news conferences to castigate each other are the order of the day. Court appearances have become a norm.
Being in opposition is not for the faint hearted. MCP, which was built on four cornerstones of Unity, Loyalty, Obedience and Discipline, remained strong opposition for 26 years.
If one has to strictly look at the three parties, UDF, DPP and PP, you will discover that they are one and the same including characters. Most of their members have been frogging from UDF to DPP then to PP and back to DPP.
Ku opposition mkowawa and liberal political parties such as UDF, PP and DPP have no spine to survive long.
Wishing Members of Parliament gathering at Page House in Mangochi to “force” APM to accept the endorsement as a presidential candidate in 2025 well. The only anticipated achievement of such a meeting is the death of the DPP
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