The Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) has accused Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of desperation, hypocrisy, and fear following the latter’s statement on expulsion of some top DPP officials from the party on disciplinary grounds.
DPP expelled from the party six of its top nine officials from party namely Kondwani Nankhumwa, Nicholas Dausi, Grelzeder Jeffrey, Cecelia Chazama, Mark Botomani, Otria Jere, Fortunate Phiri, Billy Malata, and Thomas Nyirongo following the party’s central committee recommendation on 20th January 2024.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary Ezikiel Ching’oma, MCP described the firing as defeating the purpose of democracy, calling for the DPP leadership to live up to democracy standards.
But in response, DPP, through a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, has dismissed MCP’s assertions, describing them as laughable and unfortunate.
DPP has criticized MCP for focusing on the internal affairs of the DPP, accusing the ruling party of neglecting its responsibilities to the Malawian people.
Namalonba has pointed out that while the DPP is addressing internal issues through legal channels, MCP has failed to fulfil its campaign promises and has a history of internal purges.
“Malawians have not forgotten that in 1993 MCP campaigned against political pluralism and described multi-party democracy as war,” reads part of the statement.
He has also reminded MCP of its own internal issues, including the dismissal of key party figures, such as former first-Vice President Richard Msowoya, Secretary General Gustave Kaliwo, and Spokesperson Jessie Kabwila.
Namalomba has also accused the MCP of being hypocritical in its criticisms, citing the recent dismissal of its youth leader, Frank Chiwanda, without following the party’s disciplinary procedures.
The DPP spokesperson claimed that the MCP’s main fear is that the outcomes of the DPP’s disciplinary hearing mark the beginning of the end for the ruling party.
“The united and strong DPP, together with Malawians who are tired of the economic hardships and clear signs of incompetence in MCP, will vote for DPP presidential candidate, His Excellency Prof Peter Arthur Mutharika, to save their country from total economic mess.
“Other than crying out loudly, there is nothing that MCP can do to stop well-meaning Malawians from voting for DPP into power so that the Party can swiftly devote to rebuilding the economy that MCP is destroying, brick-by-brick, every passing day,” Namalomba declared.
Meanwhile, Namalomba says the party will replace Nankhumwa as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, with reports that George Chaponda has been earmarked by the party to assume the position.
