Senior Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) official Fredrick Billy Malata has revealed a political plot the erstwhile governing party has mooted to expel Mulanje Central legislator and Leader of Opposition, Kondwani Nankhumwa, from the party.
Malata has further revealed Mulanje West parliamentarian, Dr. George Chaponda, is leading the plot.
Nankhumwa is currently serving as Leader of Opposition and DPP lawmaker for Mulanje Central. However, he has not enjoyed support and popularity from his fold since he expressed interest to run for the party’s presidency.
Recently, Nankhumwa dragged his party to court, challenging resolutions it made at a National Governing Council (NGC) meeting at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi.
Among others, the delegates to the NGC meeting, which was rendered null and void following the injunction Malata obtained at the High Court, endorsed Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika as the party’s torchbearer in the 2025 presidential polls.
Alongside DPP Secretary General Greselder Jeffrey and Yusuf Nthenda, Nankhumwa challenged resolutions the party made, describing the NGC meeting as illegal and devoid of democracy.
Their action prompted party spokesperson, Shadric Namalomba, to warn that they would take any measures to ensure Nankhumwa and his team leaves before the convention.
As if to stamp authority on the warning, on Monday, August 7, 2023, the party’s senior official and NGC member, Malata, alleged that the party has tasked Chaponda to carry out the Nankhumwa expulsion campaign.
“Dr.George Chaponda akuchita plot yochotsa a Nankhumwa muchipani cha DPP ndikuti Iwo adzakhale Leader Of opposition.Akufunanso kuchosa onse akulankhula motsutsana ndi zimene zidachitika Ku Nkopola lodge komanso amene akuti APM asaimenso.APM asaimenso Project siya APM koma Iwo amene akuopa Nankhumwa kuti atha kutenga mpando Ku convention so they want to delay the process.A Msaka, Kabambe, Gadama, Mwanamveka time to rise up is here sitipha Ana onse chifukwa cha mwana mmodzi amene akuoneka ngati ovuta kwa makolo ovuta,” Malata wrote on one of the social media platforms.
He made many other allegations before warning that the party members will not tolerate any dictatorial tendencies from the APM camp.
Malata challenged the APM camp to organize a convention where every member should be free to contest for any position in the party.
