The Maravi Post

LILONGWE—Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) third vice president Jean Kalilani has warned rebel Blantyre Member of Parliament (MP), Moses Kunkuyu, to stop dragging party MPs into his Hope Alliance pressure group. 

She told a press briefing in the capital Lilongwe on Thursday alongside other DPP members that if Kunkuyu, who claims to have 30 MPs in his group, doesn’t stop his “madness” he risks being brought before a traditional initiation ceremony to be disciplined.

“In Chewa culture we get naughty children ku dambwe (an initiation rite) to be disciplined. If he isn’t careful we will do that with him and I am not joking,” she said as her fellow MPs laughed and clapped hands.

Kalilani, who is also the country's health minister, said the rebel MPs should be ready to meet Pres Bingu wa Mutharika to discuss their concerns.

She then allowed other alleged Hope Alliance members such as former Finance Minister and Kasungu MP, Ken Kandodo, and others mentioned in press reports to defend themselves over the allegations.

“This is not true. I am surprised that my name is included that we met him in Lilongwe. The day he claims this happened we were in a regional party meeting. I do not have the problems he says he has in accessing party leadership. I enjoy meeting the president and party leadership at any time whenever I have something to discuss,” said Kandodo who threatened legal action if Kunkuyu and group continued to say he was one in Hope Alliance.
 
Beamed on national broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation television (MBCtv), the MPs took turns to distance themselves and castigate Kunkuyu.

One MP wondered how the MP could claim to lead party top dogs such as National Assembly Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda, Kandodo, and former Minister of Information Leckford Thoto when he was considered an ‘underdog’.

The group also demanded that the MP reveals other names he claims to be in Hope alliance in three days.

But Kankuyu will not do it.

 “I can't reveal my colleagues no matter what,” he told the local Daily Times of Friday 27th January.

“I think he has a skill in bringing confusion where there is no need to. We know his background as he once faked death during the primary elections,” charged Ulemu Chilapondwa, an MP from Ntchisi, asking Kunkuyu to tell Malawians what happened for him to get lost, die, then "resurrect" and start speaking again.

“Some of us believe he might as well be a ghost when we see him. How can such a person lead others?” he gagged.

On Sunday Kunkuyu told MaraPost that his group was growing as more MPs were coming on board. Hope Alliance has accused Pres Bingu wa Mutharika of being a “problem himself” for not “listening” to criticism. Kunkuyu also accuses Mutharika’s advisors of lying to him about the real situation in the country. Hope Alliance thus aims to nudge the party in the right direction, according to Kunkuyu.

Presidential spokesperson Dr. Hetherwick Ntaba said the party was ready for dialogue. But it wasn't long before the party turned on Kunkuyu and called him a liar and a dreamer.

Meanwhile, the DPP has started what appears to be an attempt to revamp the party. First to be fired has been Southern Region party governor, Noel Masangwi, a vociferous party functionary.
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©2012 The Maravi Post. Reproduction authorised, with usual

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