What is happening at the MCP today is no different than what happened in 1964 shortly after independence when, after an unresolved confrontation between the Prime Minister, Hastings Banda (later Malawi’s first President) and the cabinet ministers present on 26 August 1964, three ministers and a parliamentary secretary were dismissed on 7 September.
These dismissals were followed by the resignations of three more cabinet ministers and another parliamentary secretary, in sympathy with those dismissed.
The reasons that the ex-ministers put forward for the confrontation and subsequent resignations were the autocratic attitude of diminutive Hastings Banda, who failed to consult other ministers and kept power in his own hands, his insistence on maintaining diplomatic relations with South Africa and Portugal and a number of domestic austerity measures.
Even the staunch supporter of Power Hungry Reverend Lazarus Chakwera, Jessie Kabwira has come out openly complaining that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is failing to have its house in order. Outspoken Jessie has accused the Reverend of failure to follow the party constitution.
After the suspension of the 7 chairpersons. Jessie Kabwira who should know what she is talking about has accused ambitious Reverend Lazarus Chakwera of being undemocratic.
The resuspensions follow displeasure with the way the party President Lazarus Chakwera was failing to handle conflicts within the party.
According to people who have inside information, the 7 rebelled by speaking out publicly against the Reverend Lazarus Chakwera and were therefore punished severely by their leader.
The source said that all parties have got rules of discipline that are supposed to guide the members. He said MCP was emphatic on the rules of discipline.
However the suspensions do not sit well with Jessie Kabwira known to be feisty. She challenged Bingu WA Mutharika when he tried to muzzle College professors. Jessie is really fuming according to insiders with who chose to remain anonymous…
“I am surprised that this (the suspension) has happened. This is unconstitutional,” the MCP spokesperson has been quoted as saying in the media. According to those inside the MCP she has even been more critical within the confines of the MCP.
Kabwira has been quoted saying that by suspending those with dissenting views the MCP was failing to embrace elements of democracy and was throwing away the need for contact and dialogue.
This is how Kamuzu Banda started with his leadership in Malawi. Sending those who invited him Malawi into exile because he did not want to be questioned.
For those who support Lazarus Chakwera, this is the making of a Tin pot Dictator. He needs to be stopped before it is too late.
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