BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—With just five days before fresh presidential election, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Member of Parliament for Nkhotakota North, Henry Chimunthu Banda, has defected to the Tonse Alliance, a grouping of almost nine parties led by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera on the ballot.
Speaking in an interview monitored on Zodiak radio, the former Speaker of Parliament said all his constituency structures support his decision and he is convinced that the Tonse Alliance is the only way out of a myriad challenges Malawians are facing.
Chimunthu Banda said after consulting all the structures in the constituency, it was concluded that people want change and are not happy with what is currently happening in the country, hence his decision to endorse the Tonse Alliance.
“I have been convinced that Malawians are desiring change of direction and my constituents are endorsing Tonse Alliance. Therefore, I also come along to be party to Tonse,” said Chimunthu Banda.
He added: “I have made an assessment of the political situation and developments in DPP. After taking a huge amount of thought, I feel Tonse Alliance is the way to go.”
Recently, Chimunthu Banda pulled a shocker when he turned down a cabinet post in the DPP led administration, claiming he was never consulted by President Peter Mutharika before the announcement was made.
In 2014, Chimunthu Banda also showed interest to lead the ruling Democratic Progressive Party but he was defeated at the party’s convention with Peter Mutharika securing a landslide victory.
