Category Archives: Politics

Malawi has a multi-party system with over 40 registered political parties.The political process in Malawi is such that parties are voted into power. Parties participate in an electoral process. The parties with the most representation in the National Assembly are the People’s Party (PP), Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF), and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

President of Malawi 

Under the country’s 1966, 1994 and 1995 constitutions, the President is executive head of state. The first President was elected by the National Assembly, but later presidents were elected in direct popular elections for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Vice-President becomes President.

  Denotes Vice-President acting as President
? President
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Tenure Elected Political affiliation
(at time of appointment)
Took office Left office Time in Office
1 Hastings Banda
(1899–1997) [1]		 Dr HK Banda, first president of Malawi.jpg 6 July 1966 24 May 1994 27 years,319 days Malawi Congress Party
2 Bakili Muluzi
(1942–)		 Muluzi.png 24 May 1994 24 May 2004 10 years,3 days 1994
1999		 United Democratic Front
3 Bingu wa Mutharika
(1934–2012)		 Mutharika at Met.jpg 24 May 2004 5 April 2012
(died in office.)		 7 years,316 days 2004 United Democratic Front
2009 Democratic Progressive Party [2]
4 Joyce Banda
(1949–)		 Joyce Banda August 2012.jpg 7 April 2012 31 May 2014 2 years,54 days – People’s Party
5 Peter Mutharika
(1939–)		 Peter Mutharika 2011 (cropped).jpg 31 May 2014 Incumbent 4 years,103 days 2014 Democratic Progressive Party

Standards

Opinion, Politics

MCP Beyond 2019, that should be the focus – Part 1

Maravi Post Reporter

By Kelvin Sulugwe

Of late, I have taken a great interest in Malawi politics, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in particular. I have few reasons for this and one of them is the fact that I belong to the party (first by birth, later by choice).

My stomach burns with anger now. We have overstayed in opposition and 2019 is do or die.
Unfortunately, the road keeps getting darker, harsher, heavier and whatever adjective that best describes it. Such is politics.

It is my wish to see MCP win 2019 elections, but on top of that, it is my desire to see progress in Malawi. As it stands, we are getting most things very wrong. I will share my views and my messages are always to my peers.

Let me start with Times Media Group. I am not sure what they are really up to, but it is an open secret that they are the main propaganda powerhouse for MCP.

Unfortunately, they seem to be overdoing it and it is very uninteresting now. The propaganda being done by the powerhouse has no creativity and is very similar to that we see on the national broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).

Now, we imagine, these are the very same people who will then go to MBC should MCP make it 2019. What change will there be at MBC? Sometimes, propaganda can also yield negative results, as is the case of MBC now.

Simply put, the propaganda that MBC offered during Bright Malopa’s time was the best we have seen in Malawi. Truth be told, that time, you couldn’t ignore MBC and some of their propaganda programs such as Makiyolobasi went viral that even people requested DVDs and all.

Make no mistake, a good number of us blindly enjoyed such programs without openly acknowledging the damage to the likes of Tembo and Muluzi. The sarcasm and satirical facts made it hard for the two politicians to convince the nation during campaign. It worked for the better and we witnessed the results. I even voted for Bingu and DPP myself, so did most of you.

Beyond that, the strategy had over-lived and started getting boring. In short, Times Group is simply a twin brother of the current MBC. Their propaganda for MCP is so evident and boring. We will see what happens. That is usually the problem when propaganda is being done by people serving their stomachs and not seeing the vision.

Going to Sidik Mia, with all due respect, he is the right catch for the party but not the best man for the position of Vice President. Lets be honest, he does not command the South Region, in fact, no one does. If we had a giant in the South it would have been Muluzi, but look what happened to his own party and his own son in 2014.

Does MCP need a giant in Southern Region? I disagree, there is something better we need on top of Sidik Mia. I will stand by what I say even though it means being seen as a traitor to the party and I know this post might circulate in some party whatsapp groups, when it does, I want you to understand this point.
Malawi will never be safe with Sidik Mia as Vice President. Corruption will become rampant like we saw in PP and all.

Here is a point, when an individual spends more of his personal money during campaign, he is simply holding the party and its leadership to ransom. If MCP wins with Sidik Mia as vice president, without beating about the bush, his first mission will be to boost his businesses and enrich himself to compensate what he is loosing now in supporting party activities.

Some of us really wish the best for MCP, but on top of MCP, we wish the best for Malawi. We have got it all wrong on Sidik Mia and dont be surprised when we suffer humiliation in Southern Region come 2019. He is but a fraction of a winning strategy, its pity to make him the whole strategy.

As a diehard member, I am here to expose the holes in decisions such as that of Sidik Mia being glorified at the expense of the blood of those who have been there for the party in thick and thin. We need to sit down and understand the opposing views. This is not a century of dictatorship and abuse.

We are sober people, not serving our stomachs, but the well-being of the party and Malawi. In 2014, DPP managed to beat us very clean from opposition, to beat them this time around, we will need to do things differently not the usual overused strategies.

Now, talking of the in-fights and central region focus, I will write again. These are my views and represents my understanding. Contrary views to mine are welcome. I promote mature debate.

Malawi, Politics

MCP district chairpersons demand MPs apology for interfering NEC mandate; threaten to dislodge them during primaries

Maravi Post Reporter

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Some of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) district chairpersons over the weekend demanded an apology from a section of the party’s Members of Parliament (MPs)who they accuse of interfering in the management of the country’s oldest political party.

Addressing the news conference in the capital Lilongwe, the district chairpersons faulted the legislators for holding a meeting last week where they tackled the ongoing internal wrangle pitting MCP president Lazarus Chakwera and a faction comprising party secretary general (SG) Gustave Kaliwo, first vice-president Richard Msowoya, second vice-president Macdonald Lombola, deputy SG James Kaunda and replaced treasurer general Tony Kandiero.

The chairpersons argued that the MCP constitution does not give the party’s MPs any powers to call for such a meeting to discuss intra-party politics or infighting or even to call for the removal of any elected official.

The MCP district leaders included John Chiluzi-Phiri from Chikwawa, Jimmy Chisenga of Kasungu, Foloma Mwale from Mchinji, Keliyasi Chanza from Mwanza, Peter Laisoni Phiri from Mulanje, Isaac Nyirenda-Mphepo from Nkhata Bay and Ephraim Tengeletu from Dowa.

“How can educated MPs start fighting their own members? Where have they gotten powers to start calling for meetings? Did they consult their constituents? They need to apologise. It is not in their power to do that. This is a party, not Parliament. If they think we are joking, then come 2019 we will de-campaign them.” said Keliyasi Chanza from Mwanza,

During their meeting on Tuesday last week, the MCP legislators recommended to the MCP national executive committee (NEC) that a convention be held by March 26 2018.

The legislators also endorsed the candidature of politician Mohammad Sidik Mia for the position of the party’s vice-president at the next convention.

They also faulted Kaliwo over his signature in a January 13 2018 letter to Chakwera, describing it as one of the pointers to his incompetence. The MPs called for Kaliwo’s suspension.

Reacting to the district chairpersons’ position, Lilongwe Msinja South legislator Lingson Belekanyama, one of the estimated 35 out of MCP’s 60 MPs who attended the Tuesday meeting, laughed off the threats, saying the MPs owe no one an apology for expressing their views.

Belekanyama said the lawmakers, like any other party member, have every right to petition NEC whenever they have grievances.

“The district chairpersons don’t have what it takes to de-campaign people like Belekanyama. These district chairpersons are only being used by the ‘rebels’ who want to further bring disunity in our party and sadly they [district chairpersons] seem not to know this.

“We cannot apologise and let them know that as MPs we will not stand and watch while some ‘rebels’ try and destroy the party.” Belekanyama challenged.

Other MCP legislators, including Msowoya—who is also Speaker of the National Assembly, Joseph Njovuyalema (Lilongwe Mapuyu South), Juliana Lunguzi (Dedza East), Jessie Kabwila (Salima North-East) and Khumbize Chiponda (Kasungu South East did not attend the meeting.

The MPs’ meeting last Tuesday was prompted by the letter written by Kaliwo, Msowoya, Lombola, Kandiero and Kaunda accusing Chakwera of going against his own words and flouting the party’s constitution.

In his response to the MPs’ position, Kaliwo, a lawyer by profession, accused the legislators of attempting to usurp the party president’s powers by reacting to the issue raised in the letter addressed to him.

“The letter [to Chakwera] was courteous and we expected a response from the president, either to go on with the management meeting or call for consultations. The MPs should give president Chakwera a chance to respond to the letter, not exerting pressure on him in this manner,” said Kaliwo.

Human Rights, Politics, Regional

US government shutdown: anniversary of Trump inauguration marred by chaos

Maravi Post Reporter

By Julian Borger , Ben Jacobs, Sabrina Siddiqui and Lauren Gambino in Washington

WASHINGTON-(MaraviPost)-Donald Trump’s first anniversary in office was marked by the turbulence and division that have defined his presidency, with a government shutdown and protests in cities across the country.

Up to 800,000 federal workers were told to stay home after the White House and Congress failed to strike a compromise on a government spending bill. Workers deemed essential and armed forces personnel were asked to stay at work. If the shutdown continues, they will probably go unpaid.

Armed services personnel abroad got their first taste of the cuts when they were told they would not be able to watch Sunday’s NFL playoff games, because the armed forces broadcasting network had shut down.

With crisis talks under way, Trump cancelled a trip to his Florida retreat at Mar-a-Lago, where he had hoped to celebrate his year in office at a gala dinner.

Instead, as protesters marked their own anniversary of major anti-Trump demonstrations outside the White House and in other major cities, the president stayed in Washington, firing off angry tweets.

Trump sought to blame Democrats for the shutdown, claiming they were putting immigrants before other Americans.

Democrats blamed Trump, for walking away from a compromise over the future of young undocumented migrants known as Dreamers. They pointed out that the shutdown, the first since October 2013, was the first when one party controlled all three branches of government.

Trump, who had intended to celebrate the anniversary at Mar-a-Lago, remained in Washington on Saturday.

At a press conference, the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, alluded to a tweet Trump wrote in May 2017, saying a shutdown would be good for the country.

“Happy anniversary Mr President, your wish came true,” Pelosi said. “You won the shutdown. The shutdown is all yours.”

Addressing the House, the Republican speaker, Paul Ryan, said: “Senate Democrats refuse to fund the government unless we agree to their demands on something entirely unrelated. They want a deal on immigration. And then they’ll think about reopening the government.”

Saturday’s talks were focused on passing a stopgap spending measure. The White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said Trump was being updated and had been in touch with Republican leaders.

At a White House briefing, the director of legislative affairs, Marc Short, signalled a concession when he said Trump would sign a resolution to keep the government funded for three weeks. The spending bill rejected by the Senate late Friday night would have kept the government open for four.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), Obama-era legislation that allowed approximately 700,000 Dreamers to stay in the country, is set to expire on 5 March after being rescinded by Trump. Democrats have refused to support any spending bill that does not restore such protection.

The Republican senator Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, said in a statement he believed a continuing resolution “through 8 February” and a commitment to “seek resolution on immigration, disaster relief, military and government funding, Chip [children’s health insurance], and other healthcare related issues” would pass the upper chamber.

But Short said Senate Democrats were “basically conducting a two-year-old temper tantrum in front of the American people” and said: “We will not negotiate the status of 690,000 unlawful immigrants while hundreds of millions of tax-paying Americans, including hundreds of thousands of our troops in uniform and border agents protecting our country, are held hostage by Senate Democrats.”

The White House budget chief, Mick Mulvaney, accused the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, of lying about his Friday meeting with Trump.

Trump and Schumer shared a cheeseburger lunch at the White House. The president reportedly agreed to more time for a deal on Dreamers in return for more defence spending, funding for a border wall and tougher enforcement of immigration law.

But the deal frayed and John Kelly, the White House chief of staff and an immigration hardliner, called Schumer to kill the talks.

On Saturday, Schumer said dealing with President Trump was “like negotiating with Jello”, later adding that this was “because he can’t stick to the terms”.

Schumer’s No 2 in the Senate, Dick Durbin of Illinois, said a bipartisan group of senators had been on the verge of an agreement late on Friday, only for Ryan to inform his counterparts in the Senate that House Republicans would not agree to it.

AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, insisted in an email the speaker and McConnell had been “in communication and full agreement throughout”.

The Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey said Republicans had ceded their negotiating position to a bloc of hardline House conservatives.

“I was not elected to genuflect to the Freedom Caucus,” Casey said, before walking to the floor to vote down the funding measure that passed the House on Thursday.

By Saturday morning, it appeared the White House had calculated that the Democrats had made themselves vulnerable to blame.

The federal workers facing an unpaid furlough: ‘We’re being used as pawns’

In a CNN poll, 31% blamed Democrats for the shutdown, 26% blamed Republicans and 21% held Trump responsible. Although there is broad support for protecting Dreamers, a majority thought it was more important to avoid a shutdown.

On Capitol Hill, there was some optimism. Emerging from a bipartisan meeting of around 20 senators, Graham said progress had made with McConnell agreeing to only a three-week funding bill and promising the Senate would address key issues.

However, citing his colleague Lamar Alexander, Graham said “shutting down the government as a negotiating tool is what chemical warfare is to war”.

Others who did not attended that meeting felt cautiously hopeful. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, said there was “certainly a real possibility [of a deal] if there’s good faith on both sides”.

In his view, Friday night saw “the first real serious negotiations about this [spending bill] which only happened because of the vote result”.

Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, said Democrats “may have wanted to bring out their Trump posters for a couple of days, show their extreme elements of the party that they were with them”.

Trump’s presidential campaign released a new ad – which claimed Democrats were “complicit in all murders by illegal immigrants”.

Politics, Regional

Ethiopia refuses World Bank arbitration over Nile River dam

Maravi Post Reporter

ADDIS ABABA-(MaraviPost)-Ethiopia- Ethiopia’s leader has rejected arbitration by the World Bank on a disagreement with Egypt over the hydroelectric dam that Ethiopia is building on the Nile River.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on Saturday refused the suggestion made by Egypt in late December that the World Bank should be brought in to resolve the dispute with Ethiopia over the construction of the dam on the Nile River that Egypt says threatens its water security.

Sudan is also part of the negotiations because the Nile flows through it on the way to Egypt.

“Ethiopia will not accept Egypt’s request to include the World Bank in the tripartite technical committee’s talks on the dam,” Desalegn told the state run Ethiopian News Agency after visiting Egypt on Friday where he met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. “There is an opportunity for the three countries to resolve possible disputes by themselves.”

Egypt’s suggestion came amid a 10-month impasse over technical negotiations for the dam, which will be Africa’s biggest hydro-electric plant. Egyptian officials have called the World Bank “neutral and decisive” and said the organization could facilitate negotiations “devoid of political interpretation and manipulation.”

But the Ethiopian leader said that “seeking professional support is one thing; transferring it to an institution is another thing. So we told them (Egypt) that this is not acceptable with our side.” Desalegn said that Egyptians are not getting accurate information about the source of Nile waters and how Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam will operate.

The $5 billion dam is about 63 percent complete. When finished it will generate about 6,400 megawatts, more than doubling Ethiopia’s current production of 4,000 megawatts. The dam will also help to spare Ethiopia from drought and famine.

Ethiopia maintains that the dam’s construction will not reduce Egypt’s share of the river’s water. It insists the dam is needed for development, pointing out that 60 million of its citizens don’t have access to electricity.

But Egypt fears that if the reservoir behind the dam is filled quickly and if too much of the Nile waters are retained each year, the reduction of the river’s flow would have negative effects on Egypt’s agriculture.

Desalegn tried to reassure Egyptian during his visit to the country. “The people of Ethiopia did not nor will ever subject Egyptians to danger,” said Desalegn, in Cairo Saturday on his first visit to Egypt as prime minister. “We will not hurt your country in any way and will work closely together to secure the life of the people of the Nile basin and take them out of the cycle of poverty.”

While Ethiopia has said the dam is a “matter of life or death” for its people, Egypt has said water is a “matter of life or death” for its people.

Politics

John Tembo says President Mutharika is a liar

Maravi Post Reporter
John Tembo
John Zenus Ungapake Tembo (born September 14, 1932) is a Malawian politician who served for years as President of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP)

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi former leader of opposition in the August house and President of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), John Tembo said President Peter Mutharika lied that his government will fix the electricity problem by end December, last year.

Tembo said this during the ‘5 Cruise’ program on Zodiak radio on Sunday when asked to explain if Malawians under President Mutharika are facing problems or not.

According to Tembo, it is undeniable to say Malawians have suffered or are suffering. Continue reading John Tembo says President Mutharika is a liar →

Malawi, Politics, Regional

George Weah to be sworn in as Liberia President today

Maravi Post Reporter

MONROVIA-(MaraviPost)-Former international footballer George Weah will be sworn in as Liberia’s new president on Monday, a landmark moment that marks the troubled country’s first peaceful democratic transition since 1944.

Weah will become the 25th president of the West African nation, taking power from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf after 12 years, with expectations running sky-high among Liberians that he will deliver on his promises of jobs and better schools.

The inauguration is due to begin at 09.45 in Samuel Kanyon Doe stadium near the capital, Monrovia, with heads of state from Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Togo expected to attend along with friends and former colleagues from his football years.

Weah played for a string of top-flight European teams in the 1990s and was crowned the world’s best player by FIFA and won the coveted Ballon d’Or prize, the only African to have achieved this.

After losing his first run at the presidency to Sirleaf in 2005, he has spent the last 13 years attempting to gain the political credibility to match his wild popularity at home, becoming a senator in 2014.

Volunteers were putting the final touches to decorations and giving the streets a final lick of paint on Sunday, and many expressed hope the everyday difficulty of their lives would change.

“It’s my very first time to see Liberia transferring power peacefully. People expect real democracy,” said Samuel Harmon, 30, a street trader.

“The expectation of the people and the country is all up to him (Weah). Everybody believes that if he fails us, the majority will be disappointed with politics,” he added.

Under pressure

Sirleaf will be remembered for maintaining peace after the harrowing 1989-2003 civil war left an estimated 250 000 dead. But extreme poverty remains pervasive and Liberia ranks near bottom in international rankings for health, education and development.

At a church service attended by Sirleaf and Weah on Sunday, the pair presented a united front following a bruising election campaign in which Sirleaf’s longtime vice-president Joseph Boakai failed to convince as her successor while alleging fraud had marred the ballot.

Legal proceedings lodged by Boakai delayed a run-off vote and the transition period, meaning Weah has had less than a month to prepare for government rather than the three months initially scheduled.

Sirleaf told AFP the inauguration “implies continuity; it implies meeting the challenges,” as she left the event.

Weah faces the challenges of a depressed export economy highly reliant on rubber and iron ore, and outsized expectations he can turn the country around within months and provide jobs for the overwhelmingly young population.

More than 60 percent of Liberia’s 4.6-million citizens are under 25, and many voted for Weah in the expectation he would quickly boost employment.

He told journalists on Saturday at a football game — a friendly with the army — that his first priority was keeping the peace, and hit out at critics who say he is unqualified for the position.

“I am a human being, I strive to be excellent, and I can be successful,” Weah said.

“When I work hard I believe what I believe in and I showed I could persevere,” he added, referring to early disbelief amongst his countrymen that he could make it in the top European leagues.

Experts are concerned however that hopes of tackling rampant corruption and bringing technocratic expertise into his cabinet are at risk from the need to repay favours.

“He is under pressure from various constituencies and unlikely to nominate a cabinet of experts as he claimed he would do shortly after his electoral success,” said Malte Liewerscheidt, Senior Africa Analyst at global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft.

The rumoured names were “clearly tilted towards re-paying political and personal debts of gratitude, suggesting continuity rather than a new dawn in Liberian politics,” he wrote in a briefing note.

Opinion, Politics

Mpinganjira, Phoya, Rev Gunya and Lipenga will not add value to DPP – Analysts

Maravi Post Reporter
Mpinganjira, Phoya, Rev Gunya and Lipenga will not add value to DPP – Analysts

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-University of Malawi (Unima) political scientists have said that the three former Cabinet ministers regarded a s nomadic politicians who on Sunday joined the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will add no value to the governing party.

The three are Ken Lipenga, Henry Phoya and Brown James Mpinganjira, well known as BJ.
Also joining DPP was former general secretary of the Church if Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP) Blantyre Synod Rev. Daniel Gunya .

Apart from Gunya, the trio of Mpinganjira, Lipenga and Phoya were politicians who have been moving from one party to another. Continue reading Mpinganjira, Phoya, Rev Gunya and Lipenga will not add value to DPP – Analysts →

Malawi, Politics, Top News

John Tembo asks Chakwera to stop entertaining ‘confusionists’; Back the coming in of Mia

Special Absalom

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The renown veteran politician and former leader of oppositions in the Parliament, John Tembo has asked President of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Dr Lazarus Chakwera stop entertain confusionists in the party.

Tembo said this on Zodiak radio on Sunday, during the ‘5 Cruise’ program hosted by Joab Frank Chakhaza.

He said this in answering the question on how Chakwera can deal with the divisions in the party.

According to Tembo, people who are bringing confusion in the party such as MCP secretary general Gustavo Kaliwo and Chatinkha Chizanja Nkhoma are not politicians and have never been the chairpersons of any organization even legislatures.

“Kaliwo is not a politician, so is Chatinkha Nkhoma. Nkhoma join politics because her father was a politician but that does not qualifying her to be a politician. Chakwera should know this,” said Tembo.

While acknowledging the good leadership of Chakwera, Tembo said MCP leader should learn to differentiate politics and Church issues.

The former President of MCP said he knows how Church leaders operate when become political leaders.

“My father was also a Church leader before joining politics. I therefore have experience on how such kind of leaders do their work when join politics. They usually think that such kind problems will end with negotiations one day despite failing for several times,” worried Tembo.

Tembo schooled Chakwera that a political leader does not need to entertain confusionists but to fire them in order to bring peace in the party if dialogue failed.

On the coming in of Sidik Mia, Tembo described it as a good move and blessings to MCP.

According to him, there was a vacuum for MCP in the Lower Shire since Gwanda Chakwamba dumped party and that Mia will bring back the lost glory in the south.

“I don’t believe in shifting parties and I have never done that. But it is the right of everyone to join anyone party he or she want and contest for any position. Mia is not just a politician but a heavyweight in the lower shire. As MCP they need such kind of caliber to strengthen the party in all region,” he added.

Tembo disclosed that Chakwera, Mia and MCP vice President Richard Msowoya visits his house many times to by knowledge.

He then ask all MCP members to respect the party constitution and leadership in order to deal with their competitors.

Currently, MCP has been divided into two, with the group of vice President Richard Msowoya, Kaliwo and Chatinkha among others accusing Chakwera of defiling the party’s constitution as well as creating parallel structures in the party.

However, some MCP legislatures while backing Chakwera asked the National Executive Committee to fire Kaliwo and his group from the party and call for a convention.

The legislatures argued that Msowoya and his group are afraid of Mia who has shown interest to challenge a seat of vice President during convention.

Malawi, Politics

Nomadic politicians Mpinganjira, Lipenga, Phoya and Rev Gunya back into DPP

Maravi Post Reporter

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-President Peter Mutharika on Sunday welcome into the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) fold widely considered nomadic politicians Brown Mpinganjira, Dr Ken Lipenga, Henry Dama Phoya and Reverend Daniel Gunya as well as supporters from the former ruling People’s Party (PP).

Apart from Reverend Gunya, the trio of Mpinganjira, Lipenga and Phoya served as Cabinet ministers in the Joyce Banda administration at the height of Cashgate. They were top gurus in the PP.

They have also recycled in almost every party including United Democratic Front (UDF).

The trio was was welcomed by Mutharika during the party’s political rally which was held at Lunzu ground in Blantyre.

Speaking on behalf of the welcomed group, Mpinganjira said their decision to join DPP followed the good leadership of President Mutharika.

Mpinganjira specially recognised the role and encouragement that DPP vice president Dr George Chaponda played which culminated in his joining the governing party.

Mpinganjira therefore hailed Mutharika for his love for them as demonstrated by his welcoming them into the party.

He assured DPP support of assisting Mutharika to win 2019 Tripartite elections and fulfill his vision.

“DPP under your leadership has done a lot of development in the country. Don’t be shaken when castigated, jealousy people will do that in order to frustrate you. We are here to support you to fulfill your vision,” said Mpinganjira.

President Mutharika said the coming of the trio means that DPP is still strong on the ground.

Politics, Regional

South Africa; The fall of President Jacob Zuma

Maravi Post Reporter

PRETORIA-(MaraviPost)-The end of Jacob Zuma’s tenure as South Africa’s president was sealed on Thursday when he filed his appeal against a court order that transferred the power to appoint the national director of public prosecutions to the deputy president.

That move, which came on the first day of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), angered party president Cyril Ramaphosa’s backers who ignored pleas by the new man to treat Zuma with dignity and went for his head.

Zuma’s decision to appeal the judgment that Ramaphosa appoint the successor to NPA head Shaun Abrahams was seen as a sign of “disrespect” by NEC members.

This, coupled with reports that Zuma and his ministers were on the verge of making wholesale changes at state-owned enterprises (SOEs), saw NEC members seen as close to Ramaphosa table a motion that Zuma’s term be cut short.

“There was a rush to fill key vacancies. In most instances people would be locked for into long-term contracts of about five years in office.

“That thing is corruption,” said a senior leader.

HOW THE AXE FELL

The charge was led by newly elected NEC member David Masondo and veteran Bheki Cele and did not meet much resistance from Zuma loyalists, who had already accepted that the president was a goner.

City Press heard that Ramaphosa allowed the recall debate to proceed because he was extremely livid over reports that he apologised to Zuma for comments he made about Khwezi when the two met in KwaZulu-Natal two weeks ago.

“How they can show respect for someone who has no respect for you,” asked an ANC insider. “So his attitude was to let the dice roll.”

The matter did not even go to a vote and it was decided the top six officials would manage a “dignified” exit for Zuma, which could happen within a week.

“The old man is out of options. He has some die-hard support, but it is not enough.The balance of forces has shifted to favour Cyril. Cyril takes his cue from heavyweights such as Bheki Cele, who are not pushovers. Their view, along with captains of industry, is that Cyril must take over immediately,” said a leader.

A Cabinet shakeup is on the cards, but this could be delayed until Ramaphosa returns from the World Economic Forum in Davos.

It is expected that many of those that Zuma fired will return to government, while some of the compromised ministers he appointed will be shown the door.

Those privy to discussions say Zuma’s mistake was to “fill certain positions quietly in SOEs so that they serve his interests, even when he is gone”.

“There was a rush to fill key vacancies. In most instances, people would be locked into long-term contracts of about five years. That thing is corruption,” said a senior leader.

Even though those close to Ramaphosa say he is “not averse to Zuma delivering the state of the nation address for one last time” on February 8.

However, the overwhelming sentiment is that he should be out before then.

Zuma is seen as a liability to the ANC ahead of the 2019 elections and they want him gone before the election campaign starts.

Ramaphosa is said to be keen to avoid “humiliating” Zuma, as happened to former president Thabo Mbeki in 2008, when he was unceremoniously booted out by the NEC.

The post NEC meeting statement released yesterday was silent on Zuma’s fate and merely said the two leaders would continue interacting.

After the decision, Ramaphosa left the NEC meeting to meet Zuma “to ensure that he doesn’t hear it through the grapevine”, said a source.

LAME DUCK

In a clear sign that Ramaphosa is in charge, despite not having secured an outright victory at the ANC’s conference in December, the NEC disbanded the ANC’s executives in Zuma strongholds – the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

They will be run by interim leaders. The decision was put to a vote.

Further alienating Zuma from NEC members has been his insistence on broadening the terms of reference for the state capture inquiry.

This is despite Ramaphosa stating that it should be kept within the confines of former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s remedial action directives, contained in her 2016 report State of Capture.

Ramaphosa supporters allege a disinformation campaign is being used to convey the impression “that Ramaphosa is cornering Zuma as a deployee” of the ANC.

ANC leaders told City Press that Ramaphosa’s leadership on matters of state since the December conference has left Zuma playing “a prime ministerial role, ceremonial at best and a lame duck at worst.”
Ramaphosa has assumed the role of de facto head of state, taking charge of fixing government issues like the crisis at Eskom and managing Zuma from his position as party president.

The two have had a marathon of meetings in the past two weeks.

Insiders say it is clear Zuma is taking instructions from Luthuli House, just like any other deployee, such as ministers, premiers and mayors.

KEEPING ZUMA INSIDE THE TENT

Ramaphosa’s advisers say he is aware that Zuma still commands a following in the ANC, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. Having him campaign for the ANC in next year’s election would help retain those voters who were attracted by his style and persona.

A Zuma ally has commended the mature way the ANC is handling his exit and said it was “a defeat for those who shout from the rooftops calling for regime change”.

“Zuma has always said he is prepared to listen, but he will not allow that his comrades plot with the enemy to remove him from power.

“He has always said that.”

‘THE BUFFALO IS CLEARING THE ROOM’

ANC insiders said the dramatic week which culminated in the NEC decision, began in Luthuli House on Monday morning, when Ramaphosa held a series of meetings with ministers and leaders.

He had about eight meetings by the time the officials met and presented a proposal to the ANC’s top six on how to turn things around in the party and in government.

This included a “ political management process” on handling the transition.

Among those he met were Justice Minister Michael Masutha and Police Minister Fikile Mbalula.
This set the wheels in motion for the clean-up in crime intelligence and other institutions.

On Tuesday, Mbalula announced the removal of controversial police crime intelligence Richard Mdluli, who had earned R8m sitting at home since his suspension in 2011.

Mbalula, who had been a vocal backer of Zuma and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ahead of the Nasrec conference, heaped praise on Ramaphosa and his commitment to fighting corruption.

Mbalula also sacked former Hawks Boss Berning Ntlemeza, who was accused of suppressing and slowing down corruption investigations involving powerful politicians.

“What is clear is that power is gone from Zuma. Following this lekgotla, power will be caged, increasingly so,” said an insider.

Another ANC leader said: “Zuma is in a corner, because there is no appetite to wait any longer for his exit.

“The buffalo is already clearing the room,” the leader said.

Those in the ANC implicated in wrongdoing will be held accountable, said the source.
Ramaphosa revealed in his January 8 statement that the ANC’s integrity committee would finalise its work by June.

Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane and ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule have been mentioned as being among those who could be in the firing line.

Magashule’s future hangs by a thread and his victory in December will be short-lived, according to those close to Ramaphosa.

“This integrity commission process is clear: everything must be dealt with and finalised by June.

“So people will be shocked when they are told to go, to save the organisation from further embarrassment,” said the insider.

This could force the ANC to convene a national general council – involving branch delegates – soon afterwards to fill vacancies such as the secretary-general’s position.

GETTING THE ALLIANCE ON BOARD

Ramaphosa and his five officials met alliance leaders ahead of the start of the ANC lekgotla at St George Hotel in Tshwane yesterday morning.

The alliance has for months called the ANC’s bluff in its failure to deal with Zuma. They say he has outsourced his powers to his friends, the Gupta family.
Ramaphosa wants to ensure he and the alliance move in step.

It remains to be seen whether the alliance will accept whatever briefing they receive, or if they will push for a rapid removal of Zuma.

ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe first revealed this at the SA Communist Party’s Joe Slovo commemoration, saying there were attempts to contain Ramaphosa using appointments to secure Zuma’s control.

THE GUPTA SCREWS

Likely to make matters worse for Zuma is news that Gupta lieutenant Salim Essa has allegedly turned on him and the family.

Sources say Essa, who has been at the centre of the Gupta’s alleged state capture schemes, will lodge an affidavit with Ntuthuzelo Vanara, the evidence leader in the parliamentary inquiry into Eskom.
He is apparently seeking a plea bargain agreement.