By Deus Chikalaza
The former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration is rated as a political party that introduced the worst TRIBALISM in Malawi history.
While President Lazarus Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) with Tonse alliance government is advancing nepotism, regionalism in public office appointments but this will be a subject for another day.
During both late Bingu and his young brother Peter’s DPP administrations, Malawians experienced the worst TRIBALISM since the dawn of multiparty democracy.
Unfortunately even now that the party is out of government, in opposition, it’s system of favoring people from the hlomwe tribe has not changed.
If you are not a hlomwe or not in good books with Chimwemwe Chipungu and Francis Mphepo forget being appointed to any meaningful position in the party, as it was when DPP was in government so it is even now that the party is in opposition.
Think about this;
The party has capable people to take over leadership from the current president prof Peter Mutharika, the likes of hon Bright Msaka SC & vice president eastern region, Kondwani Nankhumwa, vice president south, Henry Mussa, former cabinet minister, hon Jappie Mhango, Treasurer General,Charles Mhango, Director of Legal Affairs, Samuel Tembenu, former cabinet minister and DPP legal counsel, Khwauli Msiska, Director of Political Affairs, Uladi Mussa, vice president central (though in prison), Mrs. Clara Makungwa, a former cabinet minister, hon Catherine Mfune, MEC Commissioner, Nicholas Dausi, former cabinet minister just to mention but a few.
It is undeniable fact that DPP also has one Malawi’s finest and capable media friendly PRO and politician, a political spin doctor, a trouble shooter, in the name of hon Ken Msonda.
This man Msonda is being sidelined on important positions that could help the party and it’s leadership/the president to regain public trust they lost following the 2020 fresh presidential elections loss and the ongoing in-house fighting for party presidency.
Recently in demonstration of the party’s TRIBALISM character, DPP appointed Shadrick Namalomba, a hlomwe though MP for Mangochi as it’s publicity secretary and spokesman for the party president, the former head of state.
Shadrick Namalomba is a Member of Parliament, meaning he has a Constituency to look after, he is also chairperson of Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, another busy responsibility; he was appointed DPP publicity secretary, no one needs to be schooled that DPP needs a busy professional PRO at the moment, as if that is not enough, hon Shadrick Namalomba has just been appointed spokesman for Peter Mutharika (whatever that means, DPP gurus know)
With due respect to Shadrick Namalomba MP, the gentleman is not a PR person, he is not a media friendly and political spin doctor. his recent interviews with some reputable media houses exposed his weaknesses as a party PRO.
Namalomba is DPP PRO but someone who doesn’t know the composition of it’s Central Executive Committee Members, the party PRO who doesn’t know whether NGC meets or not, the party PRO who doesn’t know the party’s Constitution, the party PRO who doesn’t know whether senior Central Executive Committee members who were expelled from the party but later reinstated have started working or not; simply put, Namalomba is not fit for the job, why the party chose him instead of hon Ken Msonda, the devil knows!
ON BEING APPOINTED FORMER HEAD OF STATE PETER MUTHARIKA’S SPOKESMAN
DPP spin doctor are sleeping on duty, the likes of Dr. H. Ntaba, Uladi Mussa (though in prison serving a politically motivated crime), Henry Mussa, Nicholas Dausi, Jeff wa Jeffrey.
It is very surprising that DPP with such political human manpower the party is not able to change its TRIBALISM character.
DPP president prof Peter Mutharika is a former Malawi head of state.
Constitutionally, as a former head of state he is supposed to have people working for him on government pay role; security personnel, gardeners, cooks, protocol and a spokesman.
These people are paid tax payers money.
It is therefore illegal, uncivilized, undemocratic and lack of political maturity for the party to appoint Shadrick Namalomba who is a Member of Parliament, a Chairperson of Public Accounts Committee of Parliament and the party’s Publicity Secretary to be spokesman for the former head of state!
Shadrick Namalomba has already demonstrated lack of professionalism in discharging his duties as DPP publicity secretary, who is he going to separate his responsibilities as spokesman for the former head of state and that of the party?
Ken msonda was the right person for the position of spokesman for the former head of state since he couldn’t have been appointed party PRO so reasons better known to the party president and it’s leadership.
The former head of state Peter Mutharika needs a professional, MATURED and media friendly spokesman to cleanse him from the slippage he is fond of during his public speeches and Msonda could help him on that.
Until DPP changes it’s TRIBALISM character in appointing capable people to very important positions the party should forget bouncing back into government come 2025.
Malawians are no longer interested in political parties specialized in TRIBALISM, NEPOTISM AND REGIONALISM POLITICS!