Article By: Lloyd M’bwana
The former governing People’s Party (PP) lost the 2014 tripartite elections where it came third on the race which witnessed the then opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) under Peter Mutharika taking the mantle from former President Joyce Banda
.
Prior to elections, PP’s Secretary General Henry Chibwana resigned from the party on what was termed as personal grounds which shocked many in political sphere regarding the party was running the shore of the state which usually does not happen in most governments and parties in Africa including Malawi.
Chibwana’s departure from PP ignited heavy debate on Malawi’s political scene a head of the 2014 tripartite elections which saw others key figures resigning from the party including its central region provincial chairperson, Dr. Cassim Chilumpha among other. Not
only that, the general public perceived escalation of public money plundering doubled as cash gate which was one of the contributors to Joyce Banda loss to elections as opposition parties took advantage of the scandal during campaign trail.
Although, Chibwana resigned from the party (whom was replaced by Makande who later also left the party and Ibrahim Matola is the current PP’S SG), he also lost a parliamentary seat in Bwanje Valley constituency in the central district of Ntcheu. He is also former
Principal for the Polytechnic, the constituent college of University of Malawi.
Currently, The party President, Dr. Banda remains in a self-imposed exile after losing miserably to the elections with just a week now Uladi Musa who is PP’ leader in Parliament has been indorsed by Joyce Banda herself as its Acting president while Kamlepo Kaluwa as
Provincial Chairperson for the northern region.
The Maravi Post (MP) reporter, Lloyd M’bwana in the capital Lilongwe, caught up with Chibwana on his current political status, some reasons contributed to PP’s loss to 2014 tripartite elections and what’s best for Malawi to move forward from the current social-economic turmoil under DPP government.
MP: Happy New Year, Mr. Henry Chibwana (HC), Former Secretary General (SG) for Peoples Party (PP). Three year in hibernation politically after you left the party, what is your current status?
HC: Ahaaa (smiles), Happy New Year to you too. The most important thing is that first, I am a Malawian then second, a politician. So, once I resigned as a PP’s Secretary General, I did resign as a member of the party. I continue to be a member of the party and just see what’s happening from a far. I am not actually in an influential position of PP where you can always be invited to National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings for crucial decisions.
MP: So, what are you doing now?
HC: I am just seating at home farming and doing some consultancy here and there. Actually with friends we are planning to establish a university somewhere in Blantyre very soon.
MP: What type of University are you pursuing to open?
HC: We want to have a Poly-varsity whereby you combine certificate, diploma and degree programs in one place. Currently, Malawi has few high learning institutions that offer such services yet the country needs middle level man power, human resources in order for the economy regenerate itself for economic growth. The Malawi Polytechnic closure of diploma programs (technician programs) widened the gap in terms of human resources such that lack of technicians attributed also to Cash gate scam where technical advice hasn’t been there on how best to handle public money.
MP: Now, three years you moved out of PP and a bit of silent
politically, what should the public read on this?
HC: The public should know that politicians don’t retire and are available at any time. Anybody looking for technical advice can come to discus, consult and speak for important matters affecting the nation. After all, that’s what democracy is it all about, the freedom of
choice. Not that I am not doing nothing, calls still come from different parties especially prior to the 2014 tripartite elections which I refused to join any of them.
MP: Upon leaving PP, the party lost miserably during the 2014 tripartite elections (come third). So, should we read too much that you saw it coming?
HC: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha (laughing), I wouldn’t have say that I saw the loss coming that will be presumptuous. To win an election, any party needs a lot of things. Maybe PP didn’t have those other things to win elections. And I won’t disclose those other things because it will be even prejudicial. But the party lost and the best way was for PP to see down analyzing such a big blow and plan a head to win confidence from the general public that come 2019 can do better minus that it will be a disaster again. In any case, the party needs to re-energize which requires people coming together those interested not necessarily only members from within but also else where those who share the party’s ideologies.
MP: Mr. Chibwana, I will still insist as to why PP lost the 2014
elections despite all public resources at its disposal. It was running
the shores of the state and also regarding that you, Mr. Chibwana as
its SG?
HC: Mmmmm, okay! Let me answer your question in this way because you have insisted. Some of us we were in the party and not in government such that were kept in dark how the state was run. Peoples Party could have maximized its presence in government in making sure that it won the 2014 elections. I think they didn’t take advantage of that. PP was maybe a party perhaps outside not necessarily inside government. If it was inside, the disaster could have not happened.
MP: Your response sounds good! But where was the money going gotten from taxpayers money confers bearing in mind it was during PP regime when Cash gate scandal escalated?
HC: You are pushing me too far on this matter. Remember that I am not holding any position not even in PP’s NEC.
MP: We know that but you own Malawians explanations on these matters because you were part of the founding members of the party. So, where was the money going or invested on?
HC: Well. To be frank with you, the money gotten from all sources including the cash gate the way you are putting, the resources were not channeled to the right people and purposes. Few individuals especially from NEC had resources which they kept to themselves without sharing to the rest of the areas including districts and down
to the village in making vibrant programs for communities to appreciate the party’s ideologies.
MP: Should we read also too much that these are the reasons you resigned from the party as SG prior to elections?
HC: What do you want me to say? I resigned on personal grounds including internal party issues which will not disclose right now. Actually, I would like to focus on the present situation. I am a person who believes in principles and integrity which most political
parties in Malawi don’t have.
MP: So, what’s your political future now regarding also that you lost a parliamentary seat in Bwanje Valley constituency in the central district of Ntcheu? Should we say you are politically dead?
HC: Politically dead? Are you joking with me? Currently, I am seeking for a political home where I can provide technical advice for any role those interested in my services. No political party has approached me after the elections but before the elections especially when I resigned from PP, there were numerous calls to join this and that party but I refused because I am a man of principle not political prostitute or fortune seeker.
MP: Soon after the elections, your former boss, Joyce Banda is outside the country for self-made-exile now the leadership is the hands of Uladi Musa. If you can be approached, are you ready to work with him? And what do you make out of Joyce Banda’s stay abroad?
HC: Good question. Currently, I am not an active member of PP, meaning I am a free agent to any political party that might need my service. This also is extended to the current PP’s Acting President Uladi Musa especially if he has new and practical ideologies to move the party forward with the trust from general public. On Joyce Banda’s stay outside, my take is that she has to stay there as for now because the current regime-The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will take advantage of her presence here in Malawi to come up with excuses for their failure to run government and diverting Malawians attentions on
their inabilities to run the shores of the state as we are seeing.
MP: Finally, do you see a future for Malawi under President Peter Mutharika after your former party was booted out of government? With the current social-economic challenges the nation is facing, where are we getting it wrong?
HC: Let me say that in other countries, it’s a political party that forms government through an election. Therefore if the party is weak, government is likely to be extremely weak and non-performers. This is the case we are in because government is baby of a political party.
The problem is that most parties in Malawi aren’t in control to themselves which extend to government. This is the reason the current regime fails to take charge of government affairs in meeting the general public’s demands. Most political parties’ manifestos aren’t
being used when ushered into government. They concentrate on something else especially personal, family and friends interests leaving the rest of the populace suffering.
MP: What must be done as an immediate measure to turn around Malawi’s misfortunes?
HC: On economic aspect, the governing party should adopt the resuscitation recovery plan which People’s Party left because that package has all binding documents to move this nation forward including energy sector, water, tourism, agriculture among others. The
current on going public reforms are just mere political rhetoric. If these reforms were practical, our economy could have not been in this mess.
MP: Finally, are you married and where is your family?
HC: Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! (Loughs) .You are very funny with that question! Anyway, I am a married person with children and currently residing in Blantyre but spend most of the time in Lilongwe doing business, farming commitments and beyond that I am a Malawian available to any technical expertise the nation might need either in political parties
and non-governmental organization for this nation to move forward.
