By Cedric Chithenga Nyoni
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-As the political arena heats up as we draw closer to next year’s Tripartite elections, Kondwani Nankhumwa’s newly launched People’s Development Party (PDP) is one of many parties that have recently been formed.
Recently We have seen Prophet David Mbewe launching his Liberation for Economic Freedom while Frank Mwenefumbo is linked with the formation of the National Democratic Party (NDP).
In regard to PDP, it is obviously seen that the new party has inherited some DPP traits.
There has been a social media video clip that has been circulating shows a Pro-Nankhumwa branded golfshirt with a DPP logo being rebranded with a PDP sticker.
The use of pro-Nankhumwa DPP shirts on PDP functions by simply hiding the DPP logo with a sticker speaks volumes.
Some analysts speculate that this mirroring could be a strategic ploy to sow confusion on voters on polling day.
But beyond the surface, the true test for PDP lies ahead.
Will Nankhumwa win the support of many people like the way Saulosi Chilima did in 2019?, or will it follow the path of many parties before that died a natural death or went into oblivion?
History has its share of similar tales:
Brown Mpinganjira’s NDA emerged from the UDF’s shadow prior to 2004 elections only to die a natural death after NDa miserably lost the 2004 elections.
Dr. Hethewick Ntaba’s NCD, was formed after Dr. Ntaba was expelled from the MCP, it also failed to leave a lasting mark.
Ntaba even tried to make the name of his party have a homophone sound that was similar to MCP… It was called NCD.
Then there was a splinter Aford group that disagreed with the then party Leader Chakufwa Chihana… They called their new party Genuine-Aford (Gaford) .
Eventually Gaford which later changed its name to Mgode died another natural drath.
Uladi Mussa’s Maravi People Movement and Joyce Banda’s People’s Party, both offshoots of DPP, struggled to sustain their political relevance.
Contrastingly, Saulosi Chilima’s UTM broke the mold, offering a distinct alternative to DPP’s narrative.
Despite Chilima’s popularity, UTM as a party miserably faild as it only won 4 seats out otlf the 193 member Parliament.
In reflection, one might argue that Nankhumwa’s PDP could have benefitted from from bieng seen as independent of DPP system, much like the UTM did after breaking away from DPP than being seen as DPP team-B.
One could still wonder the seriousness of PDP it the whole party could think of using the same T-shirts that Nankhumwa’s supporters wore in DPP and simply hiding the DPP logo with a new PDP sticker.
The question still remain.. Will PDP going to have its own identity?, or will it be seen as DPP- Team B?
As Malawi marches towards the polls next year, the electorate’s verdict on PDP’s fate remains to be seen.
