By Burnett Munthali
Malawian politics is quite challenging, and when you are in haste, things don’t move in your favor. Brown Mpinganjira was one of the most powerful ministers in the United Democratic Front (UDF). There was high expectations that he would take over from Bakili Muluzi. However, due to overzealousness , he began to be pompous and ended up establishing his own party, National Democratic Alliance (NDA). We all know how Brown Mpinganjira has ended in politics, he never went far until Bingu wa Mutharika took over from Muluzi.
We had Gustav Kaliwo, Secretary General of Malawians Congress Party (MCP). At one time he felt too big in the party and started fighting with his party President. What followed next, he was fired from the party and his party was given to Mkaka. We also had notable names such as Jessie Kabwila, Njobvuyalema including Felix Jumbe. They all tried to fight with their party President but they ended up being bored out of the party and nobody knows where they are and what they are doing.
As we speak, there’s someone else in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) namely Kondwani Nankhumwa. He comes from Mulanje Central the same area with Brown Mpinganjira. I remember very well that Brown Mpinganjira used to feel great about himself such that he started his own political party. The same is true today, Nankhumwa feels big and thinks that he can snatch the DPP into his own hands. Did whatever is happening in DPP today, many Malawians have questions: “Where is the opposition party?”. This is because whatever MCP is doing in the running of the stairs of government, we are supposed to have a strong opposition party in Parliament to ensure checks and balances but instead of taking government to task, the leader of opposition is busy fighting with his own party. Why?
First of all, before we proceed, we must know; Who is funding Nankhumwa? Where does he get all the money which he is distributing in order to bring confusion in his own party? You may recall very well after DPP lost government in 2020, Kondwani Nankhumwa went to have an audience with Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira, one of the strong patrons of MCP. She’s is considered just like a founding member of the Malawi Congress Party. What is most surprising is that soon after DPP lost government, Kondwani Nankhumwa went to meet Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira at her residence. This is the MCP patron. From there are saw MCP government in collaboration with the courts choosing him to be the Leader Of Opposition.
Ladies and gentlemen, where did you ever see Leader Of Opposition being chosen by government? One other thing, when it was discovered that Kondwani Nankhumwa was chosen as Leader Of Opposition by government, he stopped reporting to his party President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, a very senior official in the DPP. Mutharika was just like his own father as party President. Before all Parliament deliberations, Nankhumwa is supposed to meet Arthur Peter Mutharika as his party President for consultation and brain storming. Unfortunately, as soon as Kondwani Nankhumwa became Leader Of Opposition, he stopped completely consulting his President, he became pompous and selfish, he established his own camp and started fighting with his own President so that Mutharika steps down and Nankhumwa takes over immediately.
Hon John Tembo stepped down and handed over party President to Reverend Lazarus Chakwera at the convention. Every party President steps down and hands over leadership at the convention when that time comes. Even Bakili Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF) stepped down at the convention where Bingu wa Mutharika was chosen and took over as presidential candidate.
What is surprising is that after Kondwani Nankhumwa visited Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira and became political friends with MCP and started receiving financial support from there, he established his own camp, stopped reporting to Mutharika and started doing his own things. Nankhumwa started mobilizing people within the DPP in a campaign that Mutharika should step down. Another surprising thing is that almost all followers surrounding Kondwani Nankhumwa are Joyce Banda’s sympathizers. In other words, the people who have chosen to partner with Kondwani Nankhumwa are not DPP members but strangers in that party. Many of them are PP members.
For example, Ralph Jooma abandoned Bingu wa Mutharika soon after his death and joined People’s Party. Billy Malata celebrated the death of Bingu wa Mutharika. You might remember that some people blew trumpets in celebration of the death of Bingu. Joyce Banda is one of the people who celebrated Bingu’s death. Infact Joyce Banda was in the fore front of these celebrations. Joyce Chitsulo from Mwanza is another PP sympathizer. She also was part of the celebrations. Ken Msonda, at all know him very well, was part of the happy people that Bingu died. Mark Botoman slaughtered a cow in celebration that Bingu wa Mutharika had died.
It’s a pity that Ken Msonda and Billy Malata could hold a press briefing during which they asked Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to explain who killed Professor Bingu wa Mutharika. It is obvious and everyone knows that Bingu was killed at State House so there’s no reason why Billy Malata and Ken Msonda could ask for an explanation as to what caused Bingu’s death. If they were in celebration of his death it simply means they already know what killed Bingu.
Going back to history, you will remember that when Albert Muwalo was killed, the MCP celebrated. When Solobala s killed on 1 February 1966, the MCP celebrated. When Orton Chirwa died in prison in 1992, MCP celebrated. MCP were excited when three cabinet ministers and one Member of Parliament were killed in Mwanza in 1983. When Bingu wa Mutharika died in 2012 some PP members were very happy and one of those people who did this include Billy Malata.
It is very surprising that Kondwani Nankhumwa is teaming up with people who celebrated the death of Bingu wa Mutharika to help him running the DPP. He is receiving money from government and support from the courts to make this happen. However, many Malawians are asking, “Can Kondwani Nankhumwa win elections and become president of Malawi?”
Let us be realistic here without talking any political sides, can Malawians waste their time and vote for Kondwani Nankhumwa and become President of Malawi? For sure, they wouldn’t do that because Malawians are tired of trial and error. The people of Malawi want someone with economic background to take over this country in 2025 and move forward.
Recently, Grezelder Jeffrey was used by Kondwani Nankhumwa to call for an illegal NGC meeting at Golden Peacock. The Secretary General Grezelder Jeffrey said about forty five NGC members were ready to attend that meeting but surprisingly, what we saw is only 23 out of 71 NGC members in attendance. In short, we can say that this was an illegal meeting held at Golden Peacock because according to the DPP constitution, the Secretary General cannot call for an NGC meeting without the involvement of the Central Executive Committee and without informing or approval of the party President.
We saw Kondwani Nankhumwa looking very disappointed at Golden Peacock who ended up telling news reporters to briefly go outside the hotel who were present to cover the event. Many Malawians were amazed, “What was it that made Kondwani Nankhumwa so disappointed to an extent of almost shredding tears?”.
Ladies and gentlemen, democracy is the control of an organization by the majority of its members. From what we have seen at Golden Peacock NGC meeting, it is now clear and obvious that the majority of DPP members do not want Kondwani Nankhumwa. ” Uwu ndi moto wa mapesi ndipo mapesi ake opanda feteleza”, literary meaning to say that “This is simply maize stalk fire and the type of maize stalk that is burning in the fire grew without any fertilizer. This politically means that the majority of the people who didn’t attend the Kondwani Nankhumwa/Grezelder Jeffrey NGC are behind Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. This is embarrassing to Kondwani Nankhumwa and Grezelder Jeffrey.
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