Mia welcomed into MCP fold

MCP president Lazarus Chakwera Saturday formally inducted former Cabinet minister Muhammad Sidik Mia into the party, with the new MCP catch claiming he is not joining the party for any position.

Putting to rest long-standing reports about his next political move during a political rally at Makande Sports Centre in Ngabu, Chikwawa, Mia back-tracked on his earlier remarks when he hinted that his political comeback would not be an ordinary one, but that of vice-president.

However, during the rally which brought together 54 members of Parliament (43 for MCP, five independents led by Chidanti Malunga and six from the Peoples Party led by Roy Kachale), Mia said he was joining MCP to help Chakwera win the 2019 general elections.

“It is the prerogative of the president of the party to do what he thinks is right, but on my part I will do best work as much as I can to get everybody together and come May [2019] whether I am chosen or not, I will support Dr Lazarus Chakwera because I believe in what he does,” said Mia who announced his retirement from active politics three years ago.

However, Mia said he had not joined MCP to snatch anybody’s position as people have been speculating “but if that position is weak, I am ready to grab it.”

Addressing reporters after the rally, Chakwera said Mia’s coming to MCP signifies the beginning of a huge movement which “is good for Malawians that nobody will manage to stop”.

“I can assure you what this has set in motion is something Malawians will witness because the movement is truly moving forward… and will attract people of calibre that want to see genuine change in our country,” he said.

During the rally, Chakwera also welcomed several members from the United Democtaric Front (UDF), PP as well as independent legislator, Boniface Kadzamira.

The meeting was attended by thousands of people from the Shire Valley area as well as almost all MCP regional and district chairpersons and members of PP, and over 90 chiefs, including traditional authorities (T/As) Mphonde of Nkhotakota and Kampingo Sibande of Mzimba.

On his part, T/A Mphonde declared his allegiance to the MCP and urged fellow chiefs to do likewise, saying Malawians were tired of the current leadership.