PP lacks direction—ousted MPs
Disgruntled former ruling People’s Party (PP) members of Parliament (MPs) have predicted doom for the party in the 2019 elections, stating the orange camp has lost direction.
Two of the MPs, Welani Chilenga of Chitipa South and Ralph Jooma of Mangochi Monkey Bay constituencies, said in an interview yesterday they are planning to query leader of PP in Parliament Ralph Mhone on why they and other PP MPs were moved to back benches.
The others are Uladi Mussa, Harry Mkandawire and Rachael Zulu.
But the party’s deputy publicity secretary Ackson Kalaile Banda has rubbished the sentiments, arguing these MPs were moved to back benches because they no longer serve the interests of the party.
In an interview yesterday, Chilenga said if the situation in PP continues, the party will be reduced to spectators in the 2019 elections because it is operating like flock without a shepherd.
He said PP has currently lost direction because of lack of mature and visionary leadership.
Chilenga was himself removed as chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources by the PP politburo.
He said: “There is no leadership. You must expect more confusion, and if this continues, the party will not get even a seat in the 2019 elections.
“Even if Joyce Banda comes back today, it is too late, people have already lost hope in PP. It has no direction.”
On his part, Jooma warned the party will be “reduced to a spectator” in 2019 polls if it does not put its house in order.
“The problem is that the party lacks leadership,” he said.
Jooma, who was replaced as the party’s chief whip in Parliament and vice-president for the South, suggested that PP leader in Parliament Ralph Mhone must summon all parliamentarians for dialogue.
Reacting to the sentiments, Kalaile Banda claimed some of the MPs were working with the ruling Democratic progressive Party (DPP) while others were with Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
In a separate interview yesterday, Mhone said the changes in the House were normal.
Recently, political and governance commentators warned opposition parties against growing internal bickering, saying they erode people’s confidence in them.
While acknowledging that even the governing DPP is not spared the internal wrangles, the commentators further cautioned that the infighting may minimise opposition parties’ chances of winning the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
