‘Tembo going through difficulties’
The forthcoming MCP convention has generated a lot of interest in terms of number of people aspiring for various positions in the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) including that of secretary general. Our reporter Phillip Pemba last week caught up with Vitus Dzoole Mwale who thinks he has what it takes to become secretary general.
Q:
Who is Dzoole Mwale?
A:
My name is Vitus Gomantunda Dzoole Mwale, Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Msozi South Constituency which is in the area of Senior Chief Chadza. I joined politics in 1999, but before that, I was working in government where I retired in 1998 at a very senior position as regional officer for parks and wildlife for Central Region in the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. I graduated from the University of Wales in the UK with a master’s degree in pure and applied biology.
Q:
How did you join politics in 1999?
A
I must admit that I never dreamed to be a politician, but it was the people of my constituency who requested me to represent them in Parliament after the constituency in Senior Chief Chadza was re-demarcated into two. That’s how I joined politics.
In MCP, the most senior position I have right now is that of public relations officer for the National Executive Committee. But in Parliament, I was once chairperson of Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee for 10 years and I was appointed as shadow minister of agriculture.
Q:
What do you think about the MCP convention which has been postponed twice now?
A:
I just hope that delegates will have a peace of mind to elect the right leaders at the convention to ensure that MCP goes into government in 2014 because, once we miss this chance, then we shall remain outside government forever.
Q:
Do you support the idea of using nomination papers and scrutinising aspirants before the convention?
A:
We have learnt lessons from the past that candidates to stand on various positions in the National Executive Committee have to submit nomination forms so that the candidates can be screened and we know that we are recruiting bonafide members of MCP. Just to join MCP and vie for senior positions is not a health undertaking.
Q:
Do you still find the four cornerstones of MCP relevant?
A:
As aspiring secretary general, that is the core area that I do regard as very important because the four cornerstones of MCP are the major foundation that have made MCP to be strong up to now and these four cornerstones are unity, loyalty, discipline and obedience. You will find that in our party, those bonafide members of MCP from local branches up to national executive, they behave very well, they are so cohesive, we love each other through unity, we love our leaders through loyalty, we keep discipline and we are obedient.
So, this party ideology that was left by late Kamuzu Banda has made MCP survive or remain strong up to now. I also want to thank our president [Honourable] Tembo for having maintained this party because without him, this party would have already gone—that I must tell you and it is my prayer that Rt. Hon. JZU Tembo will not just dump us but lead us to ensure that this party goes into government.
Q:
What do you mean when you say Tembo should not just dump you?
A:
I must be open that Hon Tembo is going through difficulties because we love him. He is our leader and father. We wish he had continued leading the party but with the restrictions of our constitution, I am afraid he might not be able to succeed to lead this party at the convention.
That’s the major obstacle but had it been that there were no limitations of the period that he can lead this party, I would have loved him to continue. But with this restriction of the constitution, it will depend on what delegates at the convention will decide.
Q:
Why are you now interested in the position of the party’s secretary general?
A:
I feel I have accumulated a lot of experience. To work in the party for 14 years is not a joke. I have worked intensively with the president, Right Honourable John Tembo who has taught me a lot and with the accumulated experience and expertise, I am sure I would be able to handle matters of the party as required by the party.
Q:
What do you want to achieve in the party by vying for this position?
A:
My aspiration is to take MCP into government. I would like to assist the coming president who will be elected at the convention to take MCP into government. I would like to break the perspectives that people have that MCP is for the people of Central Region—that I want to break as secretary general. I want to make sure that once I am elected at the convention, I inspire the party with the president to be elected to take the party from Nsanje to Chitipa and from Nkhotakota to Mchinji as it was before. We would like to have Members of Parliament from all districts so that this party is revived and we go into government.
Q:
How do you intend to achieve that aspiration?
A:
I think with the convention to come, I would share with the president to be elected that we move around. The best way is to strengthen the grassroots structures from branches, area, constituency, districts and regional committees. These committees should be empowered to hold regular meetings. That is my philosophical thinking.
Q:
How crucial is the position of party secretary general to change things in MCP?
A:
The position of secretary general is an administrative position. This is where I could say the hub of the party is run. When you have a very strong secretary general, you do assist the president on what to do. So, once I am elected into this position, I will ensure that I do share my principles with the president to be elected at the convention and apply them and see how we can improve on them.
Q:
What will you do if you don’t get the secretary general position at the convention?
A:
Even if I don’t get that position, I wouldn’t feel bitter. I will remain in MCP. n
