‘Hope Alliance growing’

Hope Alliance, a pressure group reportedly in Malawi’s ruling DPP, on Friday invaded the Central Region where it claims to have wooed 11 DPP MPs to its fold.

With 30 MPs said to have joined the alliance in the Southern Region, the 11 take the number of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) parliamentarians fighting for change from within to 41.

Three of the MPs behind Hope Alliance—Moses Kunkuyu ( Blantyre City South), Peter Nowa (Mulanje Pasani) and Blantyre City South East’s Jeffrey Ntelemuka—confirmed on Saturday that they held a meeting in Lilongwe with several DPP MPs, with most of them showing interest to join.

Claimed Kunkuyu: “After the meeting, which was meant to launch the Hope Alliance in the Central Region, we now have 11 MPs from the region who have dedicated themselves to join us.”

He said after unveiling the alliance in the Central Region, the group plans to also take it to the Northern Region where it claims there is also enthusiasm and interest from DPP MPs.

Nowa said the mandate to form the group comes from the people. He said no other force is behind their drive.

In separate interviews, some of the MPs from the Central Region who met the trio in Lilongwe, confirmed joining the group.

Commenting on the Hope Alliance’s penetration into the Central Region, Deputy Lands Minister the Reverend Christopher Ngwira, said DPP is open to welcome its prodigal sons and daughters to strengthen its ranks.

Ngwira was speaking at Matenje headquarters of Senior Chief Chulu in Kasungu North West Constituency on Saturday as DPP intensified rallies in region.

Ngwira addressed the rally alongside DPP National Governing Council (NGC) members Ulemu Chilapondwa and Godfrey Kamanya.