APM condemns Jeffrey, Nankhumwa for rally
Former president Peter Mutharika has condemned estranged Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey and vice-president (South) Kondwani Nankhumwa for holding a rally in Lilongwe on Sunday without consulting the party’s leadership.
He said the duo’s failure to consult the leadership was an act of indiscipline and will not be condoned.
Mutharika, who is DPP president and ruled the country between 2014 and 2020, said: “The DPP is a party of democrats, order, discipline, and respects its constitution. What Ms. Grezelder Jeffrey and Hon. Kondwani Nankhumwa did was out of order and an act of indiscipline and disloyalty.
“The DPP specifically calls upon Ms. Grezelder Jeffrey, Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa, all bona fide members and supporters to respect the party’s leadership and all structures as enshrined in the party’s constitution.”
The rally came a day after DPP vice-president (Centre) Zelia Chakale also held a similar one at Mgona Ground.
Mutharika said the two should have sought permission from the party to hold a rally and has since issued a warning against all party ‘deviants’.
He said: “Any office bearer or member of the DPP who disrespects the party’s constitution and its leadership will be dealt with sternly, if they organise or participate in activities that perpetuate disunity in the party. As president of the party, I do not condone any acts of indiscipline or disorder.”
In an interview on Wednesday, DPP national organising secretary Chimwemwe Chipungu, who traded barbs with Jeffrey over the rallies last week, confirmed the statement is from Mutharika.
Nankhumwa, who has been in bad books with the party leadership, refused to comment on Mutharika’s statement, saying Jeffrey was the right authority in the party to speak.
However, Jeffrey said she was attending to an illness of a relation; hence, could not grant an interview on Wednesday.
But in an earlier interview, Jeffrey indicated that as chief executive of the party, she does not require permission from the organising secretary to hold a rally.
Commenting on the developments, University of Malawi associate professor of political science Boniface Dulani said it was unfortunate that instead of uniting and working to offer sober criticism to the Tonse-led government DPP appears intent on self-destruction.
He said: “I am worried that the current bickering will carry over to the convention floor and might thus not solve the problems that are currently tearing the party.”
On his part, political analyst and strategist Humphrey Mvula said the DPP has become a symbol of what a main opposition party should not be.
He said: “The problem is that Mutharika is failing to use his leadership to solve the matter, instead he is using the media to do the mediation. He can simply call the two to discuss, why issue a statement?”
The in-fighting in the party started before the court-sanctioned Fresh Presidential Election held on June 23 2020, but deep divisions came to light in August 2020 after Jeffrey told The Nation that Mutharika had done his part and that there was need for new leadership.
