APM, Nankhumwa mend fences
After a two-year estrangement, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is slowly embracing its vice-president for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa into the fold.
Nankhumwa and party leader Peter Mutharika embraced on Saturday during a rally in Mangochi, a gesture political analysts say is a sign of reconciliation between the two.
In an interview yesterday, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said it is expected of every DPP member to attend party activities and that Nankhumwa’s presence at the Mangochi rally was “not isolated and special.”
He claimed that the DPP has never been divided and the party has been strongly united under Mutharika’s leadership.
Said Namalomba: “There are those that do not wish the party well and have peddled lies that the party is divided and that Honourable Nankhumwa is not in good books with the leadership. This Saturday rally has proven them wrong.
“As a party, we shall continue with our efforts of reforming and transforming our systems and processes so that we can serve the people who we represent better while we are in opposition, but most importantly, as we get into government very soon.”
Nankhumwa’s attendance at a Mangochi rally came about five days after DPP reinstated its regional governor for the Northern Region Christopher Mzomera Ngwira.
Commenting on the matter in separate interviews, political scientists Mustafa Hussein, Chimwemwe Chitimbe Kandodo and George Phiri observed that Nankhumwa’s presence at the Saturday rally is a sign that DPP is moving towards unity.
Hussein, a Zomba-based political scientist, said it was not expected that Nankumwa would attend the rally held at Saint Augustine Three Primary School in view of the verbal exchange that has been in the main opposition party.
He said: “His [Nankhumwa’s] attendance may signify that DPP is now realising the importance of moving together. It’s good for democracy because a strong opposition party in Parliament is necessary for bringing about the alternative views.”
On her part, Chitimbe Kandodo, who is Catholic University of Malawi head of political leadership department, observed that Nankhumwa’s attendance is an indication that DPP has bowed to people’s calls for the party to put its house in order.
She noted that DPP unity would reinstate trust that was lost among its supporters due to divisions in the party.
“So this will increase the trust in the DPP members and even others would say, DPP is now matured and this support would go a long way and could be seen in 2025,” said Chitimbe Kandodo.
On the other hand, Phiri observed that politicians are never permanent enemies and that Nankhumwa attended the rally just to consolidate the fact that he is still a DPP member and to show willingness to engage with Mutharika.
He said: “It is also important to understand that DPP is going to have convention next year, which is just two weeks away to next year.
“It would be very important if the two would be joining together in any other gatherings of the party to make sure that they share their concerns of the welfare of the party as of now.”
Cracks in the former governing DPP came to light after embattled secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey in August 2020 told The Nation that Mutharika, who lost the June 23 2020 Presidential election to President Lazarus Chakwera, had done his part and that the party needed a new person to lead it into the future. Peter Mutharika took over leadership of DPP after the death of his brother, Bingu wa Mutharika in April 2012.
