The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has said its eviction from an office building the People’s Party (PP) occupies in Balaka was politically motivated.
In August last year, the Balaka District Council evicted DPP from Nkhalango Resthouse opposite Balaka Stadium, which served as the party’s district and Eastern Region office since 2005.
In a letter dated August 13 2012 signed by district commissioner for Balaka, Rodrick Mateauma, the council cited the interest of Malawi Savings Bank (MSB) to turn the building into a banking facility as of the one reasons for terminating the tenancy agreement with DPP.
Reads part of the letter: “This is due to the fact that MSB had approached the council with an application for land or an existing structure within the central business area for purposes of constructing a new banking facility and relocate from Malawi Posts Corporation (MPC) building where the bank is accommodated right now.”
But few months after DPP vacated the offices, PP occupied it. Although, the building is still in DPP’s traditional blue colours with their logo intact, PP has removed the D, leaving PP with orange coloured flags flying.
DPP district governor for Balaka, Francis Mangadzuwa, said it is not surprising that PP have occupied the offices claiming that the ruling party masterminded their eviction.
“We said it earlier that PP plotted our eviction for them to occupy it, we’ve been vindicated. We didn’t have problems with MSB occupying the building because that’s development to the district, but look at what has happened,” said Mangadzuwa.
When The Nation contacted Mateauma on Monday through his mobile phone to comment on the issue, he promised to call back, which, he never did until we went to press.
Mateauma, however, told Zodiak Online that he was not aware how PP got the offices. He has since referred the matter to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
