DPP members fight at regional meet

Irate Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caused chaos Saturday afternoon in Mzuzu as they forced out director of youth Kelvin Chirambo and director of women Joyce Chikukula for allegedly swindling party resources.

The incident, which happened on the sidelines of a regional committee meeting, irked vice-president for the North Goodall Gondwe and regional governor Christopher Mzomera Ngwira who urged discipline and urged the youths to calm down.

In a direct response to the queries from the DPP youths, who bayed for the blood of the two, the party immediately fired Chirambo and Chikukula.

Said Gondwe: “There is need for discipline for the party to forge unity because it is important. What happened is bad as discipline was supposed to be key.

“So, I want these youths to come and share with me their concerns and how best we can help them.”

Gondwe, who served as minister of Finance in the administrations of both under Peter Mutharika and the late Bingu wa Mutharika, further stated that the central committee of the party has concluded going through the functional review report and their remarks will be made known to the party membership soon.

He also indicated that he would support the candidature of Peter Mutharika as the party’s torch bearer during the 2025 elections.

 Gondwe said that the party’s regional leadership wants someone from the region to be vice-president and running mate during the polls.

He said: “It’s important that we have a vice-president from the region and that is non-negotiable.

 “That is what we want. We want to be back in government in 2025 because the current team has messed up things a lot.”

On his part, Ngwira said the youths were allegedly angry because Chirambo and Chikukula are said to have misappropriated some funds, an issue the party is looking into.

“It was not good for the youths to start that commotion. Youths need to be united, but they were not happy, they didn’t want Chirambo and Chikukula to be part of us,” he said.

Ngwira also urged the National Governing Council (NGC) to come out in the open on who will be contesting in 2025, but also hinted that the region will support the candidature of Mutharika if he decided to go for it.

“People want Mutharika to contest, that’s all. So, I want the NGC to come out clearly so that we start telling people who will represent us. For us here in the North, people want Mutharika,” he said.

In the letter to Chirambo dated March 31, the party through administrative secretary Francis Mphepo says they will find space for Chirambo in the NGC, which has also been communicated to Chikukula.

It reads: “I write to inform you of the party’s decision to replace you as director of youth responsible for the Northern Region. On behalf of the party, let me thank you for the hard work, loyalty and unwavering support rendered throughout the years.

“At an appropriate time, you will be given responsibilities in the National Governing Council of the party.”

Chirambo has been replaced by Christopher Mtambo while Chikukula has been replaced by Constance Mwanyongo.

Chikukula and Chirambo did not comment on the matter yesterday as both did not pick up their phones.

The DPP lost the 2020 presidential election to the nine-team Tonse Alliance under President Lazarus Chakwera.