DPP paints BlantyreCity blue, white
All eyes are today glued to Comesa Hall in Blantyre which has been transformed into a sea of blue and white ahead of the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) highly anticipated elective convention.
As final touches were being made yesterday, the hall was calm before the arrival of 2 650 delegates who are expected to choose the party’s National Governing Council (NGC).
Delegates started arriving at the venue as early as 9am, donning blue attires with faces glowing in anticipation.
Praise songs for incumbent leader Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM) filled the air. He is expected to go unopposed.
They were welcomed at the gate with a banner bearing Mutharika’s portrait juxtaposed with the convention theme: ‘A Return to Proven Leadership’.
Nearby was a pick-up carrying a ‘maize silo’ with cobs of maize and yet another banner: APM 2025 Boma, greeted passers’ by.
Outside the gates, ad hoc food stalls were set, selling roadside chips, popularly known as chiwaya, fizzy drinks, biscuits, fritters and more.
Some vendors stocked firewood in readiness for making a killing from party supporters and delegates expected to throng the venue.
The atmosphere was filled with music from the public address system, complementing the blinking disco lights inside the hall.
Outside, DPP paraphernalia, including hats, mugs and badges bearing the party’s four-cob symbol and faces of founder Bingu wa Mutharika and the incumbent APM were on sale.
Several aspirants were seen walking in and out of the hall to get a feel of the arena that will make or break them.
They were mostly welcomed and seen off by youths, known as Ana a Adadi. The youths were painted in party colours, and chanted songs of praise for their leaders.
Several roundabouts along Kamuzu Highway near Comesa Hall were adorned with DPP party cloth.
Security was tight right from the entrance where every individual and vehicle entering and leaving was searched by a hired private security firm.
The DPP, once the dominant force in Malawi politics, was unceremoniously booted out of power in the June 23 2020 court-sanctioned fresh presidential election, a casualty of what critics said was executive arrogance.
But today, as the party gathers for its convention, the mood is decidedly upbeat and avails a chance for redemption, a fresh start and a new chapter.
Delegates Nation on Sunday talked to expressed optimism that the convention will offer a fresh start to the party that has been rocked by infighting during the past two years.
Thyolo Central Constituency delegate Mary Naphiyo said she expects a free, fair and credible convention.
“I expect fresh leaders who will help move the party forward,” she said.
Similar sentiments were expressed by another delegate from the same constituency, Eneless Mang’anda.
She said: “The DPP is a strong party. I believe it can re-organise itself and wake up from its slumber.” However, some of the delegates we talked to opted for anonymity for fear of reprisals.
They opposed the adoption of an equal distribution of positions among regions in the NGC that was in office from 2018.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said in a statement last week that the decision was adopted following a resolution passed at their 2018 convention.
He said: “This move is significant as it reflects the party’s commitment to being a national party representing and serving Malawians’ interests.”
But one of the delegates said: “This is somehow unfair. Maybe the party has its own preferences and we are just here to fulfil the fact that a convention has to take place.”
