DPP rebuffs Zikhale Ng’oma

Peter Mutharika’s government and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have flatly rejected moves by former People’s Party (PP) campaign director Ken Zikhale Ng’oma to join them.

Speaking for both government and the ruling party (which currently does not have an official spokesperson after Nicholas Dausi was appointed Director General for National Intelligence), Minister of Information Kondwani Nankhumwa said in an interview on Monday Ng’oma is not welcome.

“Let him get this message: He is not welcome to join government or the DPP,” said Nankhumwa.

Ng’oma dumped the PP on Saturday and on Sunday he said in interview with The Nation that he would be rejoining the DPP because with its forerunner have similar ideologies.

In addition Ng’oma claimed that President Peter Mutharika is accommodating other political parties.

“I want to re-join the DPP and support President Mutharika. He has shown that he is accommodating by working with the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP),” said Ng’oma in the Sunday interview.

But Nankhumwa advised Ng’oma to remain where he is.

“Where did he get this idea that to support government one must join it or join the ruling party?” wondered Nankhumwa.

“We will not accept him. Let him learn that one can still support government while in the opposition. He does not need to defect for him to contribute his ideas for national development,” added the Information Minister. “This nomadic life in politics must not be encouraged.”

Ng’oma is a renowned political rolling stone in Malawi.

He was in the DPP, rising to the position of secretary general. After he was sacked, he joined Gwanda Chakuamba and they formed the New Republican Party.

Thereafter, he rejoined the DPP as a mere member because the party then kept him at arm’s length, probably, for not taking his loyalty seriously.

When the DPP lost power due to the death of its founder and Head of State, Bingu wa Mutharika, he was one of those that deserted to the PP, which succeeded the DPP.

He became the party’s campaign director and its unsuccessful parliamentary candidate in Nkhata Bay South during the May 20 polls.

He has been quiet since the eviction of the PP from power, only to resurface on Saturday with the defection announcement, described by PP secretary general, Paul Maulidi, as a mark of frustration.

“He contested for a seat in Nkhata Bay under PP but lost. This is just frustration as people mostly react angrily after losing an election,” said Maulidi.

He added: “You should also know that some people are like political whirlwind; they just want to be associated with ruling parties.”