JB accuses MCP of giving false information

Former president Joyce Banda, who is also People’s Party (PP) leader, has accused Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for allegedly giving out false information about some people joining the latter.

In an interview on the sidelines of a political rally in Nancholi Township in Blantyre on Saturday, the former president said for instance, MCP recently announced that PP vice-president for the North Ephraim Mganda Chiume had joined MCP from PP, yet he left the party in 2021.

She said the former PP vice-president case is not isolated, saying last week MCP also announced that PP national youth director had also joined the party, yet he left the party a year ago.

Said Banda: “Few weeks ago we heard that Malawi Congress Party is receiving the vice-president of the People’s Party, but that vice-president of People’s Party left about two years ago. And we in the North, we have our vice-president Mr. Kawonga.

“So we were shocked, because this happened despite alerting them [MCP] that what you are saying is not true. So for us and that’s what my colleagues were saying they are surprised. We don’t understand the narrative they are pushing.”

In a separate interview, MCP second deputy secretary general Gerald Kazembe said the incidents were initiated by some party members at grassroots level.

He said MCP values the relationship with other Tonse Alliance partners.

“In no way we would target our alliance members. We always respect the partnership and we believe that we have very good working relationships with our partners. These are just politics at the grassroots,” said Kazembe.

Commenting on the matter, political scientist Ernest Thindwa observed that the issue at hand is an indication that most Tonse Alliance partners, including PP did not get what they were expecting before signing the deal.

“Those partners do not feel that they have had a better deal and, therefore, as we go towards elections, they feel freer to express themselves because they see they have nothing to lose at the moment,” he said.