Msaka, Mwanamvekha, Chihana in Nankhumwa’s shadow Cabinet
Leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa yesterday released his shadow Cabinet which includes Joseph Mwanamvekha and Bright Msaka, two of his contenders for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leadership.
Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani-Hara announced the Cabinet, which also includes Alliance for Democracy (Aford) legislator Yeremiah Chihana whose party is in the nine-member Tonse Alliance administration.
Both Mwanamvekha and Msaka refused to comment on whether they were consulted while Nankhumwa said the composition has nothing to do with party affairs.
“The role of the shadow Cabinet is that each shadow minister should provide checks and balances to the line ministry, so we go for competence. Party affairs are outside the House,” he said.
However, political analyst Ernest Thindwa said much as the two [Mwanamvekha and Msaka] might be playing smart politics by not coming open on their position, the same could signal negative perception in their followers.
“They needed to make their stand clear; it doesn’t harm anyone but as it is, some people would be thinking that they are backing off from the contention of party presidency [which could be] paving the way for Nankhumwa. It all depends on how one understands their action,” he said.
Nankhumwa, Mwanamvekha and Msaka were believed to lead different factions within the DPP after declaring their party presidential ambitions.
In an interview yesterday, Chihana said he does not support the Tonse Alliance.
“I have always sat in the opposition side and I do everything with the opposition so there shouldn’t be any strange thing there. I don’t support what the Tonse Alliance government is doing,” he said.
