Nankhumwa quits Leader of Opposition role
Fired Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice-president responsible for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa has relinquished the position of Leader of Opposition in Parliament to focus on his newly registered People’s Development Party (PDP).
During a briefing in Blantyre yesterday, the Mulanje Central legislator said his association with PDP was challenging, as such, he would not manage to double with his role in Parliament.
Said Nankhumwa: “Therefore, I hereby announce my decision to relinquish my position as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
“However, as the legal matters concerning my position are still pending in court, I have instructed my lawyers to initiate proceedings to withdraw this case, including other two related cases currently in the High Court.”
On the establishment of PDP, he said his party, which has seven administrative regions namely Southern, Shire Valley, Eastern, Central, Lakeshore, Northern and Misuku will not welcome people who insult other political party leaders.
Nankhumwa said PDP has standards that
discourage disrespectful behaviour towards other party leaders or members and that it will foster constructive engagement, healthy debate, and mutual respect, among others.
He said: “To this end, let me emphasise that individuals who express desire to join the People’s Development Party, but engage in insulting behaviour towards Dr. Bakili Muluzi, Dr. Joyce Banda, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and other leaders have no place in this party.”
Nankhumwa said PDP will go solo in the September 16 2025 General Elections and expressed optimism that he will win.
Commenting on the development, political analyst Victor Chipofya said Nankhumwa’s resignation as Leader of Opposition in Parliament was not surprising as he was fired from DPP.
However, he said Nankhumwa should have resigned soon after his dismissal.
He said Malawians should not completely rule out possibilities that PDP can win the 2025 Tripartite Elections.
Said Chipofya: “If people in Malawi believe that Nankhumwa is going to help the country, then I am
sure they [PDP] will be able to win. But if you look at the history, there have been very few political parties that have just started and are able to win the elections.”
In a separate interview, another political analyst Nandin Patel said no political party including PDP will win next year’s general elections after going solo because of the country’s 50+1 electoral system.
“It’s a distant dream for the PDP to win the election. Parties have to wake up to reality and start working on alliances that can work for them. When I say no party can make it alone, I also mean the larger parties such as Malawi Congress Party and DPP,” she said.
On January 20 this year, DPP central committee expelled Nankhumwa, Zomba Chisi legislator Mark Botomani and former secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey.
The party also fired former director of women Cecelia Chazama, former publicity secretary Nicholas Dausi, Joe Thomas Nyirongo and Ken Msonda.
The 11 were accused of undermining Mutharika’s authority and disrespecting party leadership contrary to Article 6 of the DPP constitution for calling, leading and attending the December 6 2023 nullified national governing council meeting in Lilongwe.
Nankhumwa became the Leader of Opposition on June 29 2020 following DPP’s loss in the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election on June 23 2020.
Prior to his expulsion, he was at the centre of the debacle in the DPP, which put him at loggerheads with senior party members, including Mutharika.
On numerous occasions, he has been dragging the party to court, a situation that destabilised the party.n
