PP SG ponders on one party state
Malawi’s ruling People’s Party (PP) secretary general Henry Chibwana on Tuesday said Malawi would be better off going back to a one-party State. He said with the development President Joyce Banda is carrying out, it would not be a problem for the country to take that route.
Chibwana made the remarks in the capital, Lilongwe when he addressed PP supporters during a ceremony to welcome two Members of Parliament Fredrick Kamwangala (Lilongwe North West) and Agnes Penemulungu (Lilongwe City South East) who have joined PP.
Said Chibwana: “There is nothing wrong to have a one-party State provided that that one party is doing the best thing for the people. Yes, we can have so many opposition parties and indeed opposition is necessary, but opposition should not just be there for the sake of opposing even when government is performing.
“I am saying this without any apologies. It is possible that the whole Malawi can turn into orange. Actually, going by the support which the PP is getting from all corners of the country that will soon be the case. Malawi will soon be a one-party State.”
To justify his wish, Chibwana said among the positive developments that the PP has brought so far is mending the souring relationships with the country’s developing partners, notably the United Kingdom, improved tobacco prices at the auction floors and ending the shortage of fuel and foreign currency.
He also said the President has to be commended for the safe motherhood initiative that has so far seen a reduction in maternal deaths, the one cow one family initiative and the Presidential Initiative on Poverty Reduction and Hunger.
Kamwangala and Penemulungu were both MPs of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Chibwana said the coming of the two MPs meant that the PP has a base of new supporters but advised the two to respect old members and structures in the party.
“This means that the PP has already won two constituencies in the central province. However, the PP slogan is ‘Unity, Equity and Development’ and this slogan is not just there as flowers and this should not just be in words but also in actions,” he said.
In an interview later, Chibwana said although the two have been admitted into the party as sitting MPs, the party still expects primary elections in their constituencies to give equal opportunity to the two and other aspiring candidates.
In an interview, both Kamwangala and Penemlungu said they have decided to join the PP after observing the development that the party has orchestrated so far.
