PP to swallow ‘small’ parties
People’s Party (PP) has claimed that some presidential candidates whose parties have never ruled the country have expressed interest to join the ruling party.
Currently, the party is in an alliance with the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) whose president is allegedly earmarked for the post of second vice-president once PP wins the elections to form the next government.
Speaking in an interview, PP spokesperson Ken Msonda said a number of candidates, especially those whose parties are deemed ‘small’, want to join the ruling party.
He claimed that most people who are defecting to PP are doing so with the blessing of their presidential candidates.
However, the spokesperson refused to disclose candidates who are interested to join PP, saying “only time will tell”.
“It is not just the running mates and members of other parties who are coming to PP; most presidential candidates, especially those of small parties have also expressed interest to join PP. Do you think a running mate or a vice-president can just dump their parties and come to PP without the blessing of their president?” asked Msonda.
“What is holding the presidential candidates from joining us now is that they already submitted nomination papers to MEC [Malawi Electoral Commission],” he said.
However, People’s Progressive Movement (PPM), which is one of the parties largely deemed as ‘small’, has ruled out any intentions to join PP.
In an interview, PPM president Mark Katsonga Phiri said his party remains intact, noting that only parties whose leaders have no vision are the ones experiencing defections.
“People should stop valuing PP, DPP, MCP and UDF because these parties were once in government and failed to deliver.
“Actually, it is PPM that will consider establishing a government of national unity by appointing other presidential candidates as Cabinet ministers,” said Katsonga.
