US-based space scientist vies for DPP presidency

The race for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) top job is hotting up ahead of an elective national convention with a US-based space scientist Cedric Ngalande joining the fray.

In an interview on Thursday, Ngalande said he had been prompted to contest to drive the party back into government as it is the only uniquely-placed political party to solve challenges Malawians are facing.

The space scientist joins in the race the likes of DPP vice-president (South) Kondwani Nankhumwa and former Reserve Bank of Malawi governor Dalitso Kabambe.

Others are former minister of Justice and DPP vice-president (Eastern Region) Bright Msaka, who already unveiled his vision, and former minister of Finance Joseph Mwanamvekha.

The incumbent DPP leader Peter Mutharika, 82, is yet to declare his stand.

Said Ngalande in a written response: “The DPP itself needs to be saved. There has been a lot of infighting and sometimes the interests of the party have not been put first by some of the factions. I believe I can help unify the party.

“The party must be united to serve Malawians well. This is the message I will be preaching to the grass roots and delegates. The party needs a candidate like me to unite all the factions, keep DPP intact, and focus on the original objectives of the party.”

He said he had been receiving a lot of calls from across the world to lead the cause for which  DPP stands for.

“I will be on the ground in the next few days, to start the conversation with the grass roots. I have lived in another country for a long time, but I am always in touch with the situation on the ground,” said Ngalande.

Reacting to the development, DPP director of elections Henry Matemba said the party has procedures which Ngalande has to follow.

“We follow what our party constitution says. So if he has shown interest to contest it means the party will first look at whether he indeed has the requisite requirements to contest.

“Secondly, he will have to come formally and declare his interest.”

Political analyst Victor Chipofya Junior said it was a welcome development that people were showing interest to serve the country.

“This will be a very good litmus test for the strength of the intraparty democracy within the DPP because it will demonstrate how democratic and flexible the party is and whether he stands a chance of taking power that is up to the delegates.”

Said Chipofya Junior: “If the DPP is as democratic as it claims this aspirant must be given an opportunity to contest. Let him fail after he had been given that chance. This is good for the development of the country’s democracy.”

The 52-year-old Ngalande comes from Phalombe District where he also grew up.

The space environments and space craft interactions expert has worked in various capacities in academia, research and the corporate world as a visiting professor of astronautics at the University of Southern California.

He works as a senior principal system engineer at Raytheon Intelligence and Space and is also an adjunct professor at California State University.

DPP is expected to hold its elective convention in July this year and rival factions have been repositioning themselves for the party’s top job which some political experts claim has created tension among members and weakened its parliamentary oversight.

Since losing the June 23 2020 fresh presidential election, the former ruling party has been embroiled in political leadership battles which have led to the emergence of two different camps.

Several political analysts have warned the party to swiftly rebuild and unite or forget about getting back to power after the 2025 Tripartite Elections.