Which way DPP?

Differences in the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) continue to take centre stage as yesterday party president Peter Mutharika nullified a national governing council (NGC) resolution to hold a convention on December 15 or 16.

The resolution was made at a purported NGC meeting called by estranged secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe which Mutharika and those on his side shunned.

Briefing journalists after an hour-long closed door meeting, interim chairperson Cecilia Chazama announced that NGC members also elected Mwanza Central legislator Nicholas Dausi to chair the convention and Baxter Kita as his deputy.

She said the convention would be held at Natural Resources College (NRC) in Lilongwe. If it takes place as planned, this will be the first time for the DPP elective conference to be held in the Central Region.

Said Chazama: “We would want this elective conference to be held here in the Central Region as the past two elections were held in Blantyre at Comesa Hall.

“As chairperson of the elective conference, honourable Dausi is going to get confirmation from the offices of NRC if the dates are applicable.”

However, in a statement last evening, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said Mutharika will in due course call a meeting of the party’s central executive committee to discuss and map the way forward.

The statement further quoted Mutharika as having commended NGC members who shunned the Lilongwe ‘NGC’ meeting.

Reads the statement: “The non-attendance of the meeting strongly manifests their [members’] vote of confidence in the rule of law and adherence to the constitution of the party. Any resolutions, therefore, that may have been made at the illegal meeting are invalid.”

Yesterday’s meeting proceeded amid differences between Mutharika’s faction and that of vice-president responsible for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa on who should call such a gathering.

There were 27 physicallly while others, including Connex Muhuwa, Luis Kamundi, Clara Makungwa and Welani Chilenga attended virtually, according to Chazama.

Those present included Nankhumwa, who is Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Uladi Mussa, Mark Botomani, Ken Msonda, Kita, Dausi, Themba Mkandawire, Thomas Joe Nyirongo, Otrilia Jere, Simeon Phiri and Dumisani Lindani.

She said those who gave apologies included vice-president responsible for the North Jappie Mhango who doubles as treasurer general, Peter Valani, Brenda Saidi and Jean Kalilani.

But in a telephone interview yesterday, Mhango denied having sent an apology to anyone.

Meanwhile, a pro-Mutharika group converged in Liwonde, Machinga where they denounced the Lilongwe gathering. They were led by vice-president responsible for the Eastern Region Bright Msaka, regional governor Emran Mtenje and 16 district governors.

Speaking during the opening of the meeting, Jeffrey informed the members that she tried to no avail to reach out to Mutharika through letters and WhatsApp messages on the need to hold an NGC meeting in keeping with the September 29 High Court of Malawi judgement.

The court ordered the party to hold the NGC meeting and convention within 90 days.

She said the party’s constitution in Article 10 (13) empowers the secretary general to call for an NGC meeting after informing the president.

Political analyst George Chaima hailed Jeffrey for choosing the path of complying with the law amid all the chaos.

DPP director of legal affairs Charles Mhango earlier wondered how the NGC could proceed without the party president chairing it.

In July this year, some DPP NGC members endorsed Mutharika as the party’s torchbearer in the 2025 General Elections.

The rift in DPP became evident in August 2020 when Jeffrey declared that Mutharika, after losing the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election on June 23 2020, had fulfilled his role and called for an early convention to appoint a new leader.