By Justin Phiri:
Throwback to 2019. Who would have imagined that the once mighty governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) could be embroiled in leadership battles three years later? Two years after being booted out of power, a day now hardly passes without hearing something concerning power struggle within the former governing party.
If it’s not the Party Secretary General Grezelder Jeffrey challenging her position in court after being kicked out through the backdoor, then it’s the Vice President for the Southern Region Kondwani Nankhumwa rushing to the courts seeking relief to cling on to his vice presidency and leadership position for the opposition in Parliament.
As if that is not enough, then comes the battle for the leader of opposition the only remaining relevant position the party can command in the country.
One day you will hear that the National Governing council at its emergency meeting has removed Kondwani Nankhumwa as leader of opposition then the following day Nankhumwa is in court challenging his removal and the circus continues.
In a latest episode to the ongoing struggle for power within the Blue camp, several high profile individuals have been positioning themselves for the position of party presidency though the party through its outspoken spokesperson Shadreck Namlomba has maintained that anyone harbouring such ambitious plans must shelve them until 2023.
However Namalomba’s stand, whether it represents the position of the party or in his own individual capacity, seems to be landing on deaf ears as those positioning themselves for the post of party president have proceeded to hold rallies using the name of the party where they have been outlining their vision for the party.
Latest to hold such a political rally was Kondwani Nankhumwa last week at Nyambadwe Primary School ground where he along other senior party members took turns to sell their camp to those that had gathered at the ground.
And on Thursday morning one of those that are parading themselves for the presidency, Bright Msaka who is party Vice President for the Eastern region, announced that he is going to be addressing the media in Lilongwe Friday morning.
One wonders why Msaka whose base is in the eastern region would prefer to address the media in Lilongwe instead of his base in Zomba, Mangochi, Balaka or Machinga where he is a member of parliament.
Surely Msaka’s move suggest that he believes that his message is for the nation and not the eastern region only which he represents.
It therefore came as no surprise that immediately after Msaka floated his advert, the outspoken Namalomba was at it again this time around refuting what he called social media reports that former First lady Getrude Mutharika has endorsed Msaka as the next presidential candidate for the former ruling party.
All what is coming out clear in this hullaballoo is that there is lack of leadership within the DPP and it will be difficult for the party to mount a serious challenge to get back to power in 2025.
Two years after being booted out of power the party has failed to re-organise itself. Everyone speaks for themselves willy nilly.
The courts have been the only remedy keeping some of the members within the party but technically such members were already removed within the ranks and files of the party. Unless something is done urgently but otherwise the once mighty DPP is naturally dying from inside.
The sooner they realise it the better.
