DPP goes begging money for convention

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says it is still sourcing money to reach the targeted budget of K60 million, barely eight days before it conducts the national conference slated for April 17 to 19.

Chairperson for the National Convention Nicholas Dausi said in an interview on Monday that the party was still hoping that well wishers would help the party to meet its budget.

“We planned that as a party we need K60 million to hold the national convention, but up to now we are yet to reach that figure,” Dausi said.

He was, however, optimistic that by this weekend, the party would manage to reach the target.

Asked on the parliamentary funding the party has been getting, Dausi said: “We get money from Parliament after every three months, but we can’t use that money for the national convention, it is for administrative purposes.”

Dausi said even if the target would not be reached, the party will still go ahead to hold the convention with the available resources.

He said 19 positions were up for grabs during the forth-coming convention.

According to Dausi, some of the positions up for grabs are president, vice president three positions, Director of Women, Secretary General, Treasurer General, Director of Political Affairs, Director of Security, Director of Elections and Organising Secretary.

He said party members were forms and he was not sure of the number of people who have so far submitted.

“People are vying for various positions, we will have the exact figure of the people after we have finished receiving the forms,” he said.

Treasurer General of the party George Chaponda said the party has so far managed to pay for the venue, Comesa Hall in Blantyre, and also appealed to well wishers to assist the party.

Asked how much they have collected so far, Chaponda said: “We need to do some calculations to see the balance. But as a party we had some money that is why we managed to pay for the venue and do other things, but we appeal to well wishers to help us.”

On nomination fees, presidential candidates are supposed to K500,000, Vice President K250,000, Secretary General K200,000, Treasurer General, Publicity Secretary and Organising Secretary will pay K150,000 while directors will cough K100,000.

The fees are non refundable, the party says.

So far on the presidency, the party’s acting president Peter Mutharika will face Speaker of Parliament Henry Chimunthu Banda.