President Banda to go unopposed at PP Convention

Interim President of the Peoples Party (PP) Joyce Banda who is also the State President of the Republic of Malawi, will not compete with anyone for her position at the Party’s maiden convention.

According to Malawi Voice, an online publication, members of the PP have agreed to endorse the incumbent president at the convention and that the seat of Vice President and those of the National Executive Committee (NEC) will be up for grabs.

The Peoples Party is going to hold its convention this coming August.

Joyce Banda was expelled from the Democratic Progressive Party where she was accused of forming parallel structures. The DPP was vindicated a few months later when she formed the Peoples Party which then was a collection of disgruntled
members of the DPP, UDF and other smaller parties.

“It is said that Joyce Banda formed and owns the party and it will be rude that anyone challenges her for the Presidency. Of course others like Brown Mpinganjira may want to take the risk and pull a surprise at the convention but they know the consequences. The silent rule is clear. No one will oppose JB at the convention and she will not compete with anyone,” a cabinet minister who spoke on strict condition of anonymity was quoted as telling the Malawi Voice online.

However, tension is building up as the heavy weights are jostling and re-positioning themselves to have a go at the vice presidents position that is currently held by Khumbo Kachali.

These include Dr Cassim Chilumpha, Sidik Mia, Boniface Kadzamila, Uladi Mussa, Clement Stambuli, George Zulu and Kizito Ngwembe.

Meanwhile, the publication has also quoted PP’s publicity secretary Ken Nsonda as confirming that sparks are expected at the convention in as far as the post of running mate is concerned.

He is quoted as to know those who are eyeing the vice presidency but was quick to say that he needs confirmation from the aspirants.

The PP is expected to face stiff competition from the DPP whose torch bearer is expected to be Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika (APM). Going by the recent rallies that he has conducted, APM has proven that he is a force to reckon with in his own right. Multitudes of people have flocked to his rallies and many are wondering what magic he has to pull such crowds.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Atupele Muluzi who was appointed as Economic Planning Minister of the country by Mrs Banda is also set to fight for the Presidency on a United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket.

Before being appointed, the young Muluzi held a number of rallies in most parts of the country championing his ‘agenda for change’.

However, he has to challenge among other UDF aspirants Moses Dossi, lawyer Fahad Assani and Friday Jumbe at the forthcoming UDF Convention if at all he is going to represent the party during the 2014 General Elections.