Peoples Party abusing public resources

Ruling People’s Party (PP) has gone against its word and is now exploiting public resources for political interests. CAMA’s Kapito was therefore on the right track in organising protests against the administration.

For the three days Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki was in the country at the invitation of President Joyce Banda, PP zealots were ferried to and from different destinations in government vehicles.

Three government vehicles, a Mitsubishi bus coaster registration number MG 838V, a Toyota Bus registration number MG 188Y and a Toyota twincab registration number MG 200AE were seen carrying PP women and youths from PP headquarters in the central region located in Lilongwe’s Kawale Township.

Ironically, government spokesperson Moses Kunkuyu yesterday maintained that there has not been a shift in government policy with regard to use of resources paid for by the taxpayer.

“What I know is that there is a state function where various government departments are attending.

“There is a foreign head of state around and obviously government players will be involved. Public resources will be used in that respect. It remains a policy that we don’t use public resources for the party,” said Kunkuyu, who is Minister of Information.

When contacted, PP spokesperson Hophmally Makande reacted: “Our headquarters is not in Lilongwe therefore I cannot answer that question. You should first find out where our headquarters is then I will answer that question.”

He then cut the line.

Political analyst Blessings Chinsinga said in a separate interview yesterday that he too had witnessed the same and was “shocked, dismayed and in disbelief” that the PP is suddenly acting contrary to its pledges.”Parties in government behave as if they own resources on behalf of Malawians and they can do as they please. When the reality of maintaining power dawns on them, they start misbehaving this way. It was the same when Bingu took power.

“A party like PP where would it get resources? These parties do not have any fundraising mechanism in place. Our parties rely on founders and the moment they get into power they start dipping into public coffers. It’s not surprising that these people have taken the same path,” Chinsinga said.

On PP’s assuming office in April, PP senior party official Reverend Peter Kaleso attracted public attention and admiration when he declared that the party would depart from the culture of abuse of public resources by ruling political parties and instead ensure that the PP depends on its own resources for its interests.

But for three consecutive days since Wednesday, three government vehicles were dedicated full time to ferry PP officials to Kibaki events and not doing the work for which they were bought for in the first place.