By Mercy Matonga, Taonga Sabola & Serah Chilora:
Senior officials who have been fired from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) have kept plans about their next course of action close to their chest, with some of them avoiding questions altogether and others asking for ample time to review the party’s decision.
On Saturday, the party fired several officials who were associated with its former vice president for the Southern Region and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa, who has, countless times, expressed interest in contesting for the party’s leadership position at a convention.
Those axed from the party include former secretary general and Central Region vice president Grezelder Jeffrey, former publicity Secretary Nicholas Dausi, former political director Mark Botoman and former presidential adviser Cecilia Chazama.
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Other officials were suspended from their positions, notably one-time vice president for the Central Region and party founding member Uladi Mussa.
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As of Sunday afternoon, it became clear that the party is not done with the dismissed members, notably Nankhumwa.
Inside sources confided in The Daily Times that their next course of action would be in the august House, where they want to take away the LoP seat from Nankhumwa.
Apart from prestige, the seat has both financial and political benefits.
The dismissal of the officials, who are also members of Parliament (MPs), means the party will have to move the Speaker of Parliament to give the affected MPs new seats in the House.
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The seats will have to be located away from those designed for DPP, the largest opposition party in the country.
Sunday, DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said the party would ensure that the position is held by someone recognised by the party leader.
“Leader of Opposition [position holder] comes from the party in opposition,” Namalomba said.
When we contacted those who have been fired from the party, most of them said they are yet to figure out their next course of action.
Ralph Jooma, the official spokesperson for Nankhumwa, asked for ample time before he could respond to questions on the matter.
Nankhumwa, Jeffrey and Dausi were reached out but could not immediately provide responses to The Daily Times.
Botoman said he could not comment much as he was still waiting for official communication from the party.
“I am seeing everything on social media. I am waiting for communication from the party and, then, we will take it from there,” Botoman said.
But Uladi Mussa said in interview that the party’s decision to suspend him for nine months and expel the other officials showed intolerance for dissenting views and was aimed at preventing any democratic challenge to Mutharika’s bid to win the party presidency at the yet-to-be scheduled party convention.
He said he was “feeling sorry” for the party over the timing of the move, saying “this was supposed to be the time for the party to come together”.
“The nine months that we have been given fall within the same period that they will be conducting a convention. These people do not like
