By Pemphero Malimba:
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has appointed eight party members, including some of the people that lost elections at the party’s recent elective convention, to serve as advisers to party president Peter Mutharika.
The eight are George Chaponda, Clement Mwale, Chimwemwe Chipungu, Jean Mathanga, Charles Mhango, Dyton Mussa, Aaron Sangala and Everton Chimulirenji.
Mwale and Chaponda will serve as advisers on political affairs and policy development, respectively, while Chipungu and Mathanga will be advising Mutharika on organisation and election management matters, respectively.
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On the other hand, Mhango and Mussa will serve as legal affairs and youth adviser, respectively, while Sangala and Chimulirenji will serve as operations and campaign adviser, in that order.
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In a statement dated September 1 2024, DPP national publicity secretary Shadric Namalomba says the appointments are with immediate effect.
“The party extends its heartfelt congratulations to all members for their well-deserved appointments,” Namalomba says.
Meanwhile, political analyst Victor Chipofya has described the appointments as politics of appeasement.
“Party delegates did not want these people close to leadership and, yet, we have seen the president using other means to still keep these people close to the leadership,” Chipofya said.
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While concurring with Chipofya, political analyst George Chaima said he did not know how the new advisers would contribute to party growth.
“I don’t know how they are going to make a difference to rebuild the party,” Chaima said.
DPP held its elective convention in Blantyre from August 18 to 19 2024.
