By Mercy Matonga and Serah Chilora
Dust is refusing to settle in the erstwhile governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as, in the latest case, the party’s director of legal affairs Charles Mhango has written embattled secretary general (SG) Grezelder Jeffrey, asking her to repay K107 million she alleged received to pay election monitors.
And, while this was unfolding, the party’s embattled vice president (VP) for the Southern Region Kondwani Nankhumwa was launching his campaign at Golden Peacock Hotel in Blantyre.
In a leaked demand letter addressed to Jeffrey, Mhango alleges that she took the money purportedly to pay the party’s monitors in the 2020 presidential elections but never did so.
The move appears to be an escalation of the party’s bitter leadership saga which saw the party’s leader and former president Peter Mutharika changing Jeffrey from her position of SG to that of VP for the Central Region.
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In the letter, Mhango further claims that Jeffrey was entrusted with the responsibility of paying the monitors but that, after she collected the money from the party, she allegedly never paid the monitors and used the money for personal use.
The letter has given Jeffery an ultimatum of three days to pay the money or risk facing legal proceedings.
“I further advise you that if you refuse, neglect or fail to pay back the said sum of K107,000,000.00 within the next three days of the date of this letter, the party has given me strict instructions to refer this matter to our external lawyers to commence legal proceedings against you to recover the said sum of K10,700,000.00 together with legal collection costs and compound interest on all sums due, at a rate of 10 percent above the commercial lending rate applicable at the National Bank of Malawi from time to time from 1 August 2021 until the full payment of the said sum of K10,700,000.000.00,” the statement reads.
When contacted, Jeffrey promised to come back to us.
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“I will get back to you,” Jeffrey told The Daily Times.
million—File photo
And, in an interview, party spokesperson Shadric Namalomba claimed that the party is only demanding that the SG reimburse the party the money that belongs to it.
“We are, indeed, demanding K107,700,000 million from the embattled secretary general. We believe that this is the right time for her to pay back the money as we have been requesting her to do so for the last three years. We trusted her and if other people stole the money, she should show us a police report,” Namalomba said.
However, Blantyre-based political analyst Chimwemwe Tsitsi said it appears that the action is part of a political witch-hunt.
“One would wonder why it had to take about three years for the party to raise the issue now. I think the timing itself it pointing to some political maneuver. These issues can be resolved if the two functions that are at loggerheads embrace the spirit of tolerance as they are waiting to hold a national convention,” Tsitsi said.
In another development, Nankhumwa officially launched his campaign for the party’s president position.
be a home for all—Picture by Serah Chilora
Last week, one faction of the party, led by Geffrey, organised a National Governing Council (NGC) meeting, which scheduled the party’s convention for Friday, December 15 2023.
Nankhumwa said while others see factions in the party, he is only expressing interest in contesting for the position as announced by the party’s NGC.
“I do not know about factions and I do not have a side. It is the leadership of the party that announced [dates for] a convention and that gave contestants the liberty to express interest in any position they deem fit.
“For the past three years, I have been under pressure from rank[1]and-file members of the DPP and other sectors of our society to run for the party’s presidency and be its presidential candidate in 2025, a call which I have humbly accepted,” Nankhumwa said.
Nankhumwa further said his campaign would focus on three pillars of unity, progress and inclusivity.
“In unity, I believe we must come together as a cohesive force, setting aside personal differences and working towards a common goal. Progress is another crucial element of my vision for the DPP. We live in a rapidly changing world, where new ideas and innovative solutions are needed to address complex issues. Inclusivity is the third pillar that underpins my candidacy. I believe the DPP must be a home for all, regardless of race, tribe, gender, religion or socio-economic background,” he said.
Last week, Namalomba disowned resolutions made by the other faction of the party to hold its elective convention, further arguing that the delegates at the said meeting were not DPP members.
“To Malawians, I urge you to disregard the resolutions made at that meeting because they are illegal,” Namalomba said
