Dust is refusing to settle in opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with the latest act being the party expelling its publicity secretary Nicholas Dausi with immediate effect.
DPP has also sacked Dausi as its Member of Parliament (MP).
A public notice of the decision, signed by the party’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, says the expulsion follows a recommendation by the disciplinary committee and a decision by the Central Executive Committee.
“[They] found Hon Dausi guilty of three misconducts contrary to Article 6(1)(v) and (viii) of the DPP constitution,” the notice, dated September 3 2023, reads.
It does not stipulate the actual charges against Dausi.
In an interview Sunday, the Mwanza Central legislator said he would thoroughly respond to the “purported” expulsion once he gets hold of a letter addressed to him.
“If they are fair people, which I believe they are, they will send me a letter about their decision, and explain the charges against me.
“They can find me in Mwanza, that is where I am now, and I think the normal way is giving me the letter. Otherwise, I will comment more when I have that letter in my hands,” Dausi said.
Meanwhile, political commentators Henry Chingaipe and George Phiri have said they foresaw Dausi and many others being “punished” for apparently belonging to an opposing camp within the party.
Chingaipe noted that Dausi has been very vocal in his support of DPP Southern Region vice president Kondwani Nankhumwa who is not in good books with the rest of the party’s leadership.
“This obviously put him in a collision course with the party’s leadership. He recently made strong allegations against the party; so, it is not surprising that they have ended up expelling him.
“If you also recall, he was a strongman for Malawi Congress Party [MCP] for many years. So his joining DPP was a plot to weaken MCP and when you look at the DPP, there are tribal lines that are tolled regarding who can lead the party,” he said.
Chingaipe added that DPP’s decision to expel Dausi from the party could also send a signal to those who are leaning towards Nankhumwa or deemed to be creating rebellion that their actions are not in good taste.
On his part, however, Phiri has warned DPP against sustaining “its wars” ahead of the 2025 general elections.
“These fights have to come to an end. They have been going on for too long. They appeared to be making progress when they announced dates for their convention, [which is July next year],” he said.
Fights in DPP have mostly revolved around who should lead the party at the 2025 elections.
Some DPP members have endorsed the party’s leader Peter Mutharika, developments which observers argue ostracise those with similar ambitions.
While Dausi has not openly thrown his support behind Nankhumwa, he has more than once criticised the party’s leadership for allegedly showing undemocratic tendencies.
In a Times Exclusive interview with Brian Banda, which aired on Times Television on July 8, Dausi complained that DPP National Governing Council members had made some wrong decisions including that the position of secretary general should no longer be voted for.
Currently, Grezelder Jeffrey, a stark sympathiser of Nankhumwa, is holding the position.
The NGC also proposed that positions of regional vice presidents should be abolished.
