‘Felix Jumbe, Uladi Mussa can’t win for DPP’
A Political analyst who is also lecturer of political science at the University of Malawi’s Chancellor College, Ernest Thindwa, has said recruitments being done by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the Central Region cannot earn them political mileage, especially on the presidential vote.
This comes barely two days after Member of Parliament for Salima Central Constituency, Felix Jumbe, left Malawi Congress Party and joined the ruling party.
Jumbe, who was sacked from MCP, joined the party at a recent function where President Peter Mutharika launched the construction of a cotton factory in the district.
Other notable personalities at the presidential function were sacked People’s Party vice-president Uladi Musa and former MCP member, Chatinkha Chidzanja Nkhoma. The two, sources say, are also waiting to join DPP.
Thindwa, however, thinks that the three do not have the required charisma to entice votes for DPP’s presidential candidate in the 2019 elections.
“The DPP has not been strong in the Central Region lately, they have been performing badly on both presidential and parliamentary fronts, so to recruit people like Uladi Musa and Felix Jumbe would not increase the party’s seat share in the region.
“It may not have that significant impact in terms of the presidential race in my view because the personalities involved, I would not want to put them in the league of crowd-pullers,” Thindwa said.
He said the move by the three may ignite conflict in DPP as other members of the party may have been interested to contest for a parliamentary seat on a DPP ticket in the constituencies they want to stand.
Already, Jumbe has started preparing to contest in Salima North Constituency, presumably to pave way for Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Samuel Tembenu, who he defeated in 2014 elections in Salima Central.
“Precisely, at local level, it is going to create some upheavals here and there in the sense that there were some people who were aspiring to stand for DPP in those constituencies and the coming in of these people certainly will create some tension,” Thindwa added.
DPP’ Secretary General, Grezelder Jeffrey, told the gathering during the function that Jumbe and other MPs who have joined the party will be properly unveiled during a party rally slated for next week in the same district.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
