By Isaac Salima:
Misunderstandings in the erstwhile governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) might be far from over as fired members are yet to make a decision on whether to accept the party’s call to reengage them.
On Sunday, the party announced that the fired members— DPP vice president for the Southern Region Kondwani Nankhumwa, secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey, treasurer General Jappie Mhango and Mulanje West parliamentarian Yusuf Nthenda— have been accepted back into the party.
However, in an interview Wednesday, lawyer for the four Gilbert Khonyongwa said his clients were still consulting on the issue.
“They are yet to make their position known. You know that this matter has taken a long way and is now in court. There are a lot of considerations, including legal and political implications; so, at an appropriate time, they will tell us their position,” Khonyongwa said.
In a letter signed by DPP administrative secretary Francis Mphepo, the party announced that its central executive committee had resolved to rescind the decision of expelling the four.
“You are being informed that you are welcome into the party as a full member of the party. The central committee arrived at the above decision on the understanding that, upon your return, you shall abide by the party constitution,” the letter reads.
The four were fired for what the party described as gross misconduct. They later obtained an injunction restraining it from firing them.
The two sides are set to face off in court on August 25 this year.