By Cathy Maulidi:
Visibly upset faces marked the morning at Comesa Hall in Blantyre as news broke about the results of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) National Governing Council (NGC) elections, with several prominent figures losing their positions.
DPP held its elective convention from Sunday to Monday, with the election being a major highlight, despite the attention also drawn by a speech from the party’s leader, Peter Mutharika.
Notable figures who did not secure their positions include Leader of the Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda, secretary general (SG) Clement Mwale, director of legal affairs Charles Mhango and national organising secretary Chimwemwe Chipungu.
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Chaponda accepted the outcome graciously and pledged to support Joseph Mwanamvekha, who defeated him with 1,562 votes to 714.
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“DPP is one family and I will support him. Don’t forget I am still the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, a big position equivalent to that of a Cabinet minister,” he said.
In other election results, Bright Msaka was elected vice president for the Eastern Region, defeating Lonnie Chijere Phiri with 1,549 votes to 702.
Alfred Gangata retained his position as vice president for the Central Region after winning against Paul Gadama.
Peter Mukhito emerged as the new SG after defeating Mwale, while Mary Navicha was elected director of women, beating Rosa Mbilizi.
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Norman Chisale took on the role of director of youth, winning against Dytom Mussa, Frank Chiwanda and Benson Khofi.
In the director of legal affairs post, Mhango was defeated by Chipiliro Mpinganjira.
Some 19 positions were uncontested, including those of Mutharika, who was declared the party’s candidate for the next election, vice president for the Northern Region Jappie Mhango and publicity secretary Shadrick Namalomba.
During the convention, delegates approved a constitutional amendment eliminating the regional vice president positions.
Starting from 2029, delegates will elect only one president and one vice president, replacing the previous four regional vice presidents.
Mutharika was notably absent Monday.
Although he opened the convention on Sunday with enthusiasm and optimism, the former president later delegated Chaponda to speak on his behalf.
Chaponda said Mutharika’s absence was due to other pressing matters.
“Professor Mutharika had other important issues to attend to, which is why he did not come to close the convention,” Chaponda said, without providing further details.
When questioned about the DPP president’s absence, his spokesperson Namalomba responded: “Even yourself, if you had stayed here all night until dawn, you would have gone home at some point.
“If unexpected issues arose, would you have returned? The president is attending to more pressing matters.”
He also could not specify the nature of these pressing issues.
Reading Mutharika’s speech, Chaponda said he had been asked to urge delegates to work together to challenge the current government.
“To those who have won positions today, the president urges you to work diligently. He emphasised that we must not just wear our new positions like suits; we must strive to reclaim the government,” he said.
Political analyst Wonderful Mkutche expressed concerns about Mutharika’s age and its impact on his leadership capabilities.
“Professor Mutharika’s age [at 84 years] raises questions about his ability to handle the physical demands of the campaign period, especially now that he has been confirmed as DPP’s candidate for the upcoming elections,” Mkutche said.
He further warned that the party’s inability to rebrand itself could hinder its efforts to attract new voters.
“DPP will likely rely on its loyal base as it struggles to appeal to new voters due to its failure to modernise its image and personnel,” Mkutche said.
On the gender front, Oxfam Malawi Country Director Lingalireni Mihowa praised the increased female representation in the party.
“The DPP convention saw encouraging results for women’s representation, with several key positions filled by female candidates, including Director of Women, Director of Social Services, Deputy Secretary General and Director of Operations,” Mihowa said.
However, she expressed concern over the prevalence of money exchanging hands during conventions, a trend noted at both the Malawi Congress Party and DPP events.
A total of 2,491 delegates were registered to vote, with 2,322 casting their ballots, representing a 93 percent turnout.
Voting began around 5pm on Sunday and concluded around 3am yesterday, with the results announced officially at approximately 12pm after Malawi Electoral Commission personnel had completed tabulation.
Mutharika left Comesa Hall, where the convention was held, around 6pm on Saturday after casting his symbolic vote and did not return.
