Just a few weeks after the Deputy National Organising Secretary for the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) Levy Luwemba and the entire central region committee members dumped the party, reports have it that about four Members of Parliament (MPs) for the party have joined the ruling People’s Party (PP).
The UDF MPs who have reportedly joined PP are the party’s former leader of house Honourable Ibrahim Matola, Hon. Alfred Mwechumu, Hon Aufi Yaumi Mpaweni and Shamil Asibu all are from the eastern region.
Matola, who has been quite since he was appointed deputy minister in the Joyce Banda’s cabinet, has been seen on several public meetings wearing PP party colours and badges, including on Sunday were the Vice president Khumbo Kachale presided over the HIV/AIDS candle lighting ceremony in Mitundu Lilongwe.
He seen happily charting with former UDF National Executive Committee members such as former Deputy National Organising Secretary Levy Luwemba and Jack Kalonga who announced their defection two weeks ago at the PP headquarters in Lilongwe.

When he was queried if it is indeed true that he and the three others have indeed joined PP, Matola said, “My friend, there is always time to announce every development and changes. You will know my stand soon.”

When contacted, PP Publicity Secretary Steve Mwenye said he was not in a position to reveal names of those who have been accepted to join the party said they are still screening the names of the applicants.
“But we have received a lot of interests from the MPs from all other parties, so soon you will be communicated,” he said.

When asked, UDF spokesperson Mahmudu Lali only said he was surprised to see their former leader, who all along has been saying he will remain royal to the party while serving into the government are now wearing party colours and badges.

But a top PP official confided in this reporter that its true that the four have been accepted in the party.

“It’s true, they applied as a group and they are among those who have been accepted to be part of the PP. we are organising a big function soon at which all those that have been accepted will be formally welcomed,” said the source

During the time he was defecting to PP, Luwemba said there are a lot of leaders from UDF who are willing to join the party.

“We have decided to join the People’s Party because of the participative and inclusive style leadership which Her Excellency the President of the Republic of Malawi Mrs. Joyce Banda who is also the PP’s president has displayed since she assumed the Presidency.
“We are in total support of the PP’s policies and ideologies most especially the championing of women empowerment.

“We would like to join the bandwagon of people who have demonstrated good will to contribute towards the development agenda in improvement of social economic development of the country. We have the faith in PP and hope that it is only in PP where adherence of the rule of law would be realised.
“We would like to contribute in whatever small way we can in making PP a bigger institution in the country.

“I will not labour you with faulting our previous party because I don’t think this is a right forum for that. The best we can do is to find ways of making sure that we use all our energy in serving the party, we promise we will be servants of the party,” said Luwemba.