Mzimba North MP Goodall Gondwe, who served in various Cabinet portfolios, including Economic Planning Minister under President Joyce Banda, has contradicted spokesman of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Nicholas Dausi that he has rejoined the party, saying he remains independent lawmaker.
Dausi claimed in an interview in Blantyre that Gondwe has “rejoined” DPP and the party will assign him some duties.
But Gondwe told the media in a telephone interview on Thursday evening that he remains out of front-line politics.
“I announced I am out of party politics. I have not rejoined DPP. I remain an independent member of parliament,” he said.
“I am not feeling well at the moment. I have difficulties to walk,” said Goodall.
He maintained that he will completely retire after finishing his tenure of office in 2014 but will meanwhile continue to serve as a parliamentarian for Mzimba North constituency, a seat he won on a DPP ticket in 2009.
“I have friends in DPP, have many in People’s Party and UDF,” said Gondwe.
Gondwe, a former International Monetary Fund director, won the hearts of most Malawians when he turned around Malawi’s economy between 2004 and 2009 when he was finance ministers under the Bingu wa Mutharika administration.
He is currently answering charges of perjury and treason alongside DPP president Peter Mutharika, DPP top officials Kondwani Nankhumwa, Henry Mussa, Nicholas Dausi, Patricia Kaliati and Symon Vuwa Kaunda as well as former Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Bright Msaka.
