By Lovemore Katanda
Political expert, Humphreys Mvula has said leader of opposition in parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa is among the Democratic Progress Party( DPP) members who have massive support in the party.
He was commenting through the press on the just ended by- elections organised by Malawi Electoral Commission ( MEC) on Tuesday 30 March, 2021 in seven constituencies and two wards which saw the former ruling DPP getting one council seat.
Mvula also said DPP miserably lost in by- elections is due to unorganized campaign and lack of unity among party members who were campaigning.
“I think party members were supposed to bring in new message to regain trust from voters. Again, DPP members were supposed to speak with one voice a thing which has not been displayed during the whole campaign period,” he said.
However, Mvula clarified that he is on the view that DPP still remains the main opposition party in the country, saying can bounce back into power in 2025 only if party members are to burry their hatchets and start afresh.
“It seems misunderstandings taking place amongst party gurus are slowly killing the party. They need to look into it for the betterment of the party and for the party to gain public trust,” explained Mvula adding that triumph by Tonse Alliance in by- elections by scooping four parliamentary seats is due to adequate funds and materials.
On Tuesday, March 30,2021, MEC conducted by- elections in which official results indicated that MCP has won Nsanje Central, Nsanje North, Lilongwe Nsinja South and Ntchisi North with UDP retaining it’s Chinkhwawa East West seat while United Transformation Movement (UTM) and independent have shared Karonga North West and Zomba Changalume respectively.
Among the cansulties are Francis Kasaila and Mcheka Chilenje of DPP who have been pushed out of parliament by MCP’s Kafandokhale Mandevana and Enock Chizuzu in Nsanje Central and Nsanje North respectively.
MEC Director of Communications Sangwani Mwafulwa has said the commission is scheduled to announce official results for by- elections today.
