DPP set on reforms

Erstwhile governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says it is reviewing its party structures, functions and activities for the smooth running of the party as it prepares for the next tripartite election.

New DPP spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira in an interview yesterday said a special functional review committee has since been put in place to champion such reforms following a meeting the central committee of the party held on August 27 in Mangochi.

He said the committee is chaired by DPP vice-president (East) Bright Msaka with members including the party’s administrative secretary Francis Mphepo, Chiradzulu South legislator Joseph Mwanamvekha and Chikwawa North legislator Owen Chomanika.

Said Mpinganjira: “The committee has been given 30 days to present its findings and recommendations to the central committee following which the party will convene a meeting of the National Governing Council [NGC] to consider the recommendations.”

But governance commentator Makhumbo Munthali in a separate interview said the decision is welcome if it helps improve governance in the DPP.

He said: “However, the only problem is the fact that such a committee may not have been sanctioned by the NGC, but instead by the party president and the inner circle in the process raising suspicion on the motives.”

On his part, political commentator Humphrey Mvula, said: “I do not think that this party should have headed in that direction, they should carry out a candid postmortem.”

He said the postmortem will identify remedial measures required to redeem the party and one of such measures may be the need for the functional review.

DPP president Peter Mutharika is facing calls for an early convention to elect his successor following his defeat in the June 23 election.

DPP lost the June 23 Fresh Presidential Election to President Lazarus Chakwera who partnered Mutharika’s then estranged Vice-President Saulos Chilima of UTM Party on the presidential ticket.