Governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Tuesday summoned Mulanje South member of Parliament (MP) Bon Kalindo to a disciplinary hearing following differences between the legislator and the party.
The misunderstanding between the MP and his party, where he also serves as deputy publicity secretary, sparked off last month after Kalindo led a ‘naked’ demonstration enactment of stiffer penalties for perpetrators of attacks on persons with albinism.in Lilongwe to push for the
DPP seemed to have been exasperated with Kalindo’s action and reacted by chasing him from a political rally addressed by President Peter Mutharika in Mulanje on June 25.
Both DPP spokesperson Francis Kasaila and Kalindo, a comedian widely known by his moniker Winiko, yesterday confirmed the disciplinary meeting which took place at the party’s national headquarters in Lilongwe.
Among others, the disciplinary panel comprised Kasaila, DPP vice-president George Chaponda (Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development), national campaign director Jappie Mhango (Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security) and deputy secretary general Grace Chiumia (Minister of Sports and Culture).
DPP secretary general Ecklain Kudontoni, legal adviser Charles Mhango and the party’s Southern Region governor Charles Mchacha were also present.
In an interview yesterday, Kalindo said the party’s politburo asked him to explain his rationale behind the ‘naked’ demonstrations and subsequent allegations that some DPP members had plotted to kill him for purportedly revolting against his own party.
He said: “The party wanted to know why I took that stand and I told them it was for the love of the party. But then I was told that what I did was like fighting my own party, I needed to consult my superiors before going ahead.
“Nevertheless, I am equally pleased that the uncertainties, tension and misunderstandings that existed between some senior party members and myself have been amicably resolved.”
On his part, Kasaila said the party leadership wanted to understand the genesis of the legislator’s allegations that the party had plotted to kill him.
The meeting puts to rest growing speculation that the party was planning to throw out Kalindo.
Last weekend, Mchacha, who is also Thyolo West MP, described Kalindo as “an attention seeker the party should not waste its energy on”.
His sentiments came after Mchacha and Kudontoni also dressed down Kalindo at the rally addressed by Mutharika in Mulanje where they said Kalindo was not part and parcel of the party. Mutharika did not condemn the two party leaders’ actions. n
