Kabwila dumps MCP
Embattled Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Salima North West parliamentarian Jessie Kabwila yesterday announced she was ditching the party for the UTM Party.
She said yesterday when she held consultations in the community on her next move after the party declared she had lost primary elections that were held on December 17.
Kabwila toured the constituency yesterday to solicit views from voters on the party she needs to join to reshape her political career before announcing she was joining the UTM, which holds primary elections on Thursday.
Clad in MCP regalia, Kabwila met representatives for over 60 areas from Chitala and Lipimbi wards, where chairpersons for areas took turns advising her to dump the party under which she was ushered into a parliamentary position in 2014.
She told constituents at Katitima Primary School: “I wanted to share with you that the MCP president Lazarus Chakwera has rejected me as an aspirant for the constituency. When I logged a complaint, party officials asked me to wait for Chakwera. Yesterday, [on Thursday] he sustained results which are indicating that I lost. Because of that rejection, I want you voters to determine the direction we should take.”
MCP secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka refused to comment on the matter, saying he had no official communication from Kabwila.
He said:”It is to early to comment because I have not received any communication from her. I will only comment when I receive communication from her.”
Chancellor College political scientist Mustafa Hussein said it is not surprising that Kabwila is contemplating joining the UTM considering that she had bad relationship with party officials.
However, he cautioned her to tread carefully, considering that politics is a game of numbers.
“If indeed constituents are advising her to join UTM, then she had to ensure that she has enough support. Already we know she had problems with MCP. On the other hand, her move would have negative impact on the MCP because she has been a strong member of the party. If she decides to move to UTM, she might go with some followers,” he said.
On his part, political commentator Humphreys Mvula observed that MCP will be perceived as the party that cannot leave to the tenets of the 50:50 campaign for deliberately organising disorganised primaries.
He said Kabwila Kabwila’s open criticism against party leadership, may not have been embraced in the party, which he branded as conservative.
Kabwila, who was once suspended from the party alongside speaker of Matinal Assembly Richard Msowoya, protested the primaries saying that they were illegally held with a motive to oust her from the position during tripartite elections slated for May 21 next year.
Both UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati and director of communications Chidanthi Malunga did not pick their call to comment if the party is ready to welcome Kabwila.
