Reading like Vice-President Saulos Chilima’s speech, when he was dumping the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) last month, Speaker Richard Msowoya yesterday also resigned from main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) without disclosing his next move.
But sources in the much-touted Chilima Movement said Msowoya will be joining the group soon.
addressing journalists
Msowoya said he will serve as an independent member for the remainder of the term and called on Malawians to work towards rebranding, rebuilding and repositioning the country.
Making the announcement at a press briefing at Parliament Building in Lilongwe, the soft-spoken Msowoya claimed that intolerance to dissenting views is taking root in MCP that ushered him into office as legislator for Karonga Nyungwe in 2014, and also as Speaker of the National Assembly.
Just like Chilima, Msowoya started with heaps of praise for his former party, before unleashing quitting
But he avoided attacking his former party president Lazarus Chakwera; except that he was to present his resignation letter to him.
Said Msowoya: “Intolerance to divergent and objective opinion that also is not in tandem with the current political environment has taken root, breeding a form of tyranny that is dangerous for Malawi.
“I do not believe that the MCP in its present state represents the ideals of its founders in the quest to bring about development to the people of Malawi.”
He also pointed out that the country has the potential to attain self–sufficiency in areas such as food security, quality health, education and infrastructure development but rampant corruption, nepotism and cronyism has washed away all the gains during the 54 years of independence.
Political scientist Nandin Patel yesterday said Msowoya’s move comes as no surprise considering the bickering and court battles that the Speaker—who was viewed as a rebel by other members in MCP—was having with the leadership of the party.
She observed that Msowoya was given no room in MCP as evidenced by a rushed convention just to make sure that all ‘rebel’s don’t participate’.
“It was clear the way things happened at the convention,it was obvious that he [Msowoya] had to make a decision about his political future, and now he is free to join any party or be independent,” Patel said.
Msowoya just like former secretary general Gustave Kaliwo, former spokesperson Jessie Kabwila and former director of elections Joseph Njovuyalema challenged Chakwera’s style of leadership, which they said smacked of dictatorial tendencies.
They also accused Chakwera of flouting the party’s constitution by singlehandedly firing and hiring members into national executive committee (NEC).
