Mwenefumbo rebuffs return to PP

Karonga Central Member of Parliament Frank Mwenefumbo has said he will maintain his independent status in Parliament and will not switch his allegiance to the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) or opposition People’s Party (PP).

Despite being PP deputy secretary general and provincial governor, Mwenefumbo was booted out of the party in March for deciding to contest as an independent candidate after the party settled for then deputy minister of Finance Dr Cornelius Mwalwanda as its representative.

However, Mwenefumbo was several times spotted sporting badges of former president and PP leader Joyce Banda amid a conflict-torn electoral campaign to regain the constituency notoriously nicknamed “Benghazi” in reference to Libya’s battlefield.

When asked about the orange emblems, Mwenefumbo told the press on May 2 2014: “It is not my wish that I am an independent candidate. As a registered voter, I will vote for myself first and President Joyce Banda second.”

But one month since Banda lost the presidency to DPP’s Peter Mutharika on May 20, Mwenefumbo has remained independent although 20 of his colleagues have migrated to DPP while six others have joined Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

On Wednesday, he said there is no chance of rejoining PP.

Said Mwenefumbo: “I was expelled from PP and the party announced my expulsion several times. How do you expect me to go back? I subscribed to the principles of Joyce Banda, but now I am independent and I will continue sitting with my fellow independents in Parliament.”

He also downplayed reports of a reunion with DPP, where he served as deputy minister before joining PP in 2012. He vowed never to announce such a shift in Lilongwe—like those who have reverted to their parties—but in his constituency.

“I’m not my own boss to make that solitary decision. Until my bosses in Karonga Central Constituency tell me to make a move, I will remain independent as I promised them during the campaign period. You don’t just join a party out of convenience; what if you are not welcomed?” he wondered.

Mwenefumbo and his fellow remnant of the exodus, Nsanje Lalanje defector Sam Ganda, are planning to petition the Speaker of Parliament to form an independent MPs’ caucus “similar to the Women’s Caucus”. He termed the new arrangement a safer path than forming a bloc, a decision rebuffed by the Speaker and the House’s Business Committee.

The legislator concurs with political analysts that most independent MPs flock to political parties because they end up being standalone candidates due to lack of democracy in parties.