Rumphi PP members dump party

Several People’s Party (PP) members in Rumphi North Constituency have dumped the party, saying they are angry with the way one parliamentary candidate was treated during primary elections.

PP secretary general Paul Maulidi has since said he is saddened by the mass defections arising from primaries.

PP has been thrown into anarchy due to irregularities in the primary elections.

The Rumphi North members—some of whom went to The Nation’s Mzuzu Bureau to vent their frustrations—said the party’s decision to disqualify the primary winner, Jappie Mhango ,in favour of Dexter Mkandawire was unfair

Constituency chairperson Joseph Mhango said PP has proved to be a failure and undemocratic by replacing a winner with a loser without consulting the electorate.

“We have been instructed by the people that we should leave the party because it does not respect them. They have asked Jappie Mhango to stand as an independent and that we should work as leaders for an independent candidate,” said Mhango.

In an interview on Friday, Maulidi said the party is concerned that a number of people are leaving it after the primaries.

He said the party has found itself in such a position because of the drastic measures it is taking to solve the primary wrangles.

The measures include disqualifying candidates who won, but are alleged to have been involved in some malpractices; conducting reruns and ignoring complaints from other candidates, according to Maulidi.

He said the measures scaring some members are in the best interest of the party.

“It is sad when people leave the party for other parties or stand as independents, but we cannot stop them,” said Maulidi.

He justified disqualifying Mhango in Rumphi North, saying his supporters removed ballot boxes for his opponent in some centres during the elections.