We messed up—Masangwi

DPP regional governor for the South Noel Masangwi says the late president Bingu wa Mutharika’s administration messed up and prays that the new President will correct things for Malawians to start a normal life.

In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, Masangwi—who is on record to have despised Banda and promoted Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Peter Mutharika on grounds that “Malawi is not ready for a female president”—said it is a shame that people who messed up the country are now rushing to offer support to the new President way before the late president is buried.

But Masangwi said he will remain in the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), saying he is not the kind of person who would be moved easily because he wholeheartedly loved the party and had true loyalty to its leadership.

Said the governor: “I knew that some people were fake all along and that their loyalty to the former president was fake. All they wanted were positions and personal interests.

“We know that as DPP government, we messed up things big time and we believe that the President will correct things so that people start living normal life again. It is sad that people who were part of this mess are rushing to her. I hope they will not mess her up again.”

Time for reflection for DPP

Masangwi said DPP needs to reflect on what it has done to Malawians and re-strategise and look into the future. But he emphasised that he will support Banda’s government without joining her People’s Party (PP).

“Some people want to give an impression that it was the late president who messed up things; that is very sad. All of us in DPP messed up big time. I accept to be part of that mess. I can’t run away from that. If anything, we have to reflect as a party so that this does not happen again,” said Masangwi.

He declined to comment on his earlier statement that Malawi is not ready to be ruled by a female president. But he said the party has welcomed Banda’s ascendancy to power.

“As DPP, we will support her but not by leaving DPP. Of course, there are some people I didn’t expect to leave DPP this fast; they have shocked me and it is sad that the [late] president trusted them so much,” said Masangwi, claiming the Southern Region DPP structures are 100 percent intact.

Masangwi disclosed that he turned down an invitation to be part of a meeting of DPP gurus who were planning to block Banda, the then State Vice-President, from assuming power.

Senior Chief Kaomba on Monday described the aborted DPP plan as unfortunate because Banda was voted together with the fallen leader in the 2009 presidential elections.

Former president Bakili Muluzi and activists have advised Banda to tread carefully in accommodating DPP defectors into her government; arguing some of them are opportunists.