BY FESTON MALEKEZO & JAMESON CHAULUKA:
Former minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development, George Chaponda, withdrew at the eleventh hour from the contest for Democratic Progressive Party’s vice-presidency for the Southern Region.
Making the announcement, Chairperson of the Convention Organising Committee, Nicholas Dausi, said Chaponda withdrew on “personal grounds”.
“Let me say that Honourable George Chaponda has withdrawn from the position of vice-president for the Southern Region,” he said, attracting a loud applause and cheers from the delegates.
Chaponda was present in the convention hall and took part in voting for his successor.
His withdrawal from the race left Mulanje Central Member of Parliament (MP) Kondwani Nankhumwa, Chiradzulu South Constituency MP Joseph Mwanamvekha and Chiradzulu East MP Henry Mussa to battle it in out in the race.
On his withdrawal, Chaponda said: “I thought I should thank President [Peter] Mutharika for allowing democracy to reign in the party. Everybody was free to contest in any position. But in the course of the campaign, I was reflecting on a number of issues.
“First of all, we need unity in the party. I felt that by allowing myself to compete with Hounarable Nankhumwa who is my neighbour, it is not in the interest and spirit of unity. And, obviously, this would send wrong signals to the people. Secondly, I appreciate that President Mutharika appointed me as vice president for years.
“I felt that perhaps it is time for me to step back and allow other people to take leading roles and I take an advisory role in the party, especially at a time when we are being confronted by challenges which we are addressing,” he said.
He, however, said there is no bad blood between him and Nankhumwa.
He said his next move is to continue being in DPP.
Earlier in the morning, Dausi told delegates that Goodall Gondwe had retained his DPP vice-president seat for the Northern Region as no one challenged him.
Bright Msaka equally had no opponent and claimed the Eastern Region vice-presidency. His unanimous vote followed the withdrawal of Zomba Central aspirant MP Yunus Mussa.
The elections, which started about an hour late, were presided over by the Malawi Electoral Commission who attributed the delay to technical hitches.
At least 89 positions fell vacant at the beginning of the elective indaba which invited about 1,500 delegates across the country.
During his opening speech, President Peter Mutharika, who also retained the party’s presidency unopposed, cautioned aspirants who are joining the party for ill-intensions.
“I know some people have been hired to contest in various positions just to ruin the party when you win. But know that I will crush you and boot you out of the party,” he said.
Mutharika said he was ready to serve the party and contest in next year’s tripartite elections.
In recent months, DPP has faced serious divisions and infighting that saw Vice- President Saulos Chilima pulling out from challenging his boss Mutharika or anybody in the party.
Mutharika hopes the convention will bring back unity and peace in the party.
As we went to press, voting was still in progress.
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