On the 13th of January, 2024, the former Reserve Bank Governor Dalitso Kabambe threated legal action against fellow DPP senior member, Fredrick Billy Malata for defamation after the latter alleged that the former sponsored him to fight against Peter Mutharika’s presidential bid for the 2025 tripartite elections. Specifically, Malata, through WhatsApp audio message, insinuated that Kabambe was sending him and colleagues to fight DPP president Peter Mutharika in court.
Soon after coming back from Maula prison where he was remanded after he was arrested for alleged defamation against Alfred Gangata, the fearless and outspoken Malata had the temerity to tell the former Reserve Bank governor Dalitso Kabambe to meet him in court over defamation claims. Malata audibly threatened, through an audio, to spill the beans in court on the alleged Kabambe’s clandestine scheme against DPP president, specifically sponsoring anti-Muthairika presidential ambitions.
“I will strip him politically naked in court, just imagine, I have been arrested and thrown into jail and failed to source a lawyer. Do you think I could have money to hire lawyer Wapona Kita to stop the Mutharika camp from implementing the Mangochi NGC meeting resolutions?” wondered Malata who was apparently speaking to unknown female journalist.
Malata further bashed all DPP presidential aspirants who can’t come to the open to express their interests to contest as presidential candidates in the forthcoming elective conference. He hailed Nankhumwa for the bold decision of making his presidential ambitions public.
Malata also commented on his arrest that stemmed from defamation claims by Gangata; he pronounced the whole matter as an abduction.
“I really feel this was a well-planned abduction where police abated my suffering but it has been a worthwhile experience to be at Maula prison. I have first-hand experience of life within the four walls of a prison cell. I have also gotten a message from prisoners to Dr. Kabambe, Tadikira Mutharika, Uladi Mussa and Henry Mussa. They sending greetings and reminding the former inhibitors of the prison that life is still the same in prison,” Malata echoed in the audio.
Billy Malata has constantly been critical of Mutharika leadership evidenced by the fact that he is among those that have been obtaining court injunctions aimed at blocking any action taken by DPP leadership.
Kabambe initially expressed interest to contest for DPP presidential position at the convention, but is now reserved after Mutharika has acquiescently declared that he is competing as president the convention and then be a presidential candidate in 2025 tripartite elections.
DPP internal wrangles, which are refusing to die, have derailed the party’s focus from activities that are of national significance as most of the effort is exerted on finding lasting solutions to their civil war. It has been one court case after another at the expense of provision of checks and balances to Chakwera administration.