Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Kondwani Nankhumwa, continues to face rejection from his fellow Democratic Progressive Party legislators who are resigning en masse from a shadow cabinet he constituted last week, a clear indication that he has lost the plot to wrestle power from Peter Mutharika.
Despite Speaker of Parliament, Catherine Gotani Hara, endorsing the shadow cabinet as a legitimate arm of the legislative structure, the DPP Vice President for the South faces an uphill task to keep everyone together under his leash.
Just days after the party’s Vice President for the Eastern Region, Bright Msaka, distanced himself from the shadow cabinet, Joseph Mwanamvekha of Chiradzulu South also communicated to Nankhumwa and Speaker of Parliament that he is not interested to be part of the appointed lot.
As if that was not enough shame to the Mulanje Central legislator the party’s Chief Whip, Symon Vuwa Kaunda, of Nkhatabay Central has also sent a similar communication to distance himself from the political circus.
Nankhumwa started losing grip last month when Member of Parliament for Rumphi North, Jappie Mhango, pulled out of a court case in which they were challenging their expulsion from the party. This meant Mhango had made peace and returned to the Mutharika camp.
These mass rejections have weakened Nankhumwa’s ambitions of wrestling power from octogenarian Mutharika who remains adamant that his successor will only be unveiled in 2023 at the party’s convention. Nankhumwa and his team have been forcing Mutharika to convene an emergency convention and cede power to a successor.
Interestingly DPP’s main partner, United Democratic Front, already distanced themselves from the shadow cabinet though some of its members are included in it. Party leader Atupele Muluzi openly expressed displeasure for not being consulted in the selection process.
Inside sources within the DPP have confided in Malawi Gazette that the resignations will continue because the party’s rank and file are not comfortable with Nankhumwa to succeed Mutharika citing among the many reasons, his lack of academic credentials and demeanor to win the 2025 Presidential election.